Safe, Natural, Effective Cleansing
From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, our body is constantly exposed to toxic chemicals. When you have your morning cereal, you may be exposing yourself to pesticides, and the milk may be laced with hormones and toxins. At night, the moisturizer you use may be made with synthetic ingredients.

It's alarming that chemical toxins are everywhere, from soaps, to shaving creams, shampoos, and even the toothpaste we use. Women's lipsticks have been found to contain lead, while many of the plastic containers they come in contain phthalates (a harmful plastic softener). The human body is bombarded with toxins every minute of every day. It's an ongoing onslaught causing more health problems than we ever realized.

According to organizations devoted to protecting the environment, including the Sierra Club, the Izaak Walton League, and even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we are exposed to literally tens of thousands of chemicals and contaminants every day. All across America, from big cities to small towns, from sprawling suburbs to wide-open prairies, harmful toxins are present in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.

The evidence is overwhelming so today's question is no longer whether or not we are toxic, but rather, how do we get rid of these toxins? The hundreds of detoxification products on health food store shelves is a testament to the interest in this subject. Yet, the majority of these products are confusing, have little science behind them, and, in some cases, cause harm.

Q. What exactly is "detoxification"?

A. Detoxification refers to the removal of toxic substances from the body. Detoxification programs include a vast variety of treatments aimed at getting rid of bodily toxins and improving health.

Q. Don't we have a built-in natural detoxification system?

A. Absolutely!

The human body has four main excretory pathways that remove environmental toxins (exogenous toxins)- as well as toxic products produced by the body (endogenous toxins). These include the feces- urine- sweat- and breath. Although some toxins get eliminated directly by some of these pathways- many toxins need to be transformed into water-soluble compounds- while still others have to be changed into complex molecules. These transformations occur in the body's most important detoxification organ, the liver. Other organ systems involved in detoxification include the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, and the skin.

For the most part, they do a pretty good job. But today, our bodies battle greater amounts of environmental contaminants than ever before, overwhelming our built-in detoxification systems. The toxins remain in our bodies, where they can accumulate to dangerous levels.

Q. How do toxins accumulate in our bodies?

A. As noted previously, chemical toxins are divided into two groups: exogenous and endogenous. Exogenous toxins are present in the outside environment. These are found in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, and the things we apply to our skin. Endogenous toxins are those produced within the body from various metabolic activities, including the activity of microorganisms found in the gastrointestinal tract. The body has detoxification mechanisms to deal with these toxic substances, but when total amount of toxins consumed is greater than the ability of the body to detoxify, we accumulate a toxic burden. Toxic burden describes how much toxicity is in the body at any given time.

Scientific detoxification involves reducing the total amount of toxins consumed and enhancing the body's ability to detoxify. (Toxic Burden = Total Amount of Toxins Consumed - Ability of the Body to Detoxify)

Q. What is scientific whole body cleansing?
A. For most people, detoxification means the use of colonics, fasting, lemon juice and honey, sweating, or laxatives. Although some of these practices may have some benefits, they fall short of what needs to be done to achieve an overall whole-body cleanse.

The goal of scientific detoxification is to reduce overall body burden. To minimize toxic exposure and increase the body's ability to detoxify, we need to make sure the gastrointestinal tract is in good health, antioxidant reserves are sufficient for the increased demands, and liver detoxification pathways (phase I and II) are working well. Once these steps are followed, then and only then can we successfully detoxify. For years I have preached that scientific detoxification doesn't only involve doing a cleanse two or three times a year; it also involves supporting your body on a daily basis from the onslaught of toxins. This means finding the right whole body cleansing program as well as a daily supplement specifically made to support your body's own detoxification mechanisms.

The two parts of Scientific Detoxification:
*A 14-day whole-body detoxification program should be done two to four times per year. This helps reduce the buildup of toxic chemicals that every human carries.
*We need to take a daily nutrient combination to ensure that liver and gut detoxification mechanisms are functioning optimally and can deal with the daily toxin onslaught.

HEALTH FACT:
Many detoxification programs are based on senna and cascara, stimulant laxatives that can create bowel dependence, deplete vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, and leave their users feeling drained and fatigued.

Q. What should I consider when choosing an effective whole body cleansing program?
A. Picking a detoxification system that works can be confusing and frustrating. Dozens of herbal combinations promise all sorts of results, sometimes with very little science supporting their claims. The problems with these systems are many:
*They are not based on science.
*The amount and type of herbs used may not have the potency needed to be effective.
*Some of the ingredients may have side effects.
*The overall system does not cater to complete detoxification but instead creates more toxins in the body.

In the last quarter century, scientists have developed an understanding of how the body actually gets rid of chemical impurities. Through this knowledge, we are now better equipped to make recommendations for choosing the right cleansing programs. This wasn't the case 20 years ago, when some fasting techniques were actually detrimental.

Still, even today people working in the detoxification field use enemas, colonics, and stimulant laxatives like senna and cascara to clean the gastrointestinal tract with the hope of ridding the body of toxicities. In some circles, this is the preferred system of cleansing, even though very little research supports such methodologies.

To understand what proper detoxification is we need to look at how the body naturally expels toxic chemicals. For example, how does the body get rid of alcohol, over-the-counter and prescription drugs, contaminated food, and so forth? If we have an understanding of how all this works, then we can begin to effectively enhance detoxification mechanisms and thus minimize the detrimental effects of exposure.

Q. What's the best way to have safe and effective detoxification?

A. The best detoxification program is based on having a scientific understanding of the cleansing process. It needs to be safe and effective with all-natural efficacious herbs and nutrients. The program should be gradual and gentle and work with the body's own detoxification ability and normal patterns of elimination. The program I have always recommended involves two parts.

Part 1: A two-week cleanse that should be done 2 -4 times per year.
This cleanse accomplishes the following:
*Restores health to the liver, so it can once more eliminate toxins, poisons, and contaminants
*Encourages gentle elimination of the intestines
*Binds the freed toxins with fiber for excretion and elimination.
When looking for a cleansing program, make sure it contains a blend of natural fibers that are easily dispersed, a full spectrum liver support formula, and a natural laxative without herbal stimulants like senna and cascara.
What to Eat and Drink While Following a Detoxification Program:

Bottled or Filtered Water , Herbal Teas , Fresh Fruit , Vegetables (steamed or raw),Steamed or Raw Greens like Chard, Spinach, Endive, Arugula Romaine, and Butter Lettuce,Whole Grains like Brown Rice, Millet and Quinoa , Vegetable Juice , Chicken , Turkey Nuts and Nut Butters (no peanuts) , Lamb , Fresh Cold Water Fish like Salmon, Whitefish, Haddock, and Halibut , Legumes like Navy, White, Red, Fava, Garbanzo and Kidney Beans,Cold Pressed Oils like Olive, Canola, Rice Bran, Grape Seed, or Flaxseed , Spices and Sauces like Tamari, Ginger, Garlic, Cayenne, Tarragon, and Thyme, Sea Salt

Dos and Don'ts While Following a Detoxification Program:

Do: *Drink the Water! It's important to drink at least 64 ounces of bottled or filtered water every day.
*Eliminate caffeine and alcohol.
*Avoid beef, pork, cold cuts, sausage, bacon, hot dogs, shell fish, soy products, peanuts, refined oils, margarine and shortening.
*Try deep breathing and meditation to increase the effectiveness of detoxification.
*Eat less dairy and wheat products.
*Expect some changes in your bowel movements.

Don't

*Eat refined flour, sugar, saturated fats, artificial sweeteners, white potatoes or highly processed foods.
*Go hungry! Plan on eating regular meals of suggested foods along with healthy snacks. Try healthy snacks, like almond butter on celery sticks or hummus with carrot sticks or juice.
*Exercise vigorously while cleansing. Your body needs time to rest and rebuild while you are detoxifying. Gentle stretching, short walks in the fresh air and yoga are all good choices.