Written by the Good Health team.
Detoxing is considered an effective way to enhance overall health and vitality. Essentially it involves cleansing the body from the inside out, getting rid of toxins through the liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system and skin. To be even more specific, detoxification rejuvenates the organs at a cellular level; stimulates the liver and kidneys to drive toxins from the body; promotes more efficient elimination through the bowels, kidneys and skin; improves lymphatic and blood circulation around the body; and re-energises the body!
Besides a generally unhealthy or unbalanced diet, there are many things that can leave toxins in your body, including alcohol and coffee consumption, smoking, medication such as steroids and oral contraceptives, and exposure to pesticides, heavy metals and sprays. If you’re not sure whether you’re “toxic” enough to require a detox, here are some common signs that you’ve got a few lingering nasties in your organs:
- Bad breath
- Allergies
- Unexplained fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Constipation
- Joint pain
- Frequent infections
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Menstrual problems
- Headaches
- Foggy brain
- Rashes, itchiness or skin sensitivity
- Strong body odour
- Difficulty losing weight
- Cellulite
- Gallstones
Like all things in life, there are two sides of detoxification. While it can be a delightfully energizing experience for some people, others can find the detoxification road a tough one, enduring side effects along the way. Should you decide that a detox is what you need to combat your post-holiday indulgence, it’s best to go in with your eyes wide open.
| POTENTIAL BENEFITS |
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS |
• Increased energy
• Improved digestion
• Improved sleep
• Faster recovery after exercise
• Clearer skin
• Reduction in body odour
• Fresher breath
• Improved mental clarity, memory, concentration and overall mood
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• Headaches
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Flu-like symptoms
• Aching joints and muscles
• Increased gas, bloating and cramping
• Coughing up mucus |
During detoxification it is important to listen to your body and try to persist even if it means cutting back on the dosage for a couple of days if the going gets really tough.
While there are some detox programmes that favour specific techniques like juice cleansing, often detoxification just involves eating naturally nutritional food and avoiding foods and chemicals that leave toxins in your body. Many people also use supplements to help stimulate the process.
When detoxing, here are some helpful do and don’ts:
| EAT/DRINK MORE |
AVOID
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• Unrefined, whole foods found in their natural state
• Raw, leafy, bitter greens in salads
• Juices or smoothies (they’re great for the liver and digestive system)
• Carrots, pumpkin, capsicums and all other yellow/orange fruit and vegetables (they’re full of antioxidants)
• Whole grain carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, amaranth and kumara (instead of potatoes, pasta, white rice and bread)
• Lean fresh meat and fish (they’re good sources of protein)
• Vegetables from the brassica family ie. broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, garlic and onions (they’re all good for the liver)
• Water (and lots of it)
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• Refined and processed foods
• Dairy
• Saturated fats
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Chemical cleaners and skin products (natural is always better)
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Good Health supplements that stimulate and support detoxification include:
Good Health Liver Tonic contains milk thistle, dandelion root, globe artichoke, burdock, schisandra, turmeric and the amino acid taurine, which support and cleanse the liver and gallbladder.
Good Health Multi Fibre contains fibre. Increasing fibre is very important during a detox. As your organs and tissues release toxins into the digestive system, fibre helps to absorb the toxic material, grabbing on to it to be expelled from the body, and thus preventing it from being reabsorbed.
Good Health Opti C contains Vitamin C, which allows the body to produce glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps to detoxify the liver.
Good Health Liquid Chlorophyll assists the elimination of toxins, pesticides and heavy metals. It also improves energy levels. Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in green plants and is particularly high in green vegetables especially spinach, kale, chard, mustard greens, collards, fresh herbs like parsley, coriander, and blue-green algae particularly Spirulina, wheatgrass and barley grass.
Top Tip: As your largest organ, your skin absorbs all sorts of toxins so having regular saunas or spas can help toxins escape the body through sweat. Dry brushing skin is also a good way to remove toxins through your skin.
Detoxing is not recommended for everyone, in particular pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, children, and those suffering from chronic diseases. If any of these sound like you, consult your health care professional before embarking on a detox.
For most of us detoxification is a great way to cleanse our body from the inside out, and who doesn’t want to start the year off fresh?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Good Health is a proudly New Zealand operated business, started over a quarter of a century ago by John Blanchard. At Good Health, we understand how the power of nature can boost your body’s natural immunity and support systems, enhancing your health and vitality.
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