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Do We Really Need to Detox?
By Tracy Piper on June 8, 2011
Can you remember all the junk food you have eaten in your life? From childhood, high school and through college? All the environmental and chemical toxins we have come in contact with? Now, imagine a magical potion taking them all away, washing us squeaky clean and making us new as a baby. Sadly, there is no magical potion, but there is hope. We can revitalize our body and our cells, reduce our toxic load and bring new life to our bodies. “How?” you may ask. By detoxification.
Detoxification, or cleansing of the body, can be achieved in many ways: fasting (abstaining from food for a few hours or days), drinking juices for days, taking herbal formulation and colon cleaning by colonics. These detoxification methods allow the body to divert its energy from digesting food to detoxifying poisons stored in many areas of the body.
Why the need to detoxify?
The food we eat, beverages we drink and the air we breathe all contain some form of contaminant. The body is designed to handle some toxins, but not the onslaught that it has been given due to our “civilized” society. The intake of processed food, chemicals and environmental toxin in the millions, food additives, stimulants and genetically engineered and radiated food are all part of our “civilized” society.
The body has many organs of detoxification: lungs, kidneys, liver, colon, skin and lymphatic system. The effectiveness of these organs to eliminate waste matter of all sorts depends on how well they are functioning. If the channels of elimination are clogged, then toxins build up and back up into the system.
Along with physical toxins, we are also holding on to emotional toxins.
Intermittent or continuous negative thinking or emotions such as fear, sadness, worry, anxiety and anger can cause havoc on our spiritual well-being. Detoxing negative emotions is as vital to our health as bodily detoxification. There are mapping on the large intestine outlining negative emotions for instance. The sigmoid and cecum areas hold fear, the descending and ascending colon holds sadness, the splenic flexure holds worry, the transverse colon holds anxiety and the hepatic flexure holds anger. The negative emotions combined with physical issues will tamper with the healing of the body.
When given the chance the body totally regenerates itself with proper dietary choices and detoxification. The entire body can regenerate in two years. Ninety-eight percent of the body will regenerate in less than a year. Red blood cells rebuild in four months, the liver in six weeks, the stomach in one month and the intestinal lining in five days. In order for this magnificent machine to work at optimal function it has to be given the right fuel. This fuel will allow the body to build healthy tissues and organs. The body must be cleared of toxic matter!
Changing our diet and increasing our exercise is only part of the equation for detoxification. The foundation has to be strong and durable and it cannot be if it is laden with toxins. An overload of toxic material makes the body unable to absorb and assimilate nutrients coming in from the food eaten. With all this is mind it is important to begin any health regimen with a good detoxification program and continue periodic detoxification seasonally. Regular detoxification is effective in preventing many diseases from occurring or re-occurring.
What are sources of toxicity?
There are many sources of toxicity such as normal metabolic processes, poor elimination of undigested food, poor digestion of food, food preservatives and dyes, household cleaners, water softeners, cosmetic chemicals, various types of chemical toxins, second-hand smoking and lingering pathogenic toxins from previous illnesses.
When should we detoxify?
Every change of season is a good time to rid the body of built-up toxins, but “spring cleaning” is ideal because it is the time that nature goes through rebirth and growth. But one can cleanse anytime.
What are the signs that one needs to detoxify?
Signs that a cleansing is in order are constipation, acne, fatigue, constant bloating and excess gas, mucus buildup, PMS, depression, mood swings, nausea, halitosis and a low immune system.
So start detoxing when you have any of the symptoms mentioned or after eating poorly like during the holidays or on vacation or when your intuition tells you.
How to start?
A detoxification program can last three days to weeks depending on your health goals. If you are going to embark on months of detoxification, please consult a health care practitioner or doctor. Get regular blood work so your doctor can keep track of your progress.
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