Why Detox?

We live in an increasingly chemical laden world with many new chemicals infiltrating our soil, air, water and food supply.  A toxin is a substance that can interfere with cellular function and have a negative impact on our short and long term state of health.  We have all been made to be able to detoxify a certain level of toxins.  How much we can detoxify depends on our capacity to detoxify and toxin exposure.  The higher the exposure and the lower the capacity to detoxify, the higher the toxic burden on the body and the more negative health outcomes we get.  Excess toxic load can show up as resistant weight gain, skin breakouts, digestive problems, fatigue, headaches, other aches and pains in the body, brain fog, poor cognitive function and mood swings.

Doing a detoxification means supporting the elimination systems to detoxify as well as reducing or minimising ongoing exposure to those toxins including:

• Consume fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, at least 5 cups a day;
• Avoid packaged and processed food;
• Eliminate foods containing gluten, dairy, added sugar, artificial colours, flavours, additives, flavour enhancers and hydrogenated fats
• Recreational drugs like caffeine, tobacco and alcohol

When doing a detoxification, include herbs and nutrition that support the detoxification process, as well as keeping well hydrated through enough pure filtered water, getting 30mls of fluids per kg of body weight.  This can be in the form of herbal teas, water and soups.

Including calming daily practice such as yoga is an useful addition to a detox regime.

The other area a lot of chemicals are hiding is in your bathroom - body and face care products as well as household cleaners.  When you are detoxing, make sure you are also reviewing what you are putting on your body topically and inhaling in the cleaning agents you use - detergents, bathroom and toilet cleaners and air fresheners.  Full article on this in the next blog post.