Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Top 5 Full Body Detox Tips

We all live in a contaminated world and most of us realize we could benefit from some full body detoxification. But how many of us actually have the time to do 7 day juice fasts, the money to spend on clove capsules, dandelion root, black walnut tinctures, coffee enemas, and aged garlic pills, or the energy to deal with feeling horrible for 3 days straight from detoxing too fast? The easiest, cheapest, and safest way to detox is by assisting your body in its natural detoxification processes.
Below are the 5 most effective ways to accomplish this goal.

1. Increase your Selenium- Chronic exposure to environmental toxins, including chemotherapy drugs, radiation and other toxic medicines, increases the requirement for selenium. Many of the benefits of selenium are related to its role in the production of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme is responsible for detoxification in the body and each molecule of this enzyme contains 4 atoms of selenium. Selenium supplementation has been found to protect the liver in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. Smokers, in particular, have depleted selenium levels and should make every attempt to increase the selenium in their diet.
Foods sources of selenium are the safest and most easily utilized by your body. These include: brazil nuts, broccoli, brown rice, chicken, dairy products, garlic, onions, molasses, seafood, vegetables and whole grains.

2. Add some Zinc-
Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoking, and air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging particles. Free radicals are believed to contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of health problems including heart disease and cancer. Zinc can protect your body from the harmful effects of toxins by 3 separate mechanisms: The antioxidant properties of zinc can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause. Zinc is a constituent of the important antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase. Zinc is needed for the proper absorption of Vitamin E (yet another important antioxidant). Food sources include: egg yolks, fish, lamb, legumes, mushrooms, pecans, oysters, poultry, soybeans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, parsley, and kelp.

3. Go natural-
Every day we choose to introduce toxic chemicals and compounds into our bodies, our cleaning supplies, lotions and shampoos, fruits and vegetables, even our medicines. Small changes in your shopping list can make a world of difference. As a rule of thumb it's best to "go natural". Try using baking soda or vinegar in place of your chemical-laden cleaning supplies. Buy organic produce whenever possible. Beware of your over-the-counter medications. Many contain unhealthy fillers, binders and flowing agents. Many antacids contain toxic aluminum. Aspirin and Ibuprofen can stress the kidneys. The absolute safest over-the-counter medications are homeopathic medicines. There are many versions of homeopathic medicines available, the least toxic of which are water-based homeopathics rather than lactose tablet or alcohol-based forms. Go to your local healthfood store or shop on the internet to stock your medicine cabinet with non-toxic homeopathic alternatives.

4. Stay hydrated-
The body's water supply is involved in nearly every bodily process, including digestion, absorption, circulation, excretion, body temperature, and nutrient transport. Help your body detox naturally by drinking enough water to allow optimal functioning of all these bodily processes. Drink at least 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Caffeine is a diuretic so if you are a moderate to heavy coffee or tea drinker you should match each cup of coffee or tea with a glass of water. If you are drinking tap water make sure to filter it. If you purchase your water then steam-distilled is best.

5. Detox homeopathically-
There are a couple of good ways to determine if your body is in need of a detox. Chances are you have noticed most of the symptoms, but either shrugged them off, or simply did not have the time in your busy schedule to remedy them. You may have even become used to them, and figured the were normal.
Here are a couple of ways to know if you are in need of a good detox. How do you look and feel? Your answers to these two questions are tell tale signs of whether or not you are in need of a detox. There are a couple of things to considering determining your answer. Are you bloated? Do you no longer sleep through the night? Are you always tired and listless? Do your eyes and skin look healthy? How often do you experience anxiety, mood swings, or even depression? Do you have frequent headache? Has your skin started to break out frequently? Do you seem to be more stressed than usual and have a very low level of focus and concentration? Do you find you have experienced frequent infections? In a word do you feel - blah?It could be that you may need to detox your system.

What is detox? Detoxification is the process by which toxic waste is flushed out of the fat tissue and organs. Just as you care for your car engine and regularly change oils and fluids, so you should with your body. Our bodies run on what we put in them. If you want optimum performance, you will need to put optimum nourishment in your body. Simply put, detoxification is the internal cleansing of your body. The way you choose to do so if up to you however; before starting a detox, check with your doctor particularly if you suffer from a serious illness. Some people use herbs and fiber supplements for toxic cleanses such as the ultimate colon and liver cleanse systems. Others do so by means of dieting and fasting, obtaining sustenance from fresh raw fruits, vegetables, herbal teas and juices. You will notice as you go through your detoxification process that you will think differently as well. Your thinking process will be much clearer. The benefits of detoxification definitely outweigh the side effects. Your body will be cleaner and your mind more focused.

Source: Nicole Evans