Detox Guide Types of Detox Drinks for Effective Cleansing of our System
There are literally hundreds of detox drinks available on the internet and in health-food stores however the vast majority of them have a number of ingredients in common, many of which act as diuretics (to flush out toxins) and laxatives (to flush out toxins in a slightly different way!)
There are three major types of detox drink though and these are juices, water and herbal teas.
Juices
Pretty much any fruit and vegetable can be made into a detox juice drink with a juicing machine. In this way, your fruit and veg retain much higher quantities of vitamins and antioxidants which in turn benefit you. According to detox experts the best juices for detox purposes include celery, cucumber, carrot, apple, pineapple, lemon and ginger however any drink that you want to try can be tries - experiment is the key.
You should try to buy organic produce fresh from a farm shop or somewhere similar so that you know it has only been picked in the last 24-48 hours. The longer a fruit or vegetable sits on a shelf the more of its vitamin content it losses and the less it will help your detox.
Water
Distilled water or mineral water is essential during a detox programme because it is the main flushing-out ingredient. One point though - the water needs to low-aluminium because aluminium is a heavy metal and a toxin in its own right.
It is recommended that you try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day however you should be careful not to go overboard as it is very easy to upset the body’s natural and very delicate water balance.
Herbal teas
There is a whole range of herbal teas suitable for detoxing however you must make sure that the one you choose is naturally caffeine free. Many people automatically think that green tea is a detox drink however normal green tea contains caffeine so be sure to find a caffeine free alternative.
Dandelion and Burdock tea is especially good for detoxing as is jasmine and lemon tea. Try a number of different varieties until you find a few you like. Some can be quite bitter however a touch of honey works wonders.
Detox drinks are as important to a detox regime as the diet itself so find a couple you like and stick to them. You can always try a few more next time you detox.
Find out more about Water Detox
Copyright 2006, Leroy Fong and Detox-Guide.com
Reprinting this article is allowed provided all references and acknowledgement to the author, the website, and the URL remain intact.
Leroy Fong
Detox Guide | Liver Detox | Colon Cleanse
Spring Cleansing
Your body is an irreplaceable machine that, like a car, needs regular maintenance. This month, as you prepare to give your home a thorough spring cleaning, why not also treat your hard-working body to a good cleanse?
Detoxification, or internal cleansing, can rid the body of stored toxins. Chemicals, drugs, excess hormones, waste products, pesticides, and heavy metals build up in our bodies naturally as well as through exposure to pollutants in food, water, and air.
Increasing evidence suggests this accumulation can impact negatively on our health, and many doctors advocate detoxification to rejuvenate the body.
“You don’t need to do a major cleanse to get great results,” says Alison Vandekerkhove, a naturopathic physician based in Langley, BC. “Small dietary changes, lots of water, and a few simple herbs and supplements will do the trick.”
Before starting a cleanse, Dr. Vandekerkhove urges people with medical concerns to consult a professional. It is then important to prepare a well-rounded plan that won’t stress the body too much, particularly the liver, the largest detox organ.
Take the case of one of her patients, a 35-year-old woman complaining of premenstrual syndrome-cramps, bloating, and irritability. To help remove toxins and enhance liver function, she was put on a mild cleansing diet of organic fruit and vegetables, brown rice, fish and chicken for three weeks. She tried to avoid processed food and sugar. She added a daily protein supplement, as well as a liver support herbal formula. After one month, her symptoms had vastly improved.
“With today’s lifestyle you need more than herbs to get full benefit from detoxification,” explains Dr. Vandekerkhove. “A diet low in refined foods and sugars is important. I can’t emphasize enough to drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily.”
Getting the body moving regularly also assists in cleansing. Exercise need not be strenuous-yoga or walking will do. Deep breathing to promote relaxation and to clear the mind is also beneficial.
As for those herbal helpers, Dr. Vandekerkhove suggests milk thistle to protect and regenerate liver cells. Oregon grape stimulates the liver and gallbladder and aids in digestion and elimination. Artichoke protects and stimulates the liver. Burdock rejuvenates the liver and strengthens the circulatory and lymphatic systems. These herbs are sold alone or in combination in capsule or liquid (tincture) form.
“There are also lots of great cleansing teas on the market, and they’re an easy way to take herbs,” says Dr. Vandekerkhove.
Other nutrients to consider include selenium, needed by the liver to produce glutathione-essential for detoxification. A protein supplement can also be beneficial, as the liver requires adequate protein to break down toxins.
So who would benefit from a cleanse? “Pretty much everyone,” says Dr. Vandekerkhove. “Spring is an excellent time, but any time of year would work. Think about your life and take time out for yourself.”
Vancouver writer Michelle Hancock loves writing about health and the environment and is a regular contributor to alive magazine. Visit http://www.alive.com for related articles.
Tags: alternative medicine, cleansing, Detox, detoxification, internal cleansing, natural healthUnderstanding Constipation
If there is one health problem all Americans have in common, it would undoubtedly have to be constipation. Yes, constipation! More than 90% of Americans are constipated. Constipation plays a major role in obesity which is an American epidemic these days.
The English medical term “constipation” derives from a Latin word constipare which means “to crowd together”. Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 3rd edition, p. 298.
Constipation occurs when the stools are “crowded together” in the colon. Medically speaking, constipation is defined as: Difficulty in passing stools or an incomplete or infrequent passage of hard stools. There are many causes, both organic and functional. Among the organic causes are intestinal obstruction, diverticulitis, and tumors. Functional impairment of the colon may occur in elderly or bedridden patients (persons) who fail to respond to the urge to defecate. Ibid.
The thing that should mentally stick out pertaining to constipation is “hard stools”. Question: what would make the stools hard? Evidently, the stools are supposed to be soft. Soft is the opposite of the word “hard”. The opposite of hard stools is soft stools. Since hard stools causes constipation, then soft stools reverses constipation. Basic mathematics (common sense)!
Now what causes the stools to become hard or hardened? Answer: diet in general and the Standard American Diet in particular which contains excessive meat (slaughtered animal flesh/carcass), dairy products (cow snot/pus/mucus), and starches (stiffening agent, glue). And not only is meat, dairy and starches the problem, but cooking and processing them (in addition to fruit and vegetables) poses the biggest problem, because cooking (killing, altering) destroys enzymes (life), especially in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and grains.
It is the enzymatic activity of living (raw) foods that causes peristalsis. Peristalsis is the wavelike muscular contractions of the alimentary canal or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening (rectum).
When you cook (kill, alter) food, you are killing the enzymes with heat. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures above 118
Tags: body cleansing, cleansing, colon, colon cleansing, full body detox