By London nutritionist Sylvia Hensher
Why Detox?
You’ve spring cleaned your house and washed your car, but should you spring clean your body and mind? Yes, because every person & animal on the planet has toxin residues in their tissues; since the turn of the 20th century 80,000 new chemicals have been introduced into the environment. They are in our air, food, drinking water, carpets and household products. We smoke, drink alcohol, eat junk food, take medicines and cover ourselves in personal care products loaded with synthetic additives. Of these, most have never been tested for individual safety nor for how they react when combined.
What Toxins Do
A toxin is any compound that has a detrimental effect on the functioning or structure of our cells. The first line of defence against toxins is the liver which filters out toxins and wastes from the blood. A toxin build-up however can eventually overload the liver and result in symptoms such as: constipation, weight gain, poor concentration and memory, headaches, poor skin, depression, muscles and joint aches and allergies. Although most of these symptoms have numerous causes i.e. underactive thyroid, blood sugar imbalances, nutrient deficiencies etc, toxic overload is a frequently overlooked contributing factor. You may be wondering whether toxicity can be objectively measured? In fact, there are private laboratories which test for toxicity and liver function using urine, blood and hair analysis.
Benefits of Detoxification
Detoxification is the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body. People often report improved energy and vitality, achieving a healthier weight, clearer skin, improved digestion, increased immunity, as well as improved concentration and clarity after a detoxification programme. Detoxification can also have a very calming effect on the mind, particularly if combined with meditation. Anyone considering a detoxification diet should consult a qualified health professional first, as it is not suitable for everyone.
Potential Side Effects
One of the most common side effects is headache within the first few days of starting a detoxification programme, often due to caffeine withdrawal, which can be counteracted by gradually decreasing the amount of caffeine prior to starting. Other short-term side effects can include diarrhoea, tiredness, irritability, acne, and natural weight loss.
Helping Your Body Detoxify
Detoxification can be thought of as short-term and long-term processes. In the short term, we periodically implement a healthy, moderate detoxification diet, and long term we can make lifestyle modifications.
- Minimise your exposure to pesticides by choosing organic food
- Reduce intake of processed foods which contain trans-fats, sugar and additives
- Abstain from caffeine (try coffee substitutes or green tea instead), smoking and alcohol.
- Emphasise fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, brown rice and quinoa which provide supportive nutrients the body needs during detoxification
- Kale, spinach, romaine lettuce and Swiss chard are full of beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants that help the liver process toxins.
- Eat at least 2 portions of raw fruits and 3 portions of raw/lightly steamed vegetables daily to lighten the load on your digestive system & provide nutrients for detoxification
- Consume high fibre foods such as pulses, whole grains (avoiding wheat), fruits and vegetables, and drink 6-8 glasses of water daily to help eliminate toxins by increasing the frequency of bowel movements and urination.
- Exercise to stimulate the digestive system and toxin excretion
- Manage stress through yoga, meditation or moderate exercise as stress slows digestion and thus toxin elimination
- Use non-toxic cleaners around the house
- Use natural, organic skincare products
Contact us now on 0207 724 4445 /07812 163 324 or email us at info@yournutritionalhealth.co.uk to find out how you can detox!
References
Grun F& Blumberg B(2006) Environmental obesogens: organotins and endocrine disruption via nuclear receptor signaling. Endocrinology 1 47 (6 Suppl) S50-5
Hyman Mark (2007) Systems biology, toxins, obesity, and functional medicine Altern Ther Health Med 13 2 S134-9
Murray M & Pizzorno J (1997) (2nd Ed) Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Three River Press
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