Detox! If you're like me, you hear quotes like these from many wellness-minded folks:
"I need to rid my body of toxins, time to detox."
"I'm starting a detox diet this week."
"Time for my annual detox juice fast!"
As a matter of fact, I just completed my second detox cleanse of the year. I do a two week detox every six months. Why? I'm Healthy, Why Do I Need to 'Detox'? Many of us work hard to eat the right foods, practice wellness techniques and maintain our stress levels. But even the healthiest of folks tend to embrace 'detox practices'.
First, what are toxins? A toxin is a chemical or poison that is known to have harmful effects on the body. Toxins can come from food or water, from chemicals used to grow or prepare food, and even from the air that we breathe. Our bodies process those toxins through organs like the liver and kidneys and eliminate them in the form of sweat, urine, and feces."
So as stated above, you can break toxins down into four categories: toxins from the air, water, food and chemicals in our environments. Here is an example of each:
Air: Pollution refers to the toxic gases and chemicals, such as methane and carbon monoxide, that are released into the atmosphere only to be mixed into the air we breathe in and exhale out. Pollution toxins can come from vehicle and factory emissions as well as other sources. A notable air pollutant is also cigarettes. Inhaled tobacco products and second hand smoke contain a number of highly toxic ingredients that can negatively affect your body.
Water: A number of toxins have been discovered in water. Everything from chlorine, bleach, fluoride, ammonia and even OTC and prescription medications have been reported to be found in excess in drinking water. An extreme case of toxic water is depicted in the award winning movie Erin Brockovich. Pollutants and chemicals in drinking water have been said to cause everything from depression to illness and even cancer. Water supplies across the globe greatly vary in composition. Spring, mineral and artisan bottled waters have become all the rage in the past decade, although some critics believe that tap water is not as bad as the media depicts. I personally drink bottled spring water or filtered tap water.
Food: Side note: toxic foods do not refer to pesticides. That comes next in the 'chemicals' category. Toxic foods can refer to food additives, highly processed or genetically modified foods and even chemical ingredients in food recipes such as food dyes and chemical flavorings (MSG and aspartame). Over 90% of all processed foods that contain corn and/or soy are genetically modified forms of corn and soy. Stay away from these (ever heard of high fructose corn syrup?!)! A few doctors believe that modern day American diets can actually be considered 'toxic' because of the high intake of processed, dead 'empty-calorie' food items like white flour and sugar. Dr. Robert Lustig, of the University of California San Francisco, says "today's processed food is loaded with sugars that alter the body's hormonal balance, creating a "toxic environment" and an "addiction" to food." -Natural Clinical Practice Scientific Journal.
Here is a short list of food additive toxins to be aware of:
ACESULFAME-K
Artificial sweetener: Baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts, diet soda.
ARTIFICIAL COLORINGS: BLUE 1, BLUE 2, GREEN 3, RED 3, YELLOW 6.
Found in a variety of foods.
ASPARTAME
Artificial sweetener: "Diet" foods, including soft drinks, drink mixes, gelatin desserts, low-calorie frozen desserts, packets.
BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE (BHA)
Antioxidant: Cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, vegetable oil.
PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (Trans fat)
Fat, oil, shortening: Stick margarine, crackers, fried restaurant foods, baked goods, icing, microwave popcorn.
POTASSIUM BROMATE
Flour improver: White flour, bread and rolls
PROPYL GALLATE
Antioxidant preservative: Vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks, chicken soup base, chewing gum.
SODIUM NITRITE, SODIUM NITRATE
Preservative, coloring, flavoring: Bacon, ham, frankfurters, luncheon meats, smoked fish, corned beef.
Chemicals: Chemicals that are toxic may include small amounts of very toxic things, such as pesticide residue dusted onto our freshly-picked, non-washed, non-organic produce. (Always choose organic produce when possible.) High pesticide produce items include non-organic peaches, strawberries, apples, nectarines, bell peppers, celery, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes and pears. Over the counter, prescription and even recreational drugs are all referred to as chemical toxins that can build up in your body over time. Other popular items that contain toxic chemicals that can add up over time are body/hygiene products and things such as household cleaners. Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirant, etc. all, for the most part, are loaded with things you may want to reconsider putting into your body. Sodium lauryl sulfate is the emulsifying agent in most soaps, shampoos and toothpastes that helps create that lather we all expect a good soap, toothpaste or shampoo to have; well, it isn't natural. Sodium lauryl sulfate actually is toxic and a known carcinogen. Heavy metals like mercury (too much fish or dental work) or aluminum (in most antiperspirants) should be toxins of concern as well.
How Does my Body Detox Naturally when I'm not paying attention?
Answer: Our bodies are smart. They have built in mechanisms to detox 'toxins'. Detox organs include: liver, kidneys, skin and lungs. Our bodies' digestive, lymphatic and circulatory systems all play a major role in the process of detox.
Why Should I actively 'detox' the toxins in my body?
Answer: The basic idea behind a 'detox diet or regimen' is that the modern world puts so much stress on our bodies as we are exposed to a large number of toxins on a daily basis, and the natural detoxification mechanisms in place in our bodies cannot keep up the detox demands. Therefore, 'active detox' is a good idea. "Detoxing" refers to taking extra measures to ensure that your body detoxes properly-to deter any negative effects of toxin-build-up in your body.
Like I started out saying, I just finished my second of two Detox Cleanse diets for the year (one every six months). It consists of very clean eating (I have a list of recommended foods to consume and avoid if you are interested here at the office) and Clean Start Detox kit that includes ultra high intake of 'colon-cleansing' fiber, meant to literally brush and sweep out the built up toxins in your colon. Daily herbs that help strengthen and nourish the liver and kidneys (the body's natural detox organs) are also a part of the cleanse. It is a two week process, and I can honestly say I feel better every time I complete it. Let us know if you are interested!
Here is a pic of the Detox kit I like and choose to use:
Also, we have a picture album on www.facebook.com/MasonChiro dedicated to Toxin Awareness if you are interested!