Seasonal Detox - cleansing toxins from body through diet - Brief Article

Supercharge your health with a personal purification program

It used to be that "detox" meant you were checking into a special facility to be weaned from hard-core alcohol or drug addiction. But these days, you're just as likely to find people using the word to describe the process of improving their health by ridding their bodies of caffeine, tobacco, junk food and environmental pollutants. Consider detox a remedy for that chronic condition known as late-20th-century life.

"We're living in an environment that's full of chemicals, toxins and pesticides, and there's no way of avoiding contact with them," says Chris Clark, M.D., medical director of The Raj, an Ayurvedic healing center in Fairfield, Iowa. "A lot of those chemicals are associated with specific illnesses, like cancer. For that reason alone, everyone needs to detox."

Recurrent colds and flu, fatigue, digestive ailments and skin disorders are sure signs that your body's waste removal systems (liver, kidney, lungs, skin, lymphatic and gastrointestinal systems) could use a thorough cleansing. Advocates believe that regular detoxification can also help with chronic conditions, including cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, arthritis and allergies. "A detox allows the body `breathing space,'" explains Jane Alexander, author of The Detox Plan (Journey Editions, 1998). "The body's detox systems become overloaded when bombarded with toxins. A detox takes away the primary causes of overload and gives these systems a chance to work at optimum levels."

Eastern cultures have long recommended routine cleansings with each change in season. A spring detox, for example, helps us make the transition from cold weather to warmer temperatures. Individual programs vary, but their aims are the same: flush out toxins through an intense five- to 21-day regimen that includes avoiding or reducing sugar, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and drugs; consuming fresh, whole organic foods and purified water; exercising; using stress management techniques; colon cleansing; massage, bathing, steaming and all-over body exfoliation. "It takes 21 days to change the chemistry of the body," says Brian Clement, director of the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Bookstores are filled with how-to guides on the subject (see box), and scores of healing centers offer supervised programs. But if the idea of a three-week cleanse (or even a long weekend) is too daunting, try some of these simple suggestions:

1 Eat less dairy (especially cheese) and junk food and more fresh organic fruits and vegetables. They contain phytochemicals that help us detox naturally.

2 Drink more fluids, particularly purified water and fresh-squeezed juices. They help flush toxins from your body.

3 Try a liquid diet (one day a week) of broths, pureed vegetables, water and juices.

4 Drink herbal teas like fenugreek, eucalyptus, peppermint and spearmint. "They clean out mucus in the body [which can trap viruses and bacteria] and promote urination and elimination of feces," says Clement.

5 If you're constipated, use a gentle laxative, like psyllium. Regular bowel movements help prevent toxins from building up in the digestive tract.

6 Take a steam bath, sit in a sauna or get a massage--these loosen toxins and move them out of your body.

7 Relax or meditate at least five minutes each day.

"Incorporate any one of these into your life and you'll be doing your body a huge favor," says Alexander. "Incorporate all of them and you're well on your way to seriously detoxing without ever going on a program."

It's important to note that as beneficial as a detox program is, it does have some uncomfortable side effects (commonly known as a "healing crisis"). These include flu-like symptoms, acne, headaches, fatigue, digestive disruptions and sweating. "It depends on how toxic your system is and how sensitive your body is to change," says Alexander. "Your body is throwing off possibly years of abuse and toxins. But the tough moments are all short-term inconveniences. They show that the detox is working."

But take care not to go overboard--excessive detoxing can make you ill. "Our bodies are designed to cope with a certain amount of toxicity and muck," says Alexander. "It's unrealistic to expect to be squeaky-clean on the inside."

It's important to remember that detox is not for everyone. People who are pregnant, convalescing, preparing for surgery or who have blood glucose imbalances should not undertake this type of program because it puts added stress on the body at a time when it has other priorities. And if you're suffering from a chronic health problem, it's vital to have a qualified health professional monitor your progress.

Resources

The following books offer complete plans, recipes and advice for handling side effects.

The Detox Diet by Elton Haas, M.D., (Celestial Arts, 1996)

The Detox Plan by Jane Alexander (Journey Editions, 1998)

Rejuvenate: A 21-Day Natural Detox Plan for Optimal Health by Helene Silver (The Crossing Press, 1998)

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