Copyright (c) 2007 Mary Ann Copson
In my private practice, I recently received this question about liver cleansing:
“My friends are doing a community liver cleanse and I was wondering how you felt about a liver cleanse/detox? There is something appealing about the idea of GETTING RID OF whatever isn’t working in a particular organ. I have always avoided them; however, because I was (and remain a bit) nervous about what type of healing reaction (as I have heard it called) I would get. I’ve heard people having quite amazing results, even seeing stuff like stones and weird color things in their stool.”
The Lemonade, or Master Cleanse Diet, is gaining popularity on the internet thanks to Beyonce who advertise that she lost 20lbs. in 10 days and how she feels good etc. She makes it out to be some sort of miracle diet. And why not, advertisers know that we have a soft spot for Hollywood stars and anything they endorse makes us consider it and actually buy whatever it is their trying to advertise on us. It’s like if they have done it and were successful in doing so, then it must be true. As if we don’t know any better, we fall into the trap and try another fad diet after another without any success in the process.
There is something that almost all of us have in common, the fact that we are all in need of some intestinal cleansing, whether we realize it or not. The problem is that we tend to eat the wrong things and we are generally dehydrated which causes problems within the colon.
More people are overweight and sick in today’s society than ever before. It’s partly because we often eat junk food on the run all the time, we don’t exercise enough, and the toxins in the air and water are very dangerous. That’s why you need to look into colon cleansing to detoxify your body and give yourself a boost.
There are a number of different issues that come about as a result of this but one of the most pronounced is extreme fatigue, or even headaches. If you have been feeling this yourself, you might be surprised with how much a body detox can help you in this regard.
I’m sure that many of you are wondering what is involved in this plan of action and you might be surprised with exactly how easy it can be. It is not necessary for you to go to extremes in order to accomplish a lot as far as this is concerned.
As a matter of fact, there are some excellent products that are available on the market which are designed to do almost all of the work for you. As long as you follow a specific regimen and take the products as directed, many people report noticing big differences in the way that they feel.
Anyway, there is one thing that almost everyone who is interested in natural health agrees on, and that’s the fact that it is necessary to clean your insides from time to time. Not only does this help you with physical maladies that you may be experiencing but it also gives you an overall sense of well-being that is difficult to deny. That being said, however, not all of these cleansing products are created equally and that is why a well thought out comparison should always be something that you look into before trying a product.
To be quite honest, one of the best ways for you to detoxify is by modifying your eating habits in one way or another. Unfortunately, this is extremely time consuming and it takes a lot of fortitude in order for you to be able to do so. There are plenty of natural products available on the market and a simple round of research and investigation online by you will show you that there is one which will do exactly what you need it to do.
The first thing that you should look at whenever you are doing a review of various formulas or remedies is whether the products are all natural or not. Some of these wholistic and detoxifying products are man-made and may actually be unhealthy for you to take regularly. Although price should not be the only thing that you look at, it is also something that you should keep in mind. Finally, reading about other people’s experiences while using these pills, powders or drinks can be an excellent way for you to compare them, one to the other.
As your body begins to rejuvenate itself and the colon cleansing takes hold, you will begin to notice your fatigue disappearing. Along with that, you will also have an overall sense of well-being which will radiate from the inside out. It’s a side benefit of cleansing that makes the entire process worthwhile.
One of my personal training clients was considering a home colon cleanse, and she approached me with some questions. Years ago, she had a colon irrigation which was expensive and quite invasive. I explained to her the many exciting benefits of colon cleansing, and made her aware of what she could expect to experience.
1) Plan To Be Near A Restroom
ESPECIALLY during the first 3-5 days! Depending on the cleansing agents you are taking, the first 3-5 days promote elimination from the bowel. Many individuals have aproximately 6 partially digested meals in the contents of their colon, that need to be eliminated.
In addition to the elimination of solid waste, individuals that are cleansing eliminate large amounts of liquid waste. Most cleansing procedures either encourage, or require a large consumption of water.
The water is a critical factor for flushing waste from the colon. So, if you are considering a home colon cleanse, make sure you are not far away from a restroom!
2) Cleansing Needs To Be A Way Of Life
Many individuals make the mistake of not cleansing on a regular basis. Most experts suggest a colon cleansing approximately every 3 months. Check with your health care provider for your particular needs.
An increase in dietary fiber may decrease the need for cleansing, particularly as frequently as every 3 months. Fiber performs the function of naturally cleansing the colon.
However, fiber will not eliminate the accumulation of toxins.
3) A Cleansing Is Not A Substitute For A Healthy Lifestyle
Cleansing is PART of a healthy lifestyle. If individuals fail to change other poor lifestyle habits, a home colon cleanse can only bring temporary benefits. Generally, cleansing, when incorporated with other lifestyle changes, can be a life changing experience.
So, is a colon cleanse right for you?
Toxins are very hard to avoid. It is there in the air we breathe. It is there in the food we eat. It is there in the products we use. You just cannot escape them. Since we cannot avoid them, the only other option is to eliminate them. Detoxifying our body means cleansing it and flushing out all the toxins from it. The liver and the kidneys are the main organs whose job is to flush out all toxins from the body. There are several ways to detoxify the body.
Methods Of Detoxifying The Body
· You can nourish yourself with loads of nutritious foods but as long as consume processed foods, you won’t help your cause. The more chemically processed a food is, the more toxic it is. Thus you must avoid them altogether. You can substitute them with healthier alternatives. Do not consume foods that have additives and preservatives. Reduce the consumption of processed meat, pasteurized dairy products, processed oil, processed sugar, caffeine and food with artificial flavoring.
· Our body is mainly made up of water. Re-hydrating the body helps it to detoxify in various ways. Water can be used to suppress your appetite. It helps you to avoid impulsive fast food meals that may add unnecessary toxins in your body. Water helps the kidney in its filtering effort. Water is a very important catalyst for digestion. It helps the lymphatic system to perform more efficiently. You need to drink at least 8 tall glasses of water every day. You must drink water even if you are not thirsty. Many people drink water when they feel thirsty this way they land up drinking very little water.
· The pores in the skin are also a source of bottled up toxin. They absorb toxins from the atmosphere. Brushing your skin can help remove these toxins. The skin is the largest elimination organ. You need to have a skin brush with a long handle. You must keep brushing your skin for at least a few minutes before you take your bath each day. Initially it may sting and/or itch a bit but the end result will be in you favor. Brushing helps the skin to breathe more. It improves the blood circulation, releases toxic wastes and encourages the production of new skin. You can also wet your brush if you find it more comfortable. Results, in both cases, will be similar.
· Another detoxification method is taking alkalinizing baths. You just need to throw in a cup of baking soda or sea salt into the bath water and get into the tub slowly. You need to increase the heat gradually until you start perspiring. The idea is to make the water outside more alkaline in nature than the body itself. It relaxes the body and can work wonders on you, especially when you combine this method with brushing the skin.
· Yoga is one of the most useful exercises for detoxification. The basic rule of yoga is breathing properly. Yoga teaches you to breathe in the appropriate manner. The various asanas of yoga helps the body to detoxify. It stretches the limbs and the muscles and makes them suppler. It frees the toxins that may exist in muscle knots. The asanas enhance the blood circulation in the body. Yoga makes you feel better both physically and mentally. When the blood circulation increases, the toxins are got rid easily and fast. Yoga is a great healer of stress. Stress is a source of harmful hormones. Yoga introduces positive thinking in the mind. It helps you to feel positive physically, emotionally as well as spiritually.
· Coffee enema is yet another way to detoxify the body. For this you would require to procure an organic and fully caffeinated brew of coffee. You just need to ground the organic coffee beans, add boiling water to it, pour it into the enema bag and follow the instructions on your enema kit.
There are various other ways of detoxifying the body. You need to choose the one that suits you the best. In case you are in doubt, you can consult any expert physician. You can also research and find out which method suits you.
So far in this series, we have discussed the obesity epidemic in North America, we have looked at some alarming statistics, and we discussed why diets do not work. I covered in my last article one of the major factors leading to excessive weight gain and why it is such a challenge to cast if off forever.
I said in my last article that consuming processed food in quantities exceeding what your body can discard will lead it to horde this empty ‘food’ as excess pounds. Don’t eat processed food, but only foods in the form that God created them. In addition, cooperate with your system’s natural rhythm and functions.A key to proper weight loss and maintaining good health, is to flush your body clean of the toxins and waste it has stored. Well, I know there is a plethora of information on the Web about colon cleansers and it seems that every day there is a new ‘wonder’ product offering you the best colon cleanse ever. But don’t despair. I know of many excellent colon cleanser out there that I tell people about. The optimum method to use is working with your system’s natural processes and if you find your too impacted, then go with some colon cleansers. You should know that different colon cleansers function fine for some folks, but may not perform just as well for you. So, be prepared to try at least two or three types until you find one that works best for you.
chows down. This means you will need to eat 4 servings of fruits at about 8 oz per serving and 5 servings of vegetables at about 12 oz each serving every day. At the bare minimum, your body needs the daily allotment of fruits and vegetables I mentioned before to assist it in removing toxins and waste naturally and to feed it essential nutrients to fosters correct body functions. Quit whining and begin eating abundant quantities of raw fruits and vegetables. If the above dietary change is a bit too drastic for you, then you may want to consider a natural fiber supplement, but just as a last resort. One way you can take time to tend to your body’s needs, is by eating fresh, raw (as much as possible) fruits and veggies left in their unspoiled state as intended by God.If you have ingested flesh of any kind, diary, and other animal products, then it is extremely important and urgent that you undergo at least two sessions of a colon cleanse to be sure your body is cleared of all the years worth of impacted fecal waste and toxins. If you are on medication, discuss with your doctor this course of action to use a colon cleanser to evacuate your body of stored waste and toxins.Again, fresh fruits and veggies, whole, unprocessed grains, and raw nuts should comprise 60% of you daily food consumption. The most effective foods for liberating your body from toxins and cleaning out impacted waste are found in the berry family. Other top-notch methods to assist the colon cleanse process is to eat whole grain and bran cereals. Eat plenty of vegetables of all varieties including lots of green leafy vegetables served raw or prepared with very little cooking. Include in you food line up loads of asparagus, broccoli, chard, collard greens, kale, lettuce of all varieties (except iceberg), mustard greens, spinach and then some. While you are cleansing your colon, eliminate meat and dairy products and as a matter of fact, you should stay off of all flesh, animal derived foods, and by products for the rest of your life if you want to stay healthy.
