Cleanses and detox programs are everywhere. From Hollywood stars like Gwyneth Paltrow endorsing her favorite cleanse, to stores like Wal-Mart, who carry liver and intestinal cleanses. Many patients come into my office asking me if I think that they should do a cleanse. For some people, it can be a very important step into improving their health and changing their life.
We live in a toxic environment, and our bodies are overwhelmed, and bombarded by toxins every day. Toxins enter the body through the digestive tract, by food additives, contaminated soil (heavy metals; especially cadmium), and soft drinks, etc. The average American consumes 15 lbs. of additives and 200 lbs. of sugar per year.
The U.S. allows over 10,000 chemical additives to our food supply. In 2008, the toxic release inventory report revealed 3,849,793,153 lbs. of toxins were released in all industries for all chemicals. Another way that toxins enter the body is via the skin through everyday grooming products, like perfumes, hairsprays, etc.
The lungs are also a route that toxins can find their way into the body (exhaust, toxic fumes, second hand smoke, etc.). If you live and work in New York City like I do, you can imagine what our bodies have to manage, day in and day out. The body has three options when dealing with toxins: It buries them in body fat, deposits them in tissues, or removes them.
Our organs of detoxification (Liver, blood, skin, kidneys, colon, and lungs) are working 24/7 to clear the body of toxins. Unfortunately, our bodies weren't designed to handle the exponential amount of toxic elements that modern day life has gifted us. Many people are in a state of toxic overload. Our bodies can only handle so much before inflammation and disease appear.
A cleanse is one way to safely detoxify the body. Not all cleanses achieve this goal safely, gently, and effectively. A cleanse that claims to detoxify the body in under three weeks is usually too good to be true. The key factor in an effective and safe cleanse is that it supports phase Two Liver detoxification. Phase Two liver detoxification is essential for the actual removal of toxins from the body. Many cleanses only support Phase One Liver detoxification, which is when toxins are packaged and moved to other parts of the body.
The problem with a cleanse that only supports phase one liver detoxification is that toxins are moved to other parts of the body, but not eliminated from the body. It is like redecorating with the same old furniture. Things are moved around so they look and feel different, but are really the same. Toxins or xenobiotics are generally fat soluble, meaning they are stored in fat cells of the body. The more fat that our bodies contain the more likely we are storing toxicity in the body. Phase Two liver detoxification allows for the conversion of the most harmful toxins into a water soluble form, so they can be eliminated effectively and permanently from the body.
I have done my share of research and have found the Standard Process Purification Program meets the goals to safely, gently, and effectively detoxify the body. What I like about this program is that it lasts for three weeks (this time frame is great for changing habits), is not based on deprivation (you can add in meat and fish after the 10th day and good fats like oils, etc.), is a phytonutrient, whole food based program with nothing synthetic or processed, and it supports both phases of detoxification.
The Standard Process Purification Program has been studied and peer reviewed in a journal. The conclusive results showed an average weight loss of 9-15 lbs. for men, 6-9 lbs. for women, and a significant reduction in cholesterol (on average 30 points), as well as lipid (fat) profiles. Many patients of mine have great success stories with the Standard Process Purification program, but I'll tell you my favorite one.
One of my patients who did the cleanse last May came into my office with severe fatigue, total cholesterol of 310, and was taking three drugs for asthma. She did the cleanse and her cholesterol went down to 240. She lost 16 lbs. and she was able to stop taking two of the three drugs she was taking for her asthma. The reason her asthma improved is because her organs of elimination were alleviated of toxic burden. They could function much better after the cleanse. Her new found energy and improvement was really wonderful to see!
We rely on our bodies for the entirety of our lives, and it is important that we nourish and help keep it running smoothly. Some people take better care of their cars (with regular oil changes), bicycles, or subway cards, then they do of their own bodies. If you decide to do the standard process purification program, please take the time during the cleanse to be gentle with yourself, and to use it as a time to reflect.
Furthermore, you may want to meditate, journal, get bodywork (massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, energy work), as it may be a time of great emotional releases. The mind and body are interconnected and the release of toxins from the body may encourage these emotional releases. As you clear the body of toxins, the mind, body, and spirit gain a greater sense of clarity!
Please contact me if you wish to explore any detoxification program. Rest assured, it will be done properly. Happy Spring cleaning and cleansing!
Healthfully yours,
Dr. Louis Granirer
Holistic Chiropractic Center
  
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