By Kimball Johnson MD on December 27, 2011
The saying “garbage in, garbage out” is familiar to us all. But what if you don’t get the garbage out? If you don’t remove your household garbage, you’ll build up piles of trash. Your house would remain standing, but it would quickly get cluttered and smelly, and eventually it would become unlivable—literally a sick house. Similarly, if you allow “garbage” to build up in your body, you will experience increasingly unpleasant consequences as time goes on.
When you eat, your body goes right to work breaking down the food you’ve ingested, detoxifying and digesting, using what it needs, storing what it thinks it may need later, and eliminating the rest. The more additives and chemicals are contained in our food, the more complex the whole process becomes for our bodies. Some chemicals are not well recognized by the body and thus are more difficult to process. A prime example of this would be trans fats. Eating trans fats is somewhat akin to eating a tire, in that trans fats can never really be broken down and utilized. As a result, trans fats get “tucked away” into fat and into plaque inside the arteries, ultimately causing atherosclerosis.
The solution to getting the garbage out of your body starts with an elimination diet. Take out the bad, put in the good, see the difference (the detox phase), and then slowly add back in one food at a time (the re-challenge phase). While the process works best over a two- to three-week period, it can be done in as little as seven to 10 days. If this sounds too tedious and time consuming, consider how often you eat and how many more meals you will have for the rest of your life. In that context, you’ll find that an elimination diet is a tiny slice of time to definitively figure out what does and does not work for you.
I won’t sugar-coat it (all puns intended): the hardest part of the process will be the detox “symptoms.” If your body is used to sugar and carbohydrates, processed foods and/or alcohol equivalents, you’re likely to feel much like an alcoholic coming off alcohol. You will feel negative effects. In fact, it’s common to feel worse than ever around day four in the process. This is not a sign of going in the wrong direction. In fact, it’s an indicator that you’re going in the right direction by expelling from the body the chemicals that are causing oxidation, inflammation, intolerances and allergic symptoms, all unbeknownst to you. If you persevere and push through, you’ll be rewarded by an amazing burst of energy and clarity around days seven to 10. (Note that if you have complex health issues, you may need a longer detox period along with medical supervision for this process.)
Doing a food detox is like taking out the garbage: Just as you would check every trash can in the house, you should be mindful of all the avenues and organs of elimination when you detox the body.
- Brain: The mind, with all of its power, is your grounding and foundation for the detox process. A positive mindset can work wonders.
- Lungs: Take deep breaths in and out, and get some exercise.
- Skin: This is our largest organ and is critical to detox, as we sweat many toxins out. Sweat internally from exercise and externally from full-spectrum saunas, which are wonderful ways to speed up a detox and ignite the metabolism.
- Liver: This is the detox factory! Putting good veggies and healthy foods in your system will free up glutathione, enzymes and their co-workers to help the liver do the job it was designed to do.
- Kidneys: Keep hydrated, and eat alkaline foods, as acidic foods stress the kidneys. Veggies in general are more alkaline. Urinating throughout the day is ideal, even if it cramps your work day.
- Colon: Keep things moving through your colon, and clean it out. Don’t be shy! You may need more fiber; more magnesium, which puts water into the gut; or a little help from slippery elm or chia seeds. It may be helpful to “go from below” with low-pressure colonics or enemas. For those of you open to more radical things, try rectal implants with organic, green, low-roasted coffee or wheatgrass.
After detox, you re-challenge. Food intolerances can be subtle yet cumulative. It may take 24 to 48 hours for any negative symptoms to be felt, so it’s crucial to add back different food types individually over three to four days, then pay attention and take note of your body’s signals. Once you learn and feel the difference, more simple eating is much easier to do; your body will not want to go back and you won’t have to “bare-knuckle” every meal to stay on track.
When you open yourself to enhancing your body’s ability to “take the garbage out,” you will also solve your personal food puzzle. The results will be tangible, and extend far beyond weight loss. There is a wonderful energy that comes when numerous and confusing food intolerances and cravings no longer control decisions, emotions and actions. I call it “getting your Mo-Jo back!”
Photo credit: daniel zimmel
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By Guest Blogger on July 12, 2011
Yoga is a powerful system that can be applied in many different ways to produce various health-enhancing effects. As a yoga teacher and lifestyle expert, I have traveled the world for almost a decade studying and teaching these profoundly simple and effective techniques that can heal the body, restoring it to its natural state of radiance and vibrant health.
One key to creating radiant skin and health is sweating, which purifies the cells, eliminating toxins from the body and rejuvenating the entire circulatory system. When we sweat, in combination with specific yoga poses, we can further enhance our experience and rapidly increase the process of detoxification.
Why would we need to detoxify ourselves?
In the modern world, we accumulate toxins from just about everywhere. From the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and everything in between. We also create our own toxins through stress and tension we carry in our body. This stress converts healthy fluids and cells into toxic waste inside of us. Our muscles tighten up and hold toxins stored in the knots, stuck tissue, fascia (soft tissue that lies on top of the muscle) and fat. This is often seen most visibly as cellulite, which is toxins trapped in fat over the top layer of our fascia.
To reveal the radiant skin and health that is your birthright, it is essential to detoxify your body. I suggest at least once a month, but if you can do it more often, you will be ever so grateful. The more you make this a habit, the more likely you will start to see the effects and, as a side benefit, you can also begin to look and feel many years younger! That’s right; yoga and detoxification have been proven effective for anti-aging. This occurs when we release the toxins and blocked energy flow from our system, allowing natural health, vitality and vibrancy to flow freely and radiate.
In this article, I will mention a few essential elements to detoxification yoga practices, and just want to encourage you to begin somewhere. The key is to start. Then you can gain the tangible experience and take it to the next level as you are ready.
Five Essentials to Detoxification
1. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Twelve or more is ideal, and when detoxing you may benefit from 16 or more. This will flush the toxins from your system and you will feel rejuvenated and nourished.
2. Sweat. This can be done in various ways (dancing, running, hot yoga, detox yoga flow and cardio exercise). Since skin is the largest elimination organ in the body, this is a key to the detox process.
3. Eat clean, alkalinizing foods. These can include many veggies, fruits and some whole grains. While detoxing, steer clear of all processed foods, cooked meats, dairy and sugars. As we store toxins in fat and mucus, it is key to not consume dairy during this process.
4. Get plenty of rest. Sleep at least 8-9 hours per night to give your body time to heal and regenerate. Detoxing is taxing on the system, as it processes toxins through the organs rapidly.
5. Get massages and other healing sessions to enhance the experience and speed up the efficacy.
Specific Yoga Poses for Detoxification
1. In the detox yoga sequencing, we always work in a pattern that is very conducive for this process. We begin with poses that lengthen the spine, creating space for the organs to move around freely and preparing them to be wrung out like a sponge.
*Extended forward bend
*Crescent lunge
*Chair pose
*Downward facing dog
*Bow pose (and rocking bow to massage the organs)
2. Next we always compress the organs, so we can squeeze the toxins out of the cells.
*Forward bend
*Rabbit pose
*Lunge and warrior poses with abdomen resting on the front thigh for compression
*Child’s pose
3. Last we wring out the organs with twisting poses.
*Lunge with prayer twist
*Seated spinal twist
*Supine (lying down) spinal twist
I typically end each detox yoga session with a gentle self stomach massage to get things moving even more and help the elimination process along.
Be sure to drink plenty of water and get lots of rest.
This can be a very powerful practice, but must be approached with caution and respect. The power and efficacy can also cause one to need extra rest to aid in the process.
I wish you a life of great health and incredible happiness.
Dashama, is an internationally known yoga teacher and lifestyle expert. She is the creator of Pranashama Yoga Institute, 30-Day Yoga Challenge and Perfect 10 Lifestyle. She is also the author of “Journey to Joyful” and 12 instructional yoga DVDs. She leads yoga teacher trainings and retreats in Bali, United States, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and Costa Rica.
Photo credit: Amir Magal
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By Tracy Piper on April 16, 2010
Since spring is a prime time for detoxing, talking about the digestive system seems extremely fitting this time of year.
Gastrointestinal problems are one the most common health complaints challenging our society. These include indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, and constipation, just to name a few. Many live with these discomforts and take pills or other drugstore remedies, never really knowing what more can be done. Some may go to the doctor, and they are either dismissed, given yet another pill or told to take a laxative. Many have never heard of colon hydrotherapy and consider it a new modality. Yet it has been around for centuries, dating back to 1500 B.C. in the Egyptian medical document Ebers Papyrus. Most notably, it was first used by Cleopatra and credited for her porcelain skin.
In modern times, medical professionals like the American surgeon Dr. John Harvey Kellogg have advanced colon hydrotherapy. His experience performing thousands of bowel surgeries led to the conclusion that 90% of the diseases of civilization were due to improper functioning of the colon.
Facts of digestive disorders
· Digestive diseases affect 60-70 million people.
· Digestive disorders account for 50 million visits to physicians’ offices per year.
· 13% of all hospitalizations are for digestive disorders.
· Digestive disorders cost $87-107 billion in direct medical costs and $20 billion in indirect medical costs per year.
(Source: Brenda Watson, N.D., author of “Essential Cleansing for Perfect Health.”)
What is colon hydrotherapy (colonic)?
Once the colon is overrun with old waste, toxins and parasites, a colon hydrotherapy session (colonic) may be needed to return the system to its normal, healthy state. Colon hydrotherapy is a very safe—and often very pleasant—procedure. If more people actually knew how toxic the colon can be, they may be inclined to get a colonic more frequently. During the course of the day, the body can come in contact with all kinds of toxins and unwanted bacteria in addition to normal body waste. If your colon isn’t working a peak performance, these elements can sit stagnant in the system… sometimes for years! Colonics can help bring the balance back to your system and make it a healthy environment. Each colonic session will be roughly the same, and every effort is made to allow the person getting the colonic to remain in a relaxed state for the duration of the session.
What happens during a colonic?
A colonic session is 40-45 minutes in length. Approximately 15 gallons of filtered water are gently infused into the colon using a disposable speculum. The speculum allows for the insertion of filtered water and the removal of waste. The speculum used may vary from therapist to therapist, but they all basically work the same way. As the patient inserts the speculum (with the aid of the therapist) into the rectum about two inches into the rectal canal, a gentle flow of hot and cold water is used to create contractions of the colon muscles. The water breaks down the waste, which then exits the body through the speculum. Gentle massage is applied to the abdomen to help loosen impacted material for a more complete elimination. For personal comfort, most people keep their bodies covered during the session. The use of disposable instruments and tubing is employed to secure total sanitation and hygiene. The waste can be seen in the tube. Over subsequent visits, the entire length of the colon can be cleansed this way. The therapist monitors the water temperature and waste as it exits the body. Often, the therapist can tell a great deal simply by observing the waste—including much about the patient’s bodily health, dietary lifestyle and what may be causing the issue or issues at hand.
How many colonics are recommended?
One colonic, although helpful, is not necessarily enough to effectively cleanse the colon. A comprehensive program with nutritional input, colon management techniques, and a series of five to ten colonics is recommended for a thorough program. The first three colonics should take place over a period of ten days, followed by weekly colonics thereafter. Seasonal maintenance colonics are also recommended. Additionally, a colonic is suggested before a colonoscopy (a medical examination by a gastroenterologist). It is also good to perform before, during and after a long term fast. Working with a therapist on a regular routine can help anyonemove toward a clean, healthy body and lifestyle.
What are the other benefits of colonics?
Colonics tone the muscles of the bowel while removing waste matter from the colon. They recondition colons that have become distorted due to poor eating habits. Colonics also stimulate reflex points, which positively affect other organs.
How do I prepare for a colonic?
To prevent cramping during the session, AVOID ALCOHOL COMPLETELY. To increase chances for success in each session, avoid bread, pasta, coffee and heavy meals. Fruit, vegetables, and grains are good choices to eat. Drink plenty of water, fresh juice and non-caffeinated tea. Also, it is wise to refrain from eating anything two hours prior to the colonic. Your personal therapist can advise you on what to eat following the colonic session.
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By Alejandro Junger, MD on April 6, 2010
As a doctor, some of the most powerful tools that I have found are detoxing and cleansing. By ‘detoxing’ I mean this: a program that will create optimal conditions for the recirculation of toxins that have been trapped in our body’s mucus, as well as support for the liver in its work of neutralizing and preparing those toxins to be eliminated via sweat, feces and urine.
Cleansing is a method of enhancing the elimination of these toxins, as well as the mucus, that the body has generated to defend itself from the irritation caused by toxin accumulation. Cleansing encourages and assists the channels of elimination, through skin, kidneys and intestines.
Quantum physicists have clearly shown that “The Universe is made of Light,” and light behaves both as a particle and a wave, depending on what instrument is used to measure it. Waves uplift, resonate with and attract each other. The stronger the wave, the more other waves will begin to imitate it.
All of these waves are ultimately interconnected with each other; our emotions and our bodies are waves within waves and are continuously affecting each other, and all of us in turn are subject to the effects caused by larger and more powerful ones. We can see these effects in the winter when it seems everyone is a bit more sad and struggling with depression, and the trees and plants mirror that empty and bare feeling as they lose their flowers and leaves.
However, with the arrival of spring, when nature seems to be having a seizure of awakening, everything explodes with waves of life, and all animals, plants and even our own bodies become influenced by this activity. Winter’s depression is swept away by joy and plants bursting with life. Whatever you can do to align yourself with this force will enable you to ride the wave to the other side of the cold and dark remnants of winter.
Here are 5 simple things you can do to enhance these cleansing and expanding waves, and the reasons behind them:
1) Give your digestive system a break. Digestion takes work and slows down other functions, the detox functions in particular. As digestion work eases, there is a point at which the body receives a signal to enter detox mode intensely and releases trapped toxins and mucus.
Be safe and choose your program intelligently. Stopping digestive work completely, as in a water fast, can be dangerous and even deadly. Jesus did it for 40 days, but he didn’t have the chemicals in his food, soil and water that we do now.
Juicing is an effective way to detox and cleanse, but still too intense for most Americans, especially if they are living in the city, working, taking care of children, and socializing. This schedule is too demanding to subsist on juice alone as it does not deliver the amount and variety of nutrients needed to safely and effectively complete this work. Toxin recirculation overwhelms the ability of our liver to detox effectively While juice provides many antioxidants, this is the half of the work of detoxing. People that cleanse regularly and have a clean diet the rest of the time do really well with juicing programs, but juicing fails for so many of my patients because it really needs to be done in the right way.
What I do, myself, is have a liquid breakfast, a solid meal and a liquid dinner. In my book, “CLEAN,” there are recipes enough to never repeat a meal in 3 weeks, providing plenty of nutritional support and variety.
2) Give your immune system a spring break. 80% of our immune system lives in our intestines, and because of the damage caused by modern toxicity, it is constantly in a state of alert and in attack mode. There is a list of foods that really stir things up for the immune system and create a damaged intestine. Dairy, sugar, coffee, and gluten are the obvious culprits, but there are fruits and vegetables that do the same, even if organic. The list of foods to avoid to calm allergies and even autoimmune waves is called “The Elimination Diet.” Following this food plan alone will enable a detox to happen seamlessly and powerfully.
3) Cleanse your kitchen. Nature knows what it is doing. Any time of year, animals all over the planet are eating whatever is in grown locally and in season, and we’d be wise to do the same. Go to the farmer’s market, learn what is in season, and eat whole foods when they’re fresh and abundant.
4) Drink lots of water. Filtered water is best. Not distilled, unless you know what you are doing. Water with lemon is great for cleansing, as lemon is nature’s magic cleaner. In the spring, the ice melts and the rivers run strong. Imitate spring in your body with fresh water flowing through it constantly. Be careful not to overhydrate and wash out your body’s natural minerals with distilled or less than optimal water. Still, if there is a time to drink lots of water, it is during a cleanse—and especially during the spring.
5) Spring has its distinct qualities but shares qualities with all seasons. Day and night happen regardless of season or weather. To sleep at sundown and wake up at sunrise is one sure way to sync with all of nature, the planets and beyond. When was the last time you did that?
These are simple and effective ways to cleanse your body and prepare for the warm weather and necessary expansion of the next season.
Wishing you all a Clean and healthy spring,
Dr. Junger and the Clean Team
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