Archive for July, 2009
A Detox Support Plan (Part 1)
Posted by: | CommentsDetoxification can be done intensively and may shock the body into ridding itself of chronic conditions.
People often undertake such regimes on retreats. Unsupervised, such rapid and deep cleansing may be dangerous. Deep detoxification should always be undertaken under the guidance of a practitioner.
More commonly detoxification is a gentle process undertaken over a longer period of time.
Detoxification should not be undertaken if pregnant, breast feeding, convalescing, or receiving medical treatment (unless the doctor agrees).
Detoxification often results in symptoms worsening before improving. This is a natural ‘healing crisis’ and can be explained as the body throwing off that which it has acquired through ill-health. Symptoms may include skin rashes, inflammation, joint and muscle pain.
And if you are cutting out caffeine, alcohol or sugar from your diet for the detox then you may also feel very tired, apathetic and suffer from headaches and be irritable. This will pass so do persevere and try not to reach for the thing you have removed that you know will make it all feel better.
It is important to remember your body is constantly eliminating toxins and that your body wants to be well; wellness is its natural state. In this sense prevention is better than cure, and so one of the best ways to detoxify is to prevent toxins getting into the body in the first place.
Lifestyle changes are vital. Read food labels, become familliar with food additives, buy organic if possible or even grow your own!
In addition:
- Avoid overheated polyunsaturated oils and saturated animal fats.
- Try not to overburden your system with stress, pollution, recreational drugs, over-consumption of alcohol, sugar, caffeine and junk foods.
- It is worth noting as we get older our body produces fewer enzyme and hydrochloric acid to break down our food. Even incomplete digestion can create toxins. It is helpful to start a meal with raw food. Raw foods contain enzymes that help with digestion. Or you may consider taking a digestive enzyme to help assist. Cytoplan do a very good one called cytozyme.
- Certain foods eaten over the long term are known to help the detox process. These include seaweeds, miso, mung beans, fresh coriander, buckwheat; pectin containing foods such as apples, and sunflower seeds; and chlorophyll rich foods such as cereal grasses, spirulina and wild blue green algae.
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Symptoms of Toxicity
Posted by: | CommentsGeneral symptoms include tiredness, fluid retention, PMT, regular infections, allergies, fluctuating weight, low sex drive, and difficulties conceiving.
Digestive symptoms include indigestion, heartburn, cravings, loss of appetite, nausea, bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation, and coated tongue.
Symptoms may manifest in the skin as flushing, acne, boils, sweating, dry itchy skin, cellulite, and puffy eyes with dark circles.
Excess waste substances can result in frequent urination, excess mucus, and sinus congestion.
There may also be muscular cramps/aches, joint inflammation, respiratory infections, palpitations, rapid pulse poor circulation, raised blood fats and nervous problems such as pins and needles, dizziness, faintness, insomnia, and headaches. As you can see the list is really neverending.
Cellular Toxicity
Toxicity occurs at multiple levels, levels which ordinarily would operate as channels for ridding the body of unwanted substances.
The most fundamental level is the cellular level. Our cells need to have an appropriate flow of nutrients in and waste out.
An example of toxins directly affecting cellular function occurs when heavy metals such as mercury are utilised in enzymes in place of zinc, because of the minerals’ structural similarity.
Cells also need to exist in correct pH conditions to ensure optimum function.
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The Detox
Posted by: | CommentsThis has become an everyday term, and a popular lifestyle choice especially after a period of overindulgence. Many may choose to ‘detox’ principally to help lose weight, adopting radical short term dietary regimes.
Such diets can help, but this approach to detoxification is superficial and ignores the fact that it can be a rejuvenating and healing technique. In fact detoxification can be promoted at many levels and in many body systems releasing the body’s natural energy.
Anyone can benefit from detoxification, from individuals with poor lifestyles, resulting in the sluggishness of all their systems, through to those who follow healthy regimes but who want to specifically intensify their body’s natural mechanisms and achieve even greater health.
There is no one single method of ‘detoxing’ – detoxification is about making personal choices of how widely and deeply you wish to cleanse, over what period of time, and which tools you choose to support you.
And there are many prducts out there that promise to make this detox quick, easy, painless and extermemly successful. But do you really need them?
What is Detoxification?
Detoxification is a natural physiological process that rids the body of unwanted chemicals which are capable of harming the it. These include those produced by the body’s own metabolic processes and those we are exposed to in our environment (plastics, metals, pesticides, fumes and cosmetics).
The body has a sophisticated system of circulating fluids to pick up and transport toxins, and organs to neutralise and excrete them from the body, including the liver, kidneys, and skin.
The modern environment and lifestyle adds additional burdens to the body and its natural processes of detoxification can be overwhelmed. Such congestion and dysfunction can lead to a number of health concerns.
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Guide to E Numbers Part 3
Posted by: | CommentsThe E number system was introduced to make it easier for manufacturers to list all the ingredients on the packaging of their goods.
The E in ‘E number’ means these numbers have been tested for safety and been granted use in the European Union.
If you are vegetarian or vegan then there are some E numbers that you should not consume and some to remain wary of unless certain of the source.
I will list the numbers, their names and any possible side effects. Contrary to popular belief not all E numbers are bad for you.
E140 Chlorophyll: No known adverse effects
E141 Copper Complexes: Asthma, Skin irritation, Hay fever
E142 Greens: Hyperactivity, Asthma, Urticaria, Insomnia
E150 Caramel: B6 deficiency seen in rats
E151 Black PN: Intestinal cysts in pigs
E153 Carbon Black (Vegetable Carbon): Possible links to cancer according to U.S. studies: Not necessarily suitable for vegans
E154 Brown FK: Hyperactivity, Asthma, Urticaria, Insomnia
155 Brown HT: Hyperactivity, Asthma, Skin Sensitivity, Insomnia
Frozen Fruit Lollies
Posted by: | CommentsOne sneaky way to get fruit into your children (and us as well) is to disguise as ice lollies.
Take 1 punnet of strawberries, washed and hulled; 2 thick, chopped slices of pineapple, 2 bananas and 250ml of either orange or apple juice (ideally not from concentrate).
Combine all ingredients in a blender and whizz until smooth.
Pour into lolly moulds with sticks or paper cups and freeze.
These are great on a hot day and no-one will realise that they are good for you!
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