Detoxify Your Body for the New Year

Most people view the new year as a time to get a fresh start on things, like eating healthier, starting a new workout routine, and letting go of things in the past year.  Another great way to get a fresh start is by doing a detoxification program.  If you haven’t heard of detoxification, it is really about resting, cleaning, and nourishing the body from the inside out.  It removes toxins and gives the body healthy nutrients, which then helps protect from disease and increases the ability to maintain optimum health. Detox can be done for symptoms such as chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, irritated skin, difficulty concentrating, and menstrual difficulties, but it can also be done as a routine measure to keep your body healthy.

Today, there are more toxins in the environment than ever, making it critical to detox.  Chemicals are abundant in personal care products and cleaning products, and are also found in various forms in processed food we eat.   Most people consume caffeine on a regular basis.  Unless organic, produce has been sprayed with an overabundance of pesticides.  Stress triggers your body to release certain hormones into your system, which in large amounts can create toxins and slow down detoxification systems.  Other hormones, such as estrogen, can build up in the system, resulting in endometriosis and PMS.  This can be a lot for the body to handle.

The main organ responsible for removing these substances from our bodies is the liver.  The liver stores fat-soluble substances, including chemicals, which can be stored for years.  Using enzymes, the liver transforms these chemicals into water-soluble substances that can be excreted through the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract.  As toxins continue to accumulate, the liver may not be able to work fast enough to clean the blood, leaving toxins unchanged and then stored in fatty tissue, including the brain and nervous system.  This can in effect, contribute to many chronic illnesses.

There are a variety of programs that we use personally and for our patients when recommending a detox program.  Two of our favorites are the Standard Process 21 day purification program and the Metagenics detox.  I have done both of these and found them to be beneficial.  Both include different supplements that are taken to rid the body of toxins.  In addition to supplements, eating whole, organic, unprocessed foods will aid in the detoxification process and are least taxing on the system.  At least 2 quarts of water should be consumed daily, since we have always been taught that the solution to pollution is dilution.  Get energized in 2012 by cleansing your system and having a healthy new year!

Lori Jokinen, D.C.