We scrub our faces and bodies and shampoo our hair so that everything glows and looks great. But is this external sparkle alone enough? Taking care of the vitality of our internal organs and the need to cleanse them should be a priority for all of us. The effects of ‘detoxing’ go far beyond being just a physical cleanse or a good way to lose excess weight; it is a powerful way to make changes on every level of our being.
And the truth is — regular periodic detoxification is not just important, it is absolutely critical for our health. Why? For starters — because hundreds of brand new chemicals are manufactured every day and almost all of them are getting into our environment and overloading our bodies with toxins. These toxins can accumulate through what we eat and drink, the air we breathe, what we put on our skin; and even by the way we think!
Although the human body is designed to eliminate toxins, it can quickly become clogged up, leading to toxins becoming stored in the cells and joints. Ultimately this reduces the body’s ability to function properly and to heal itself.
What is Detoxing?
A detox is simply a method used to cleanse your internal system of toxins which in turn can help reset your digestive system, reduce inflammation and even help you drop a few pounds.
The statistics are glaring.
According to recent government-funded annual reviews of public health:
- 60,000 Americans die each year from air pollution
- 53 million Americans drink contaminated water
- 21,000 die from cancer-causing pesticides.
Where are the toxins coming from?
It the past few decades, several factors such as poor nutritional habits, stressful lifestyles, and environmental exposures to chemicals have all increased our exposure to toxins. Toxins are everywhere. They are in our food, water, air and even from metabolic processes from our own bodies.
Here are a few examples of sources of hidden toxins:
Toxic Foods
Pesticides are not the only toxic exposure in our foods: fertilizers, chemical sprays, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives. These are all IN our food and on top of it; nearly 75% of our foods are genetically altered.
Air Pollution
On average, the human body breathes 2 gallons of air per minute; the quality of this air affects our health. Unfortunately, increasingly in urban areas, the air around us is laden with pollutants. Due to a growing population and growing industrialization, high levels of ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide are found in today’s air. Studies have shown that, on average, air pollution can take 1 to 2 years off an individual’s lifespan.
Eating Organics
And you might say you are eating organic, but crops can and do cross-pollinate. The ground waters mix. Water evaporates off the inorganic crops and rains over the organic crops, polluting them indirectly. The water we drink and the air we breathe are just as polluted.
All these chemicals trigger imbalances in the body because they are not compatible with the body’s chemistry.
Skin Deep
We also absorb toxins through our skin. Consider the clothes you wear, the sheets you sleep on and the towels you rub your skin with. Have they all been cleaned with toxic detergents? Scientists estimate that we carry at least 700 toxins in our body, most of which have not been well-studied. There are 80,000 chemicals used in the US — most of which are untested and unregulated.
Your body doesn’t want that, and you shouldn’t want that either!
Newborn Babies Are Already Born with Many Toxins
According to the Environmental Working Group, the average newborn baby has 287 known toxins in his or her umbilical cord blood. Given that this is the one point in our life when we are to start pure, fresh, and completely clean, imagine how many toxins will then be built up over time.
Remove Toxins from Your Body
The reason the toxins are so dangerous is in today’s toxic world, our bodies natural ability to detoxify is being compromised. Our bodies struggle to break down the toxins and get rid of them on its own. The chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals accumulate. They stockpile, getting stored in the soft tissues, the organs, the bones and fat cells. Unfortunately, our bodies become storehouses of heavy metals and other environmental pollutants.
Here are some of the symptoms that indicate it could be time to consider a detox:
• Feeling tired, sluggish, lethargic
• Trouble concentrating and staying focused
• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Catch colds easy
• Trouble sleeping
• Bad breath
• Unpleasant body odor
• Frequent gas, bloating or indigestion
• Allergies and/or food sensitivities
• Skin problems like acne, psoriasis, eczema
• Constipation and other gastrointestinal irregularities
• Depression
• Irritability
• Recurrent respiratory problems
• Back pain
• Sinus congestion
Important Detoxification Pathways that Need Your Attention
A great detoxification program must address 5 essential pathways to create the right conditions for the body to heal itself:
Liver
This is the most important organ to detox because it is the body’s processing plant and storage organ all in itself. The second largest organ in the body, the liver is responsible for many different functions, including processing the body’s nutrients, manufacturing bile to help digest fats, synthesizing many important proteins, regulating blood clotting, and breaking down potentially toxic substances into harmless ones that the body can either use or excrete. But even though the liver is a prime filtration organ, it’s not itself immune to the chemicals and toxins it encounters as it does its work.
Colon
A healthy colon (large intestine) removes toxic residue out of the body but an unhealthy one can actually make your body more toxic. It is vital to have proper digestion, especially to be sure you are moving waste out in a timely manner so that it does not compromise your health. A colon clogged with accumulated matter can cause anything from gas and occasional constipation to small, infrequent and incomplete bowel movements which in time can lead to serious health issues.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system’s main function is to cleanse toxins and protect against harmful invaders by carrying our body’s waste away from the tissues and into the bloodstream. It tackles toxins that are introduced to the body from both external means (food, air, personal care products, water) as well as internal ones (damaged proteins and cellular/metabolic waste), making it a key detoxification pathway. The problem is that we don’t have a “lymph pump” to get things moving so the system can easily become stagnant, especially when it becomes overwhelmed with toxic debris.
Skin
Sometimes called the third kidney, our skin sheds lots of toxins through perspiration and dead skin cells that flake off, BUT a lot of toxins also go in through the skin though toiletries and cosmetics.
The way our skin looks is a direct reflection of what is happening externally and internally. the food we eat and the air we breathe can overload our systems with impurities that reflect negatively on our skin.
Lungs
Our lungs are also sucking in harmful elements from the air around us which can result in respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and cystic fibrosis. It is important to avoid pollution, smoking, and to maintain a healthy diet to keep them free of toxins.
Detoxification is the Way to Go
If done in the right way, with the right nutrient profile, lifestyle modifications, and correct mindset, this could be the greatest step you’ve ever taken towards your long-term health. What is even better is finding a system that doesn’t just look at the quick fix to get rid of your toxic load, but supplies the nutrients to build your body back up into optimal functioning.
Benefits of Detoxing
- Increased energy and vitality
- Weight loss and reduction in body fat
- Improved digestion
- Healthier skin, softer hair
- More restful sleep
- Clearer thinking, and happier mood
- A feeling of well-being
- Establish healthy habits for improved long-term health
An Ideal Detox Program for Success
A low allergen diet, designed to reduce inflammation and give the digestive system a break from the toxins and chemicals found in heavily processed foods is a great way to begin to deal with detoxing.
Common high allergen diets, especially those that include wheat, gluten, and too many grains, tend to cause damage to the digestive system and over time can lead to leaky gut and health conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
Gluten protein, present in grains such as wheat, rye, barley, and oats, is potentially problematic if you are “gluten sensitive” or “gluten intolerant.” Consuming too much gluten can often lead to autoimmunity and result in inflammation of the intestines, joints, thyroid, nervous system and other tissues of the body. Apart from gluten sensitivity, grains like wheat, soy, and corn are also common food allergens.
Best Way to Cleanse Your Body
Following a comprehensive, science-based nutritional program designed to support safe and effective detoxification for 14 days is a great start. This kind of program provides the nutrients needed to support and balance phase I and II metabolic pathways and to promote healthy liver function and elimination. Everything is consolidated to make the program easy to follow and to ensure that you are getting all the necessary nutrients.
I highly recommend the VegeCleanse Plus™ 14 Day Detox Program for those reasons and more. It is easy to do and fit into your daily lifestyle. It provides tasty meal replacement smoothies and allows you to include one sensible meal per day.
In my opinion, this is one of best ways to cleanse your body and it doesn’t get any easier than this!
This 14 Day Cleanse is a great jump start to any health program. Click here to discover how to get healthy, detoxify your body and lose some pounds all at once.
Read what ‘others have to say.’
Are you ready to take on a detoxification program that will get you feeling better? This could be the beginning of a positive shift in your health. I’d like to think this detox program will motivate you to a healthier life-changing lifestyle and eating habits.
Need help to get started? I am ready to guide and empower you today. Contact me for a consultation to get you on the right track now!
Before starting any detoxification program, you may want to consult with your primary doctor. Also, if you are on any medication, continue taking them as recommended by your healthcare professional. Your primary healthcare professional should determine any deviation from the recommended plan.
