Friday, April 27, 2012

Spring Cleansing


Ahh – Spring has finally sprung – after a long winter, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, brighter and greener.  It’s traditionally a time for Spring Cleaning – and while this generally causes people to think about cleaning their homes – it can also refer to cleansing our bodies.  Spring is a natural and perfect time for undertaking a cleanse/detoxification to remove toxins that may have accumulated and provide our bodies with a lighter start to the season.  

We may not think about it, but we live in an increasingly toxic world.  We are exposed to toxins through our environments (air pollution), pesticides and chemicals in our food, chemicals in the cleaning products and personal care products we use and chemicals used in the manufacturing of much of the furniture in our homes.  Chemicals are ubiquitous in our society and most of us don’t think about our exposure or how it affects our health.  While our bodies were designed to detoxify toxins, the increasingly high level of exposure we are experiencing can create a burden on our detoxification organs, causing them to become sluggish, which can lead to a depressed immune system and greater susceptibility to infections and illness. 

Through our regular daily processes, our bodies create endotoxins that need to be eliminated.  Metabolism, the creation and regulation of hormones and the growth, regeneration and death of cells all create endotoxins that need to be neutralized and eliminated.  Many organs and systems are involved in this process: the liver, the kidneys, the skin, the intestinal tract, the lungs and the lymphatic system. Wastes are filtered from the bloodstream, from our digestive tract, through perspiration and exhalation, through our immune system and lymphatic system.  However, over time, these detoxification systems can get tired, clogged up and worn down and stop working as well.  Undergoing a detoxification program allows our body to have a rest, clears out any excess toxins, recharges our bodies and gives our internal organs a boost, allowing our detoxification system to continue working smoothly.

The main aspect of a detoxification is that during this period, we lessen our body’s exposure to toxins and support our body by ingesting foods and nutrients that support our body’s detoxification activities.  This allows our body to cycle through the cell regeneration cycle at a faster rate, and to build new cells, decompose of aged cells and repair damaged cells more quickly and easily. Detoxification usually involves adopting a simpler diet, eliminating harder to digest foods for a specific time period, and can also involve other tactics such as sweat therapy, hydrotherapy, vitamin C flushing and metabolic cleansing.  We can also support the detoxification process by taking certain supplements, such as vitamins, minerals and/or herbs.

Undergoing a detoxification can be beneficial to anyone, but can be especially beneficial when our body begins to show us signs that things are not working as well as they should be.  Some signs include digestive distress, discomfort or unease, constipation, fatigue/low energy, eruptions in our skin (acne, rosacea, eczema), emotional instability, cognitive difficulties, frequent illnesses or headaches. Detoxification can help reduce sugar cravings, balance blood-sugar swings, facilitate digestion and elimination and restore the internal balance of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.

The first step is to identify where you may be exposed to toxins in your home, work and environment and work to minimize and lessen your exposure.  This may involve switching to natural cleaning products, trying to eat more organically grown or raised food, or filtering your water.   This process also includes identifying and reducing stress. Reducing stress is also a key component of detoxification because if the body is stressed, it is not able to focus its energy on detoxifying and eliminating toxins, as its energies become focused on addressing the stress reactions.  Stress can even increase the amount of toxins in the body, as it can hamper digestion and other body processes, causing the body to become unbalanced and unable to undertake its regular detoxifying activities.  Engage in stress reduction activities, such as walking, yoga or other exercise, deep breathing, meditation, or reading.  

The next step is to adopt a healthy whole foods diet that will provide the vitamins and minerals that our cells and organs need to engage in a successful detoxification process. If the cells do not receive sufficient nutrients, then they can get sick because they are unable to excrete waste. When the body is not able to clear out toxins effectively, then they circulate and re-circulate through the body before eventually being stored in a fat cell.

The whole foods diet should avoid any processed or refined foods including sugar, concentrated sweeteners, alcohol, and white vinegar.  The focus should be on eating lean, unprocessed proteins, vegetables and fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds and essential fatty acids.  It is also important not to overburden the digestive system, and to eat smaller, lighter meals composed of whole, alkaline forming foods, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, while eating mindfully and chewing food well. A vital component of the diet at this stage is to ensure the client is consuming sufficient lean, healthy protein to facilitate the detoxification. Protein provides the body with amino acids that are needed to support detoxification.  There are also a number of nutrients that can be consumed as supplements during the detoxification period to facilitate this process – this includes antioxidants: vitamins E, C, A, zinc, and selenium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B complex, probiotics, glutamine, milk thistle and bitter herbs and spices (ginger, dandelion, bitter greens, turmeric) are all beneficial.

During a detoxification, it is important to get the bowels moving well and ensure that the elimination organs are working smoothly.  If the body is not able to eliminate toxins out of the body, then they will keep re-circulating and free radicals will be produced – causing damage to the cells.  Thus, it’s important to focus on eating a fibre-rich diet, and perhaps even taking a fibre supplement, such as ground flax seeds, psyllium seeds, or hemp seeds, if you have been experiencing sluggish elimination.  Whenever we increase our fibre intake, it’s also important to drink sufficient water to ensure the fibre is able to move the wastes out of the body.

A full detoxification would also involve undertaking a week (or more) of simplified eating, in which you gradually reduce the amount of fat and protein in your diet and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables that are consumed.  This pattern would follow until you are eating a diet that is mainly composed of catabolic fruits and vegetables, vegetable juices, soups and vegetable broths for one or two days. The breakdown of macronutrient consumption for this day or days would be 80% carbohydrates (fruits and vegetables), 10% protein and 10% fats. During this time period, it would be best to reduce the amount of vigorous exercise undertaken, so that the body can focus on detoxifying the body and clearing waste.  Coming out of this simplified eating day, it would be best to slowly increase the amount of protein, whole grains and fats in the diet. Start with adding a small amount of whole grains, but wait 2-3 days to introduce concentrated proteins and fats again.

Following this simplified eating cleanse, the focus should be on eating a fibre-rich diet, and increasing the amount of exercise to stimulate the bowels and ensure toxins are being effectively eliminated.  Throughout the detoxification period, it’s important to continue to drink a sufficient amount of water (depending on their weight and activity level) to keep hydrated and help flush the kidneys of toxins. In addition to water, fresh vegetable juices, herbal and green teas are good drink choices, as they provide hydration as well as valuable nutrients.    

While undergoing a detoxification protocol, at the beginning you may feel uncomfortable, and experience headaches, skin breakouts, altered bowel habits and even bad breath as the body experiences a withdrawal from sugar, alcohol and caffeine and as toxins are being moved out of their storage location in your body to be eliminated. 

However, after a few days, these feelings should pass.  As the detoxification process proceeds, your symptoms should alleviate and you should have improved energy levels, stamina and vitality. Your digestive functions will also often improve, and you can also experience improved concentration, mental focus and clarity.  You may also feel calmer, more rested and have a heightened resistance to illness because the immune system has been supported.  

Here’s to continued good health!  Enjoy the process and the results of a lighter, cleaner self.

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