Let starts by defining what detoxification means. Detoxification is a process by which your body gets rid of the toxins that are harmful to not only the organs and organ systems of your body but also your body’s natural state of homeostasis (state of stability).

What are toxins and where do they come from?

Toxins are chemicals found in the air we breath, the water we drink, the food we eat and any drug or over the counter medication we take (Kathy 2009). “It can be any kind of substance that causes harmful effects to the body, leading to intolerances, allergies and a general feeling of illness” (McKeith 128). These toxins tend to build up in the body. Organs like the liver and the kidneys do a good job at eliminating those toxins from your body but when too much of them build up, those organs work double time to try and cleanse the body but too much is demanded of them.

How do I detox?

As stated above the body naturally knows how to rid the body of toxins so all we need to do is to assist it to make sure it is able to get rid of all of them. There are many types of detox cleanses out there and with all of them you need to be careful.
From what I’ve experienced, the best way to detox is to do it in a smoother way over a longer period of time in order to avoid putting more stress on the body. Here are some general guidelines on how to detox.

- Avoid processed and store bought meals and replaced them by raw vegetables and leafy greens like kale, collard greens, swiss chard and spinach.
- Avoid anything containing refined sugar and try to limit your intake of fruits and any grains to one serving per day.
- Try and limit your intake of animal proteins (meat, milk and cheese)
- Avoid store bought juices and opt to use a juicer to make your own raw fresh juice.
- You should drink as much water as you can.
- You can also drink herbal teas to help with the detox.
- Start your day with a cup of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of ground chia seeds.
- If you smoke, you should quit. We all know about the harmful effects of both first and second hand cigarette smoke.
- You should avoid consuming alcohol during a detox.
- Get 8 hours of sleep every day.
- The most important thing you should do, not only when detoxing but every day, is to do at least 30 minutes of physical exercise! When you exercise, your body eliminates toxins through sweat. Exercising will also help you to stay alert.
- Keep it up for at least 5 days.

Why should I detox?

You will notice that after detoxing you will have more energy. Detoxing can help with many ailments like headaches, joint paints and PMS (McKeith 128).

There are a lot of different detox cleanses you can do. You can focus on detoxing the liver by adding herbal tea that will help the organ. There are always people you can contact if you need more information about choosing a specific way to detox.

I will also be posting about places you can go to in Montreal to get more help and information about detoxing.

References

Kathy. “What Are Toxins In My Body? Detox 101. Facts and Myths.”
Healthy Happy Life 28 Sept. 2009. Web. 01 March. 2012.

McKeith, Gillian Dr. You Are What You Eat. New York: New York, 2006. Print