
I won't spend too many days on Detoxification, it has been a lengthy discussion for some already perhaps. Whether to detox or not, is up to you. However after arriving at whatever your own proper diet is... especially if you haven't been there yet, detoxing is almost as important. And in my own life, at times even far more important than my diet.
Even when you are 'healthy' this does not mean that you don't need to detox. Sure our body does this on a continual basis, our kidneys and livers are constantly working by cleaning out all the pollutants (smoke, caffeine, chemical-based products etc) in our body. Detox strengthens our organs back to optimal function, especially when combined with a cleansing diet you find yourself enjoying on a daily basis.
Basically, this is done through fasting, therefore resting the organs and stimulating the liver by pushing out the toxins from the body. It's quite a natural thing you're already doing every day - that's why they have always called it BreakFast instead of anything else. You're breaking your nightly fast each morning. Waking from the nightly cleanse.
Proper prolonged fasting longer than just overnight and nourishing the body with healthy nutrients is also done to maintain optimum health. It has been practiced for centuries around the world by different cultures. There are times your body can use a rest from adding even more of a load three times a day, and simply focus on catching up on all the work that probably needs doing.
Many people want whole body detoxification, some want to have a detox on a particular organ only, such as the kidney, liver or colon. During kidney cleansing, herbal supplements and juices are used to dissolve and wash out kidney stones; particular foods are consumed in liver cleansing causing the gall bladder and liver to remove fatty deposits and toxins out of the body. Colon cleansing on the other hand, gently flushes the colon with water providing a pathway for the release of toxins. As well as using the infamous PB&J (Psyllium, Bentonite & Juice) shake like a broom sweeping clean mentioned yesterday.
There are also techniques used in whole body cleansing such as:
Fasting. Water or juice fasting is applied for a period of time to lessen toxic loads in the body causing the body to heal itself and re-nourish inside out. Forcing toxins in the cells out of storage to be eliminated.
Parasite cleaning. There are pills and/or tinctures made out of bitter herbs that are consumed to build an unreceptive environment for the parasites inside the body.
Contrast Shower. The hot,cold,hot, cold and hot and cold water enhances circulation, helps in detoxifying thus having a stronger immune system. This also helps by bringing oxygen, nutrients and immune cells towards damaged and stressed tissue and flushes metabolic waste and other toxins. Wakes a whole lot of systems right up!!
Sauna, yoga, exercise, raw food dieting and dry skin brushing also enhance the body's natural cleansing process.
Other Detoxifying aids
There are a number of safe products that helps in the cleansing process such as cleansing supplement packages (with easy-to-follow instructions), detox foot patches, commercially prepared detox teas, Epsom salts, high-class multivitamins for daily intake and antioxidants like Q10 and E that can be found at health food stores.
Before and after side effects:
As the procedures differ, so do the benefits.
During the detox, you'll most likely feel the side effects that take place during the first few days such as headaches, feeling weak, sore muscles, cranky moods and unable to sleep soundly.
There are also a number of positive side effects days after the cleansing process. You will feel energetic, mental clarity improves, clearer skin, improved sleep, and have a positive attitude in life for getting a fresh start.
Detoxification is safe and beneficial for our health. It is suggested that each one should at least have a short detoxification program yearly. However, children, nursing mothers, and patients with cancer, chronic degenerative illness and tuberculosis should consult their physician first for approval and supervision or find someone who is familiar with detox.
If you decide to award your body a needed holiday, find a nutritional therapist who is familiar with detox.
If you don't already have someone in mind, here's how to locate someone good:
You can call your friends who are into health foods and alternative medicines, ask them for a person who they can refer. Another way is to search in the yellow pages under nutrition or by looking for ads in health publication in your locality. Try online, it's certainly the easiest! Get the name of someone you found whose name appears in more than one place and check for his profile, like from which school he/she attended the training and if it's an accredited one. Also ask how long he's been in practice. Your local health food store can also be a trusted resource for professionals in your local community.