What can we do? Our bodies are subjected to a constant barrage of toxins each day, yet few of us are doing anything about it.  We go along without symptoms and assume we are okay until one day we are not.  Just as our cars need an oil change, our bodies need to be maintained as well.  One great way to do that is to periodically cleanse the body.  The toxins in our body are typically stored in our fatty tissues and can remain there for years if we don't make an effort to clean them out every so often.  How often we should cleanse is debated, but most experts suggest from 2-4 times per year.  It is also generally recommended to cleanse for a period ranging from 7 days to one month.  I have just started a spring cleanse myself.

 

The advent of spring is a great time to cleanse as the body is renewing its tissues and getting ready for new growth.  I'm sure you've noticed how kids have a big growth spurt in the spring.  As adults we don't (hopefully) grow larger, but our bodies are continually renewing themselves and this activity peaks in springtime.  A cleanse is a great way to jump-start a weight loss program as our body gets ready for this spring renewal.  Since most of the toxins in our body are held in the fat, getting rid of the toxins will also help us let go of the fat.

 

Cleanses are of three main types:  herbal, homeopathic, and fasting.  Fasting cleanses usually involve either no food or just fruit and vegetable juices along with the cleansing nutrients.  The "lemonade diet" is one example.  While some sources feel this is a good method of cleansing, its detractors point out that one very big problem with it is that there is not enough fiber to carry the toxins out of the body, and so they can be reabsorbed.  If you choose to do a fasting cleanse, doing it very short-term (3-5 days) would be wise.  We do offer a powdered version of the "lemonade diet" by Vibrant Health, a convenient way to do this diet without having to prepare the liquid each time you take it (6-8 times per day).

 

There are several good herbal cleanses on the market, which focus on the herbs that promote the release and proper processing of toxins.  While many people think of these as strictly colon cleanses, they do in fact work on many different channels of the body to ensure that toxins are removed.   The bowels are one of the primary ways to ultimately release toxins, but the kidneys also play a major role, as well as the lungs, the skin, the blood and the lymphatic system, to a lesser extent.  The liver is the organ that actually performs the detoxifying.  The cornerstone herbs to any cleanse are milk thistle, dandelion, and burdock root.  Because milk thistle is such a potent detoxifier of the liver, it can actually clear prescription drugs too quickly from the system.  This fact, combined with the need to check drug-herb interactions whenever you are taking prescription medication, would rule out an herbal cleanse for those on multiple prescription drugs.  If you are on a single drug, you should consult your doctor before using an herbal cleansing formula.

 

A homeopathic cleanse may be more appropriate for someone on prescription drugs since homeopathic medicines do not interact with drugs.  There are some great homeopathic cleanses by HVS that start with a basic Organs and Systems formula.  You can then move to ridding the body of specific toxins such as pollution, fungi and yeast, metals, radiation, etc. with a second formula.  Homeopathic cleanses contain mainly the energy of the substances used to detox the body rather than the actual molecules, and so can be safer concurrent with the use of drugs.  Still, it is best to check with your doctor. 

• eat lean meats
• avoid salty foods and table salt
• avoid alcohol,and caffeine as much as possible
• eat lots of fruits and vegetables
• avoid soda
• avoid refined sugars processed foods
• avoid dairy products

Since antioxidants and fiber are very key to your detoxing process, you may want to supplement these if you feel there are not enough of each in your diet.  Some doctors recommend taking NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine) and glutathione, two antioxidants that are crucial to the detoxification phases carried out by the liver.  NAC is a precursor of glutathione.  The Phase II part of detoxification also requires some of the B vitamins and the amino acids glycine, taurine, and glutamine. Brewer's yeast is an excellent way to pick up all of these in your diet.            

• Drink filtered water and use a water filter on your shower head
• Avoid processed foods, including soda pop
• Eat organic fruits and vegetable where possible
• Minimize alcohol and caffeine
• Use biodegradable household cleaners
• Grow houseplants to provide fresh oxygen
• Exercise!
• Use natural skin care products, toothpaste, perfume, deodorant, soaps, and hair products
• Avoid dry-cleaned clothes
• Use low or no VOC paints, avoid synthetic carpets
• Buy meats and dairy product free of hormones and ethically raised

At a conference I attended recently, a speaker on the organic food movement was asked what you should say to people that say they can't afford to eat organic.  His reply was to tell them "you can't afford not to".  It's a pay me now or pay me later scenario.  The payment later is with poor health.  You will save yourself potentially a fortune in doctor's bills later on by following good health habits now.   That said, organic is more expensive and we may want to buy organic only those fruits and vegetable that have the highest level of pesticides.  EWG.org  has a list of the "dirty dozen", those fruits and veggies that typically have the highest level of pesticides.  It also identifies those that are quite safe to eat if they are conventionally grown.  Don't forget too that these pesticides are getting into our water supply.  It's also a matter of cleaning up the earth.