Detoxification
Detoxification is one of the body’s most basic automatic functions of eliminating and neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph and skin. The human body can become toxic or polluted from the things that we consume and from our polluted environments. Having an overload of toxins in your body can lead to a variety of problems such as tiredness, weight gain, behavioural problems, lowering of emotions, lowered immune system and skin conditions. This health page looks at various detoxification methods available including liver detox, bowel or colonic detox, kidney Detox, Detox diets, Detoxing via sweat, Detox supplements and detoxing your home environment.
Environmental toxins are the most common and the lists are endless. Starting with inhalation of smoke and air pollution, chemical residues on food, drugs, chemicals from paints, plastics, furnishings and pesticides to name a few. Internal sources of toxicity can develop from drugs, undigested foods, dehydration, malnutrition and from poor diet with too much animal protein, saturated and trans fats, too much caffeine and alcohol.
A lack of body awareness may accompany a sickened condition and it is this absence of consciousness that permits the body to degenerate. If a person is in tune to their body’s needs he or she will be aware something is going wrong and then can fast, cleanse, juice, change diet and incorporate a total body detoxification. Increasing good health also increases our awareness of the body.
Detoxing the body can be useful to:
- Improving skin tone
- May assist weight management
- Release new energy
- Relax and refresh the mind
- Enhance our immune system
Eliminating Toxins
There are various methods available for detoxification and it can be an exhausting exercise to choose the correct approach.
- Detox diets. There are many foods and beverages that can easily be cut of out of your diet in order to detox your body. The usual suspects are caffeine, alcohol, fast foods, meats and dairy. Other not so obvious are ingredients such as preservatives and flavour enhancer's or flavours found in takeaways and processed foods. Also be aware of the abundance of pesticide sprays found on fruits and vegetables that an ordinary wash doesn't’t always eliminate and merely adds to our toxicity.
- Reduce toxins around the home. Air pollution in cities is well known but the air in your home can be even more toxic as it becomes stale and accumulates. Contributing factors are synthetic building materials, paints, new furnishings that out gas pollutants (i.e. furniture, curtains, & carpets), toiletries and house hold cleaning products. To help detox your home reduce usage of toxic cleaners, try airing new furnishing outside to out gas and try fragrance free or hypoallergenic toiletries.
- Colon cleansing or irrigation uses water to clear out accumulated waste from the colon. Rubber tubing is inserted into the rectum and then water is then turned on to flush out waste. This is conducted by a therapist and usually lasts 30 – 50 minutes per session.
- Sweating out toxins is another effective way to eliminate body toxins. Over the post century in Japan and increasingly in Australia, far infrared heat energy has become popular for body detoxification. Commonly found in the form of a sauna, FIR panels heat the body to induce sweating. This Detox method is used by fitness centres, day spas, clinics and in private homes.
- Detox supplements. These include supplements, 5 day – 10 day – 14 day programs and more involving some sort of supplement in the form of a tablet or tonic. There can be minor side effects with detox supplements during the early stages but they should pass.
- Liver Detox. Carrying around accumulated toxins can have an adverse effect on liver functionality. As well as alcohol abuse, drug addiction and disease, poor diet and obesity can also contribute to liver problems. There are strategies to run this around including raw juicing, avoiding unhealthy fats, sensible food portions, exercise and body detoxifying. For more information on liver cleansing please click here.
- Foot Detox and ION cleanse. With this procedure, you only have to place your foot in basin of salted water that contains ion generators. The foot detoxification procedure works by attracting charged toxic substances in the body and then drawing them out into the water.
Prevention
Unfortunately toxins everywhere; the artificial additives in our foods, the air we breathe, soaps and detergents, garden pesticides and food pesticides. You may not be able to prevent most of these but you can certainly minimise them. Above all it can help your energy levels.
- Clean up your act. Improve your diet by eating better quality non processed foods. Things like fruits, vegetables and fibre and avoid too much alcohol, caffeine and artificial food additives.
- Limit certain food groups such as diary and red meat products and increase fruit, vegetables, white meats and whole grains.
- Try organic food without pesticides or remove pesticides from your fruit & veges before consuming them.
- Drink plenty of water. As well as keeping you hydrated, water helps to flush out toxins. Ideally the human body requires 2 litres each day or more.
- Get rid of toxic house hold cleaners, artificial air fresheners and insect sprays that aren't absolutely essential.
- If you have clothes dry cleaned or if you buy new furnishings; air them outside so that the chemicals out gas before they come in to your home