We hear a lot about detoxing these days, but have you ever wondered why it is so important to do this on a regular basis, even for those who feel pretty healthy? Even though you may not be aware of it, we face an onslaught of toxins every day. In the past few decades, we’ve seen more toxins enter our environment than ever before. They are stored deeply in our cells, tissues and muscles unless we start to get rid of them. These toxins contribute to illness and disease and starts from the earliest stage of life- studies show that cells of newborn babies contain some 200 chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects and other serious illnesses. So while we can’t avoid these toxic substances, we can help to expel them with regular cleansing and detoxification.

So how do we cleanse and detoxify?
Our body usually eliminates toxins via our natural pathways- skin, kidneys, lungs, lymph and bowel. If these detoxification pathways are not functioning optimally, -say we do not have efficient bowel movements or our skin is showing signs of an overload of toxins with blemished or acne skin. Our major organs can become “diseased.” Our minds can also be affected and we can experience negative thoughts and emotions, so it is important that we not only cleanse the physical, but we also take care of the emotions.

One of the simplest ways of cleansing is to start eating healthier foods, preferably organic, as there is a smaller toxic load. Eat a diet of fresh, live fruits and vegetables that are full of enzymes to help alkalize our body. Increasing our intake of pure water- remember at least 2-3 litres a day helps to remove toxins from the kidneys and hydrate every cell in our body.

Give your digestive system a chance to cleanse and rebuild. By fasting on raw veggie juices, herbal teas and pureed soups, we give our body a break from having to work hard to digest a complex meal. Remember the 80/20 rule-eat only until your stomach is 80% full to allow 20% room to digest. If we eat until we’re 100% full (or more) it slows our digestion and doesn’t allow for our digestive juices to do their job.

Cleansing the colon with Colon Hydrotherapy is one of the best ways to flush toxins from your intestine. It’s not as scary or embarrassing as it sounds! In fact it can be a very pleasant convenient way to cleanse. Contrary to popular belief, colonics do not remove the friendly bacteria from the colon, but instead help to restore the slightly acidic environment that helps these beneficial bacteria proliferate. Most people have 2-3 kg of old faecal matter in our colons even if we have a bowel movement every day. When we remove this with a colonic, the body is free to absorb the essential vitamins and minerals in our diet.

Move your body! Exercise is an excellent detoxifier. Our skin is our largest organ of elimination and allows us to sweat. Saunas are also a great option. In fact, Far Infrared sauna therapy is now being used to help drug addicts detoxify chemicals out of their cells and therefore the addiction ceases. Jumping on a trampoline is one of the best low impact exercises for getting your lymph fluids flowing and toning your body.

Dry skin brushing with natural bristle brush can help your lymph system clean out the toxins that collect in the lymph glands. Toxicity can gather beneath the skin due to chemical soaps and body products as well as synthetic fibres worn close to the skin. By gently sloughing these off we allow our biggest organ of elimination to cleanse and stop these harmful chemicals from being absorbed.

Ensure the body has enough rest to allow it to rebuild itself. When we sleep adequately we allow our channels or elimination to work optimally. Go to bed when you feel tired and try to wake at the same time every morning. The body loves routine. There is a reason why we call it “Beauty Sleep”

Cleansing your mind is just as important as cleansing your body. When we hold on to past negative emotions, we store them in our cells and create disease. The impact of our thoughts and feelings on the body is well documented. Through techniques such as visualization, affirmations and even prayer we can strengthen and enhance the cleansing and healing process. Letting go and releasing allows us to make room for joy, love and trust and the physical cleansing will be easier.

When we detox symptoms can get worse temporarily….
When our body starts detoxing, we sometimes experience a worsening of the symptoms we are trying to rid ourselves of. We may experience headaches, flu symptoms, aches and pains, fatigue and skin eruptions. Don’t be discouraged; this is part of the healing process and often a sign that more cleansing is needed. Remember to continue to drink plenty of pure water to help flush the toxins from the body.

How long will it take?
Well it’s different for everybody, and it depends on how long the toxins have been in your body and how embedded they are. The reward for this all out effort will be clear enough- you will experience the full joy of a strong, health mind and body with enough energy to do what ever you want!

©Copyright 2008. Natalie Bondine