Want to feel better and lose weight? Why not add a Simple 7 Day Detox to the mix and experience positive weight loss, increased energy, a sharper mind and generally feel better!
How? Book an appointment to see me in clinic or via Skype to support you through a healthy vitality-enriching detox!
In the meantime, have a read of this post about the impact of toxins and their adverse effects, the importance of detoxification and how quantum physics technology combined with naturopathic medicine may assist you to achieve improved health and optimal wellness.
Why detoxify?
We often think of detoxification as an annual event, focusing on ‘Dry January’, or a 24-hour juice cleanse to ease us when we overindulge. To encourage optimal health, consider a detox as part of your health rehabilitation plan, regardless the time of year. Below are some of the toxins you want to remove from your system.
Endogenous toxins
The body creates endogenous toxins during the metabolism process. These toxins are known as free radicals. When free radical production exceeds antioxidant intake, cellular damage occurs.
Exogenous toxins
These are the poisonous by-products that the body ingests but cannot neutralise. These include alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, recreational drugs, over-the-counter medicines, hair bleach, and non-organic skin creams and lotions.
Environmental toxins
The most damaging environmental toxins include pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, petrochemicals, exhaust fumes, chlorine, heavy metals (e.g. mercury), and environmental oestrogens (from dairy and non-organic farming). These toxins poison the cells and tissues directly.
In regards to fertility, a preconception detox is one of the best ways to ‘prepare the soil’ before becoming pregnant. This will support liver health for proper hormone balance, improve uterine health by increasing circulation, and tonify the uterine muscles. Ideally a preconception detox is based on your monthly cycle and generally lasts from 25 to 30 days.
Getting rid of toxins in the body, which often come from cigarettes, alcohol, environmental oestrogens, pesticides, food preservatives, heavy metals, medications and synthetic hormones, can help dramatically improve many health conditions. These include allergies, headaches, arthritis and other joint problems, hormone problems, thyroid gland problems, stubborn weight gain, gut problems, skin disease and even mental health issues.
Detoxification is an important part of improving outcomes of many conditions and optimising your overall health. This usually consists of supporting the liver’s natural ability to detoxify as well as the other elimination organs including your kidneys, lymphatic system and skin. This in turn can support your body to self-heal.
Great news is detoxification can be enhanced tremendously alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle. Nourish your body through diet, lifestyle and naturopathic medicines!
Naturopathic medicine for detoxification
The most effective detox is a combination of the following recommendations.
Keep an eye on your antioxidant intake
Antioxidants are our internal defence mechanism against toxins and cellular damage. To boost your antioxidant intake, have 8 to 10 portions of (preferably organic) vegetables and fruits each day and incorporate antioxidant-rich superfoods and vegetable juices for an extra boost. These foods include green tea, blueberries, pomegranate, cacao powder, goji berries, Acai berries and cinnamon. (Avoid/limit fruit if you have been diagnosed with a candida overgrowth).
Minimise unnecessary toxins in your diet
It may be hard to avoid exhaust fumes, atmospheric carbon dioxide and petrochemicals, but you can control what you eat, particularly dairy and meat products.
An area of much controversy is the high concentration of hormones and antibiotics in dairy and meat products. Cattle are exposed to frequent rounds of antibiotics to keep them disease-free, fast-growing and in the case of cows, yielding high quantities of milk. At least two-thirds of non-organic milk is extracted from pregnant cows. This contributes to considerably higher levels or oestrogen and antibiotics in milk, which may lead to hormonal and immunological changes when consumed in significant quantities.
Our bodies struggle to detoxify these hormones and antibiotics. Whenever possible, avoid non-organic dairy, meat and fish and experiment with nourishing non-dairy milks, such as almond, hemp and rice milk. If you can’t resist the occasional steak, make sure it is grass-fed and organic.
Steer clear of pesticides
Herbicides, pesticides and fungicides are rife in our non-organic food chain. Whenever possible, focus on organic produce. Ideally, eat seasonally and locally produced foods as much as possible. If sourcing organic products is difficult, consider signing up for a weekly delivery of organic vegetables and fruits, or seek out local farmers’ markets. If cost is an issue, wash non-organic fruit and vegetables thoroughly with Citricidal (grapefruit seed extract) or vinegar to remove nasty compounds from the skin.
Drink detoxifying herbal teas
Organic herbal teas aid detoxification and encourage regular bowel movements. My top choices include dandelion tea, mint tea and nettle tea.
Try my detox cocktail
Here is my detox cocktail – drink every morning for six weeks. In a large glass of water, add:
- 1 dessertspoon liquid chlorophyll
- 1–2 dessertspoons aloe vera juice
- 1 dessertspoon psyllium husks.
Stir and drink immediately, followed by another glass of water.
Liquid chlorophyll acts as an internal deodoriser and a ‘prebiotic’ to help grow delicate beneficial gut microbiota. Aloe vera is a soothing, healing plant that helps eliminate toxins, especially if you are prone to constipation. Psyllium husks are an important dietary fibre and help to bind and excrete toxins. Just think of these husks as an ‘intestinal’ broom.
Get adequate sleep
Why is sleep so important? Because the detoxification enzyme, glutathione, is activated during sleep, so eight hours shut-eye is critical. Sleep also curbs sugar cravings and reduces the toxic stress hormone adrenalin.
Think about your skincare
Do you read the labels of your skincare and hair care products? Every year, new toxic chemicals are developed and incorporated into our moisturisers, makeup and hair dyes. Sixty per cent of what we coat our skin with ends up in our bloodstream. On average, women especially, are exposed to over 500 different chemicals from their skin and hair care before leaving the house!
Avoid ingredients that sound unnatural. Some common chemicals to avoid include parabens (Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben and Isopropylparaben), phthalates (Di-butyl-phthalate, Di-ethylhexyl-phthalate), petroleum by-products (Petrolatum, Paraffin, Dipropylene, Glycol, Butylene), sodium laurel/laureth sulfate, Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA), and Formaldehyde (Diazolindyl, Imidazolindyl urea).
Instead, focus on organic skincare products or get creative and make your own. The simplest, most natural moisturiser? Coconut or olive oil with a splash of your favourite essential oil.
Simple 7 Day Detox
Toxins stored in body fat and other tissues can be released by calorie restriction. Traditional detox diets accomplish this with multi-day fasting, but the same benefit can be achieved by total elimination of refined sugar and a convenient overnight fast. Sweating with sauna or exercise are also effective ways of mobilising stored toxins.
10 golden rules for a 7 day detox
- Do not eat between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- Avoid ALL refined sugar, such as cakes, biscuit, sweets etc
- Avoid all grains (including wheat) and dairy.
- Drink plenty of filtered water.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Eat regular servings of light protein balanced with high fibre vegetables.
- Start the day with warm water and lemon juice.
- Supplement with probiotics, milk thistle, turmeric, B vitamins and selenium.
- Sweat every day with a sauna or exercise.
- Dry skin brush in the direction of your heart every second day.
- Sleep eight hours per night.
So start your detox now and book an appointment today!