Health and Your Life

Simply put, it's "getting the garbage (toxins) out of your body without putting any more in". Toxins can be heavy metals, pesticides, too much vitamin A or chemical residues from the polluted air we breathe or the junk food we eat, which contains sugar salt, artificial colors and flavors. All these are stored mainly in the fatty tissues of the body, and can play havoc with your health if they build up to excess, or if you have a sensitivity.

If you suffer with acne, or if your skin is dull, rough or blotchy, a detox could be exactly what you need. Other symptoms of toxic overload can be lethargy and frequent headaches or simply feeling below par. Detoxing will not only help your skin but the other major elimination organ, the liver. In fact your whole system will benefit!

There are as many detox methods as weight loss diets, and some of them can be quite expensive! There is no need to spend a lot of money on detox. It is something anyone can do if you know safety guidelines. To that end, what follows is a really simple (& cheap!) detox method.

A Simple Detox Plan

We are aiming here to rid the body of garbage, therefore it's important to make the detox diet as light and healthy as possible, but it must be something you can live with for at least 2 weeks. It's no good going on a herbal tea and brown rice diet, if you can only do it for two days!

So, to give you some ideas :

• substitute fish for meat
• cut out alcohol
• substitute herbal teas for coffee and tea
• cut out rich sauces and all fatty foods
• eliminate salt
• cut out all foods made with white flour

Yes, it sounds painful, but there are a lot of healthy foods you can use as substitutes without sacrificing flavor. Keep up the veggies, try serving them sprinkled with herbs or baking them in a quiche without pastry. Try pumpkin seeds as a snack, they're lovely sprinkled over cereal. Go to a health food shop or even the health section of your supermarket and do some research.

If you have digestive problems, a good detox for you may be to cut out all dairy and wheat products. Try soy or rice milk, and breads made out of other flours such as rye, rice and soy flours.

Always take in some form of fiber to help elimination. Psyllium is great, as it does not cause any food allergies. Start with just one teaspoon, and if that causes no bloating or discomfort, increase it gradually.

During detoxification, hydration is very important. Think water. It can be spring water, bottled water, filtered or rain water. If your domestic supply is ok, tap water is fine too. Herbal teas are great, but read the label, some of them can be quite potent! Fruit and vegetable juices are fantastic, but have them instead of a meal, not as an extra. Some of them are quite high in kilojoules.

Dietary Supplements and Herbal Supplements While Detoxing

Some people take dietary supplements or herbal supplements when detoxing. Beyond supplying critical nutrients, vitamin and minerals, some supplements can actually aid the detox process. I like to take a herb called "milk thistle". It helps the liver to cleanse and heal.

Pace Your Detox

Detoxification Aids

Skin brushing (or dry brushing) can aid the detox process, use a loofah or natural bristle brush and starting from the hands brush the skin gently. Always start from the extremities and work towards the heart or centre of your body. Skin brushing aids your circulation, removes dead skin cells and makes you feel rejuvenated.

Exercise will also help. Exercising makes the body sweat, speeding up the elimination of toxic wastes. There is no need to run a marathon, do what you enjoy, but do it regularly.

You may find your skin worsens before it gets better. This is a response to toxins as they are worked out of the body, but soon you'll see a clearer more radiant complexion. Acne will improve, your eyes will look clearer and, as a bonus, you may find your appetite decreases and sugar cravings diminish.

Detoxification Cautions

Pregnant women should always consult their doctor before attempting detox. Young children or sick people should not radically alter their diet in any way. Seek medical advice first.

Just as a thought. It's better to be on a healthy diet most of the time than be on a bad diet and detoxing regularly. It's what we do every day that counts the most. Try to use this detox time to re think your eating habits and lifestyle choices.