Detoxification, as its name suggests, is the process of removing toxins or poisons. Your body is in a constant process of detoxifying, neutralizing, and eliminating the myriad toxins encountered in our environment, as well as the waste products of normal metabolism.
The Typical Detox Kits
Most of the detox kits sold on the Internet and in health food stores consist of laxatives and fiber to clean out the colon. Some also include herbs and other nutrients for liver support. They’re designed to be used for a month or so and often come with recommendations to eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol, sugar, caffeine, meat, and the like.
Give Your Body a Break
My approach is a little different. Rather than spending a month attempting to unload toxins from your body, I believe that you should take daily measures to support your natural detox systems.
Eat, Drink…
First, eat a healthful diet with plenty of fiber-rich vegetables, beans, and other plant foods, and avoid artificial additives and excess alcohol (as well as acetaminophen and other drugs). And for good measure, take supplemental fiber, such as psyllium, glucomannan, or my favorite, freshly ground flaxseed. If you have regular bowel movements, laxatives are not necessary, as even natural laxatives can be harmful over time. For optimal bowel function, I also recommend daily use of probiotics.
Second, drink a lot of water. The kidneys filter metabolic waste products and excrete them in the urine. Water is so important that if you don’t drink enough, your body will divert limited resources to life-sustaining functions such as maintaining blood pressure—at the expense of flushing out toxins. Get into the habit of drinking at least eight glasses of purified water per day.
…Sweat and Supplement
Third, exercise—and sweat. The lungs and lymph are also involved in detoxification, and exercise encourages deep breathing and gets lymph moving. Make sure you exert yourself enough to build up a sweat. Sweating mobilizes and excretes stored toxins.
Fourth, take supplements that nourish the liver, your primary organ of detox. Your best bet is a combination product like Liver Cleanse, which contains milk thistle, selenium, alpha lipoic acid, and N-acetyl-cysteine. You can order it by calling (800) 810-6655. No matter how vigilant you are about your health, you cannot entirely escape the toxicity of our world. However, these recommendations will keep your natural detoxification processes running smoothly.
