Detoxification: Just the Facts

We hear the word "detoxification" so often these days that it's become a common part of our language, but do we really know what it is? If you've been a little confused about detoxing, this article will give you some basics about it. Our bodies detoxify everyday - it's simply the process of processing or getting rid of toxins through the colon, liver, kidney, lungs, lymph or skin.

Detoxification is the body's way of getting rid of the pollutants we're exposed to daily in our environment. These can include industrial chemicals in our water, pesticides in our food, heavy metals and second-hand smoke. Unfortunately, these days we are exposed to so many toxins that our bodies can't get rid of them fast enough. That's why it's often necessary for us to use herbs, nutrition and other alternative therapies to assist our bodies in the detox process.

How do you know if you need to detox? Here are some symptoms to look for:

* Frequent or unexplained headaches
* Bad breath or body odor
* Poor memory or sleep patterns
* Allergies
* Poor digestion, gas, bloating
* Chronic respiratory or sinus problems

If you do have some of the above symptoms or just feel the need for a good "clean out," we recommend you go on a 3-7 day juice fast. A juice fast means you don't eat anything, but drink only water and fresh juices. Fresh juices (that you need to juice each day) increase the cleansing process by picking up waste material and moving it out of the body. A fast that is shorter than 3 days doesn't give you enough benefit, and most people don't have the stamina for longer fasts. We also suggest you add enzymes to your fast for greater cleansing effects. Good luck!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/migrainechick/3056235303/

How Do You Know When Supplements Are Good for You?

You painstakingly grow an organic garden, and eat fresh greens from that garden every single night. You know the greens are good for you, but how can you tell? Perhaps you feel good about yourself after you've eaten your salad -- a job well done, and all that. But how do you know that the garden greens really are good for you? Can you feel your body actually becoming healthier by the minute?

Probably not.

But over time, you might notice that you feel healthier. Maybe the results of your blood tests from your annual physical exam are better, Maybe you have an easier time ramping up your workouts at the fitness center. The point is that while you may notice the results of a better diet over time, you probably won't notice anything at the moment you are eating the "good for you" food.

"Good for You" Supplements
The same is true of taking supplements. Many people take supplements that are good for them but feel no noticeable difference in the moment. They can take supplements for a day, a week, a month, or even several months before they notice a difference. But that doesn't mean that the supplements are not creating a healthier body in the meantime. It just means that most people don't notice the healthy results for a while. In fact, some people may never actually "feel" healthier, but will only see the results in lab work.

Whenever you change your diet or add supplements to your daily regimen, chances are that you will experience one of three possible outcomes. It's good to know about all three of these outcomes so that you can decide whether the supplements you are taking are really helping you.

Three Possible Outcomes from Taking Supplements
The three results people usually see from taking supplements are:

1. Nothing is happening.
2. I feel better right away.
3. I feel worse right away.

Nothing is Happening
For a lot of people, this is the common result of taking supplements. They might take supplements--like coenzyme Q10, blue green algae, or even Vitamin C--for months and notice no real changes. To them, that means that "nothing is happening." In actuality, something is probably happening but they can't feel it. Depending on the state of your health, true healing that you can notice may take as long as three, six, or nine months. If you want to know the effects of taking supplements sooner than that, you may need to visit your doctor for some blood work.

I Feel Better Right Away
This response is, of course, highly positive and tells you that you are on the right path. Many people get this response when they add supplements to their diet that fill big nutritional "holes." For instance, if you suffer from indigestion, taking enzymes with each meal will probably result in less indigestion--a pleasant result that you will notice right away.

I Feel Worse Right Away
This response is tricky because it can mean one of two things: either the supplement is truly not good for your body or you are experiencing detoxification. For instance, a person with heart problems might experience a negative reaction from taking high doses of coenzyme Q10, such as heart palpitations or heart pain. On the other hand, another person might experience acne, tiredness, or bad breath as a result of taking acidophilus and blue-green algae. The way to figure out which response you are experiencing is to start the new supplements slowly, and back off if you start to feel worse. Reduce your intake of the new supplement and see if the symptoms improve. After a while, slowly increase the dosage to the recommended amount and see if you feel better rather than worse.

Confused About Supplements?
Are you confused yet? It can take some time to figure what kind of response are getting from adding new supplements to your daily regimen. Being aware of these three possible responses can help you diagnose your response. As always, consult a professional if you have questions or are unable to figure out your body's reaction on your own.

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Photo credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erix/ / CC BY 2.0

Detoxification: Just the Facts

Detoxification: Just the Facts

We hear the word "detoxification" so often these days that it's become a common part of our language, but do we really know what it is? If you've been a little confused about detoxing, this article will give you some basics about it. Our bodies detoxify everyday - it's simply the process of processing or getting rid of toxins through the colon, liver, kidney, lungs, lymph or skin.

Detoxification is the body's way of getting rid of the pollutants we're exposed to daily in our environment. These can include industrial chemicals in our water, pesticides in our food, heavy metals and second-hand smoke. Unfortunately, these days we are exposed to so many toxins that our bodies can't get rid of them fast enough. That's why it's often necessary for us to use herbs, nutrition and other alternative therapies to assist our bodies in the detox process.

How do you know if you need to detox? Here are some symptoms to look for:

• Frequent or unexplained headaches
• Bad breath or body odor
• Poor memory or sleep patterns
• Allergies
• Poor digestion, gas, bloating
• Chronic respiratory or sinus problems

If you do have some of the above symptoms or just feel the need for a good "clean out," we recommend you go on a 3-7 day juice fast. A juice fast means you don't eat anything, but drink only water and fresh juices. Fresh juices (that you need to juice each day) increase the cleansing process by picking up waste material and moving it out of the body. A fast that is shorter than 3 days doesn't give you enough benefit, and most people don't have the stamina for longer fasts. We also suggest you add enzymes to your fast for greater cleansing effects.

Photo credit: Biohazard

7 Ways to Prevent Detoxification Symptoms

How to Avoid Bad Breath, Greasy Hair, Crankiness, and More ...

Mercury poisoning from dental fillings, chlorine hazards from the water we drink, steroid issues in the meat we eat ... it's no wonder many of us are scrambling get on a detoxification program!

There are hundreds of different ways to detoxify your body but most methods share one thing in common: detoxification symptoms. If you have ever done a detox regimen then you know all about these symptoms, which can include:

- bad breath
- skin breakouts
- greasy hair
- tiredness
- irritability
- bowel irregularities

Need we say more? Yuck. The good news is that if you do plan to do a detox regimen, there are steps you can take to prevent these symptoms from occurring, or at least lessen their effects. These steps are simple and easy to incorporate into your daily schedule.

7 Ways to Prevent Detoxification Symptoms

1. Drink Plenty of Water to Flush Toxins
As your body goes through detoxification, it uses water as one of the primary ways to move toxins through and out of your body. Therefore, when you're detoxing, you need to drink more than the usual eight glasses of water. I suggest people drink ten to twelve glasses of water. If you have difficulty drinking so much water, try adding salt, mint, or lime to your water. In addition, you can also try warming the water and adding honey or lemon to taste. Drink only non-chlorinated water, of course.

2. Take Enzymes
Enzymes help your body break down and flush toxins. People usually take enzymes with meals to aid with digestion, but if you take enzymes between meals they will actually assist your body with cleansing. They act as scavengers and trash-cleaners around the body when not needed for food digestion.

3. Avoid Stimulants
Although you may feel tired when doing a detox regimen, avoid taking stimulants like caffeine, if at all possible. Your body has to work doubly hard during a detox, and physical resources are already stretched to the limit. Stimulants like caffeine will only further overburden your system, not to mention stressing your adrenal system. In addition, although caffeine will give you an extra boost of energy, it will steal resources from your body's detox efforts to do so. If you need extra energy, turn to high-energy supplements like blue-green algae, wheat grass, or even freshly juiced apple-celery-carrot juices. You might need to visit your local juice bar for the juices.

4. Add Acidophilus and Bifidus to Your Regimen
Acidophilus and bifidus are the "friendly bacteria" in your gut that not only help you digest your food but also help your body flush toxins. To avoid any constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive issues during your detox, add 2-4 capsules of high quality bifidus and acidophilus to your daily regimen. Buy the kind that has to be kept refrigerated and comes in capsules. This kind tends to be more highly concentrated and powerful because it is freeze-dried. Trusting your morning yogurt to have enough of these kinds of good bacteria won't get you the quantities of acidophilus and bifidus you need.

5. Don't Overwork
Although adding many of the supplements mentioned here will help with detox symptoms, you also want to plan to take it easy while your body detoxes. Depending on how long your detoxification program lasts, you may want to rearrange your work and social schedule so you don't overwork. You may feel tired and irritable during the detox, and it can be a real struggle to work through low-energy periods. Plus, overwork has the exact opposite effect that your detoxification program is trying to achieve, which is a cleaner and healthier body.

6. Add Fermented Foods
Adding fermented foods like Japanese miso and ume plum balls (pills) to your daily diet can really help if you are doing a detox during the cold winter months. Another source of fermented food is Vegemite (sometimes called Marmite or Vegex). Fermented foods can help you feel warmer and more nourished during a detox, while not interfering with the cleansing process. Most of these products are available in your health store, although Vegemite and Marmite are international (British) products. and may have to be ordered online.

7. Sleep In
Whenever possible during the detox, sleep in. Get as much rest as your body asks for because detoxification is hard work! Sleep is one of the most nourishing acts you can do for your body. You relax body, mind, and spirit when you sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, you can try taking some valerian root herb or try the homeopathic chamomile.

Photo credit: greasy lady