Cleanse your body from the Toxic World
Most of us start our days off in a similar fashion. We wake up, shower, eat breakfast, brush our teeth, and move on towards our days fraught with activity. Through our normal daily routines, we regularly come into contact with toxins, that unbeknownst to us accumulate in our bodies. This toxic accumulation often results in a myriad of health related complications including; fatigue, poor concentration, digestive trouble, insomnia, joint pain, skin rashes and even bad breath. For those who have failed to find relief from these common health concerns, many may benefit from a nutritionally focused full-body cleanse.
From the food we eat to the air we breathe, toxins in the form of pesticides are all around us. Globally speaking, there are over 2.5 million tons applied annually, most of which are targeted at agricultural crops. Approximately 250 basic chemicals made by more than 50 companies are registered for use as pesticides in food and animal feed in the United States. Many of these pesticides are screened as both carcinogens and endocrine disrupters an eventually find their way into our meals. Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that imitate the body’s own hormonal systems and consequently disrupt chemical communication. Because of this, many scientists believe the alarming rise in hormonally driven cancers, such as breast and prostate, may be due to the ability of these chemicals to act like hormones in the body.
In addition, the water we drink, whether filtered, tap or bottled under the premise of a “mountain spring” also contain beneficial, yet toxic, materials like Fluoride and Chlorine. Both products have been praised for their additions to modern society; Fluoride for its teeth sparing and Chlorine for its disinfectant qualities. Despite their wide-spread uses across many applications, the use of these products does come with a price.
Although topically it has been proven beneficial for dental health, fluoride is not as advantageous when ingested (the very reason we rinse our mouths after brushing our teeth). In fact, fluoride can be down-right toxic to the nervous system, impairing immune function and suppressing the thyroid gland. The latter of which led to its use as a treatment for hyperthyroidism in the mid 20th century. Currently, the United States is the world’s largest consumer of fluoridated water, taking in more than 50% of the world’s supply. As for chlorine, it reacts with other naturally occurring elements in our water supply creating byproducts which have been linked to a wide range of diseases ranging from asthma to eczema. Of course, there are many more toxins out there from pollution to smoke and from synthetics to heavy metals that can all cause harm.
Help your body, help yourself:
Thankfully, our bodies are equipped with the tools we need to normally detoxify, we do it everyday. The main organ for detoxification is our liver and the main ways that we manage toxins are through digestion, excretion and respiration. These processes will work optimally when we treat ourselves as such. Unfortunately, that is not often the reality and routine intervention may be necessary. Take going to the dentist for example; we may brush and floss our teeth every day, yet we still routinely go to the dentist for a little extra help. Consider detoxification as another extremely healthy practice similar to your twice yearly visits to the dentist. I’m sure we have heard some horror stories about it, “you’ll be in the bathroom most of your day” or “you don’t eat for a week” and I’m sure there are others. However, choosing the right detoxification program will most likely have you avoiding those unwanted side effects.
Choosing the program that is right for you:
There are several different cleanses to choose from; a liver cleanse, a colon cleanse, fasting and a total body cleanse. The program I recommend most often for its overall health benefits and ease of administration is the 21-day total body cleanse. Although all cleanses can be a healthy practice, it’s hard to beat the Twenty-One’s amazing overall benefit. I feel that you need at least that amount of time to be thorough enough. I know what you are thinking, Twenty-one days may seem like a long time, but in the grand perspective it is only 3 weeks out of the year. Trust me, the benefits are worth it.
How it works:
The first step requires some sacrifice as you learn to eliminate the things you shouldn’t be eating any way. Most notably, refined sugars such as high fructose, dairy (we are the only animal that has any past infancy), processed foods, alcohol, caffeine and wheat. This is best to be started shortly before the actual cleanse begins. Most people don’t drink enough water, so begin increasing your intake. I like to aim for a gallon of water daily. I’m sure you may be thinking, “So what do I eat then?” Don’t worry, it is easier than it seems.
For the first 10 days you eat mostly vegetables and fruits, mostly the former of which at least half should be eaten raw. It is important to know that we should eat organic whenever possible. I know that it can be expensive so if you choose to purchase only some organic items, then it should be the ones that normally contain the highest amount of pesticides. Those are apples, bell peppers, cherries, strawberries, grapes, spinach, pears and celery. During this time some supplementation will be necessary to aid in the process of purification. The first 7 days of supplements are designed for cleansing out your system. It is a gentle healthy cleanse, not a run for the bathroom type. The supplements starting on day 8 are designed for replenishment, to ensure that you are maximizing the nutrition. If you don’t use it already something that you have to start and should for the rest of your life is fish oil. The unbelievable wealth of benefit from this alone is almost unparalleled. Daily fruit smoothies, tailored to your liking, will have an adequate source of protein. Exercise, even at the most beginner level, is important to incorporate to get the heart beating and speed up detoxification. Using a dry sauna if you have access to one is a valuable tool to sweat. At our home we hardly, if ever, use the microwave to heat food. It is such a rapid heating that it destroys up to 90% of the nutrition of the food, so steam your veggies, in particular if you need them cooked. Basically, if you take the time to eat quality foods then make it worth it.
The final 11 days you maintain the same diet and begin incorporating some high quality protein in the form of wild salmon, organic chicken and free-range, grass fed beef. Along the way you will find that there are many recipes to help add variety to what could become a monotonous diet. It is important to know that even during a successful program, the first few days may have you experiencing fatigue, fogginess, headaches, and sweating as your body begins the cleansing process. These are often times the result of breaking a caffeine or sugar addiction. Ironically these might be some symptoms you are trying to rid yourself of. Although not favorable, if experienced these are all normal signs your body goes through to detoxification. Soon after you will emerge and start to see the changes as your body rids itself of those unwanted toxins.
The Results:
our body will appreciate the help and in the end will show this appreciation with increased energy, substantial weight loss, improved concentration and a whole wealth of benefits. For some, their blood sugar has normalized and for others their allergies have greatly improved. The long-term goals of doing this type of cleanse extend beyond the 21 days. Often once people learn to live without certain foods, they realize in trying to eat them again that their favorite foods were the ones that actually made them feel sub-par to begin with. So, developing new habits and learning more about your body can be invaluable in a lifetime of good health. In going forward try to minimize some of the things that bring you to such a toxic state and move on with a healthier way of living. Drink more filtered and if possible, use reverse osmosis water. Minimize microwave use and cook your food slower. Eat organic whenever possible. Supplement with good antioxidants, fish oil and vitamins. Begin a well planned exercise program. It may not be as easy as our normal routine, but 21 days is a short time of sacrifice for such a great benefit and life of new habits. A New Year’s cleanse is the perfect way to jump start your 2011 search for greater health. Many of my patients start their year with it and they absolutely love it. Our world has changed dramatically since the Industrial Revolution, isn’t it time that our diets caught up? I strongly encourage you to speak to a health care professional about doing a cleanse.
Yours In Health,
Dr. Brett Wood, DC
