The Dreaded Detox Cleanse!
Contemporary living is full of environmental assaults on the human body that can lead to internal toxic build-up. Toxins come from a wide variety of sources, including air, water, and food, and these environmental toxins end up in every cell of the body. While not everyone may be able to up and move to another part of the country to avoid air pollution from a local factory, there are numerous detox cleanse programs that can help combat some of these daily assaults. The most popular and effective programs include the use of diets, herbs and fasting.
Diet programs typically focus on consuming organic fruits and vegetables. The reason they stress ‘organic’ is because only organically grown produce eliminates the intake of pesticides, which is one of the most common causes of toxins. A diet program rich in fruits and vegetables also ensures an adequate consumption of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Some detox programs only allow the consumption of one type of fruit or vegetable, while others provide lists of the ones allowed on a particular plan designed to cleanse your body. And in almost all instances, pesticide-free is highly recommended.
Herb programs can be specifically tailored to meet particular needs mainly because there are numerous herbs that are directly associated with specific systems of the body. For instance, Milk thistle is used to clean the liver, while ginger root and numerous other herbs are used for the lungs. Licorice root is used to clean the colon and purify the blood and liver. Many people feel that all herbs are safe to take and assume there are no risks involved, but herbs should actually be considered medicinal in nature. A doctor should be consulted before attempting a self-designed herbal cleansing program as it may conflict with other medications you may be taking.
Fasting is the traditional method of cleaning the body. Some fasting programs include drinking copious amounts of water, while other fast diets allow specific drink recipes designed to clean the body and purge excess toxins. Solid foods are not permitted on any fasting program. Essentially, fasting provides the body with time to eliminate toxins and reorganize naturally.
It would be nearly impossible to eliminate every source of environmental toxin from your life unless you live in a bubble. However, a proper diet of organic fruits and vegetables, herbs to meet specific needs, and periodic fasting will help keep the daily bombardment of environmental toxins from overwhelming the body.