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 healthCleansing Made Easy
We have all completed a thorough cleanout of our desks only to discover it makes for a much better work environment. Most of us also do an intense spring cleaning, removing unwanted items from our garages, basements, and even our closets.
If cleaning our outside environment improves our inner balance and harmony, wouldn’t it make sense to cleanse our inside as well for optimal health?
Unlike fasting, which can be too intense for many, cleansing your system two to three times a year is a gentle approach that helps remove toxins that accumulate in your body. These toxins are often the predecessors that tip the scale in terms of illness and disease. There are several different contributors to toxic buildup-be it faulty digestion, the water we do or do not drink, supersizing foods, refined sugars and flours, and an over-consumption of bad fats such as partially hydrogenated fats.
Luckily, once given the proper nourishment and hydration, the body has a very forgiving nature and gravitates towards a state of wellness. After cleansing your body, you will notice significant improvements in your outside appearance and internal health. From the bags being cleared up under your eyes and a radiant complexion, to an increase in energy and weight loss, the benefits of cleansing are unmatched.
Cleansing for Better Health
Follow these simple guidelines for a minimum of seven days to reap the best results.
Flush Out with Fibre
Fibre acts as an internal “dust-buster,” helping to flush out and remove unwanted waste from the intestinal tract. I recommend one to two Tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of ground-up flaxseeds daily sprinkled on your cereal, in juice, in a shake, or on their own.
Acidophilus Supplements
Acidophilus is the “good bacteria” that inhabits your intestinal system and is necessary for keeping unwanted viruses, bacteria, and yeast at bay. Unfortunately, due to the overuse of antibiotics, as well as diets filled with an excessive amount of refined sugars and flours and lack of green foods, our “good bacteria” tends to be on the low side. It’s best to obtain a bottle of acidophilus that has a minimum of 10 to 20 billion organisms. During the cleanse, take one capsule three times daily with food.
Eat Your Phytonutrients
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with chemicals called phytonutrients that fight off and help prevent disease. These chemicals help to repair and reverse any cellular damage that has occurred due to environmental toxins found in our food, air, and water. During the seven-day cleanse, eat as many vegetables as possible (with the exclusion of white potatoes) and a maximum of two selections of fruit per day.
Eliminate Refined Flours and Sugars
Refined flours and sugars found in many processed foods suppress immune system function and fluctuate energy levels. Replace these food items with whole-grains such as spelt, kamut, flax and multi-grain breads, pastas, and cereals. To quell any cravings for sugar, eat fruit or drink berry herbal teas.
Drink Water
Drink six to eight glasses of high-quality, distilled, steamed or reverse osmosis water per day to flush out the toxins from your system. For an even greater effect, squeeze fresh lemon into your water for its cleansing properties.
Don’t Eat before You Sleep
Stop eating by 7 pm. Allow your body to have a mini-fast to clean out your system from 7 pm to 7 am. By doing so, you will notice an improvement in digestion and in your overall energy levels.
It is best to cleanse your body a minimum of two to three times per year. Start by following the aforementioned cleansing steps and you will quickly notice yourself looking and feeling your very best!
Joey Shulman, DC, RNCP is the author of the national best seller The Natural Makeover Diet (Wiley, 2006). She is a regular contributor to alive magazine. Visit http://www.alive.com for related articles.
Tags: alternative medicine, cleanse, cleansing, Detox, internal cleansing, internal flushing, natural health