Spring is on the way... it could be time to clean and detox your body!

If you are like a lot of people, you find the holiday season to be full of great food and great company (minus the stresses of shopping).  Great food can equal happy tummies... but unhappy clothes and waistlines.  Depending on whether or not you live in a warmer climate or one prone to monotones during the winter, you may or may not be able to keep up with summer intentions, including exercise, which is a great way your body biologically detoxs! 

For this author, snow and freezing temperatures do not exactly inspire me to become a winter gym jockey or to suit up and head down the street in an excitement laden jog.  I tried that one time when feeling extra frisky and closed in by the house... and ended up in the emergency room.  

Enter Spring!

When spring comes around most people are eager to shed the lethargy of winter and reinvent themselves (or actually put into effect what they promised for their New Year’s resolutions!).  A great way to kick-start that declaration is to make a decision to detox your body.

About Toxins

Did you know that 80-90% of all cancers are of an environmental origin, with the remaining percentage to be of a genetic nature? Toxins play a large part, unfortunately, we breath in toxins, eat toxins, drink toxins and even rub them on our bodies in the form of lotions and perfumes.  Geography can be a factor too, if you live in a larger city or more populated region, you may come in contact with a larger amount of toxins than an individual who lives out in the country or a more rural area.

Why Detox

The body naturally detoxifies itself through an elegant and intricate process that involves our natural filtration systems like our liver, respiratory system, digestive, dermal, and lymphatic system.  A good detox program recognizes the need to stimulate and support each system to perform its specific detox function synergetically with the others.  In other words, we want to fall in line with what the body is doing a amplify it.

With the many different programs available to detox your body, it can feel a little over-whelming trying to choose one.  There are many methods to go about initiating a detox and it’s important to choose a system that you will be able to stick with.  Detoxification shouldn’t interfere with your life, but enhance the quality of it.  Some require fasting, others have you cut out all processed foods, and others are three step supplements that are taken on a schedule.  Regardless of the method that you choose, the way they work is essentially the same.  There are three stages that your body goes through when it comes to an effective detoxification program; metabolizing, binding, and elimination.

1. Metabolizing is carried out by the liver.  Toxins are modified by liver enzymes and transformed into water soluble substances that can be easily transported to and flushed out by the kidneys.  Bile adheres to fat soluble toxins and fiber to water soluble as well.  The toxins are then conveyed and discharged through the digestive system.

2. Binding occurs in the digestive track.  We see many commercials about including more fiber in our diets and hear the recommendations from our healthcare providers; there is a good reason for that.  Fiber works like Draino, cleaning out clogged pipes and removing years of build-up from our system.  It’s for more than just ‘filler’ too.  Fiber has this amazing ability to absorb a wide variety of impurities from the intestines and colon, even if the liver hasn’t processed them yet. Toxins may try to cut in line but they will almost always get caught.  A diet high in fiber is essential for a healthy digestive tract. Consider this product called DetoxiFiber which while providing your body with needed fiber also helps to fight toxin recirculation.

3. Elimination is processed by the kidneys, colon and the skin.  The kidneys and skin flush out water soluble via urine and perspiration, very important tasks but the colon is central to this part of the detoxification.  The best way to support cleansing is to assure that you are adequately hydrated and by eating/drinking plenty of plant based fiber.  This helps to gently promote the movements of the colon by lightly scrubbing the interior of the colon, removing the newly bound toxins from your system.  It also works to remove accumulated layers of old fecal matter.

Some guidelines to consider when beginning a program to detox your body: one, take it slow.  As your body is going through some major adjustments and purifying, you may experience symptoms such as hunger, headaches, irritability and so on.  If you have to discontinue the regimen, don’t feel bad- you can always start it up again later.  Find ways to occupy your time and mind away from thoughts of hunger.  Practice caution when exercising; a body detox program is not the right time to implement an exercise plan.

After you have detoxed your body, start probiotics!

After your detox is complete, if you don’t already take a probiotic supplement, it's time to start! When you have a strong and healthy digestive system the body can filter out and eliminate anything that may harm it; so things such as destructive bacteria, toxins and chemicals can be gotten rid of effectively. However, if you don’t have that balance right then you will have trouble with digestion which can be shown in a number of different ways in your body, from skin problems through to allergies, allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders, infections, dandruff, itchy skin, diarrhea, skin infections, candida growth, the list goes on. Probiotics are one of the best ways to keep your digestive system functioning at top speed!