When our bodies become toxic, it means that our natural means of flushing out waste through the liver and kidneys are becoming overburdened by the excessive pollution we experience on a daily basis. With such toxicity, every system in the human body can become affected and when this happens, you will feel sick and tired.
How do you know if you are toxic and need to cleanse and detoxify?
The answer is that physical complaints help you determine whether or not you are toxic and to what extent you need to cleanse. Some examples of what might constitute a toxic system are:
Constipation
Persistant headaches, muscle aches and muscle fatigue
Eating a lot of swordfish, tuna, shark, etc
Having mercury fillings in your teeth
Food allergies
A weight loss you may be struggling with
A hormone imbalance
Consistent use of anti-inflammatories such as motrin or Tylenol
Skin abnormalities such as acne, rosacea or eczema
Poor diet
So how long should you stay on a cleanse?
A cleanse is safe when it allows the body to do what it wants to do naturally with assistance from some healthy eating, supplements and changing poor lifestyle habits. Typically a cleanse can be from 7 days to 6 weeks, or even longer, depending on your particular needs and how toxic you are.
When you are on a cleanse, there are 2 side effects to look for and keep track of:
One is constipation. You need to move those bowels. Your goal should be at least one bowel movement a day. Drink plenty of purified water, Try warm water with lemon first thing in the morning. Often taking 300 mg of magnesium citrate is helpful, too. Magnesium, such as vitamin D addresses many deficiencies we may have. Also, just taking an Epsom salt bath can be helpful during detoxing.
The second issue can be food allergies or sensitivities. These can be obvious or hidden. But chances are, as your body lets go of toxic waste, it will be easier to recognize a hidden reaction to gluten, dairy, soy or any of the other common food allergies.
What are easy ways to detox?
There are many ways to detox. I found 5 from reputable sources that look to be safe and natural for all.
Clay. Bentonite clay attracts toxins when applied to the skin by pulling these toxins out through your skin. Using it in a foot bath is one simple way to detox.
Add more fruits to your diet. Not only are they very easy to digest and are full of nutrients, they help the body wash out toxins. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and limes aid the body in flushing out toxins and jump start the digestive tract with processing enzymes. Lemon juice aids the liver in its cleansing process. As I have said before, try starting out your day with a warm glass of lemon water. Green plants will help give a chlorophyll boost to your digestive tract and are very cleansing to your system. Other foods like onions, carrots, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, beets, turmeric, and oregano are great in helping the body to detox. It is important to add raw veggies to your diet.
Breathe! Oxygen is pivotal to the body’s process of absorbing vitamins and nutrients. Deep breathing allows you to absorb those good things more efficiently. Deep breathing also super charges your lymphatic system by increasing oxygen levels, and this naturally leads to detoxification of the body. Taking a few minutes throughout the day to focus on deep breathing is essential to good health.
Skin. Brushing is another way of detoxing. Your skin is the largest organ of the body and guess what is included in its job description? That’s right – elimination. In fact, the skin is known to be responsible for 10 to 15% of total body elimination, and sometimes referred to as the third kidney. Dry skin brushing with a soft brush helps improve your skin by eliminating dead cells and helping new skin to regenerate while at the same time simulating blood circulation, the lymphatic system and toxin elimination.
Essiac! Check out our Herbs page to learn more about their detoxitive properties.
To your health,
Chris