It’s  that time of year when we give the garden and our homes an overhaul and  when many of us contemplate upping our exercise and thinking about  losing some weight or improving our health. If you are one of those  people thinking about giving your body a Spring clean then detoxing may  be just the thing.Detoxing has had some bad hype over the years – it  doesn’t work, fasting is bad for your body and so on. As a nutritionist  who also works in the natural health field I feel that gentle and  sensible detoxing can be beneficial to most of us, especially those who  generally feel unwell or chronically fatigued, suffer from allergies  & intolerance, stress or burnout, metabolic and hormonal imbalances  or who wish to kick start a weight loss programme.

So why a detox?
Detoxification  is important because of the many common pollutants and toxins are  bodies are exposed to every day. Toxins are present in the environment,  foods and drinks, drugs and alcohol.  The gut and the liver are the  primary organs involved in detoxifying these harmful substances, but if  the liver is overloaded or damaged due to constant bombardment of these  chemicals then they are unable to clear the toxins effectively and they  accumulate in the body. Also, all this can lead to destruction of  vitamins and minerals, which are needed in the detoxification pathways  in our liver.When the liver and digestive tract become overloaded,  cells that line the intestinal wall can become damaged and toxins can  get reabsorbed into the bloodstream, rather than excreted in the urine  and stools, causing constipation, bloating, excessive flatulence,  irregular bowel movements and overgrowth of harmful bacteria.

What will a detox do?
Detoxing  helps to restore the health of the gut lining, while protecting the  liver against pollutants and assisting elimination of toxins in the  bowel.The health of the gastrointestinal tract is important in all  detox programmes. By correcting gut bacterial imbalances and eliminating  yeasts and parasites (which damage the gut wall) the liver is more able  to filter, breakdown and excrete these toxins.

How do I detox?The  first step to detoxing is reducing toxin exposure through sensible  dietary and lifestyle changes. I say sensible dietary changes as we do  not advocate fasting,but instead recommend eliminating alcohol,  coffee and processed foods from the diet and opting for fresh and  preferably organic foods. Then various supplements and herbs may be used to assist in the process…

Top 5 Full Body Detox Tips

We all live in a contaminated world and most of us realize we could benefit from some full body detoxification. But how many of us actually have the time to do 7 day juice fasts, the money to spend on clove capsules, dandelion root, black walnut tinctures, coffee enemas, and aged garlic pills, or the energy to deal with feeling horrible for 3 days straight from detoxing too fast? The easiest, cheapest, and safest way to detox is by assisting your body in its natural detoxification processes. Below are the 5 most effective ways to accomplish this goal.

1. Increase your Selenium-
Chronic exposure to environmental toxins, including chemotherapy drugs, radiation and other toxic medicines, increases the requirement for selenium. Many of the benefits of selenium are related to its role in the production of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme is responsible for detoxification in the body and each molecule of this enzyme contains 4 atoms of selenium. Selenium supplementation has been found to protect the liver in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. Smokers, in particular, have depleted selenium levels and should make every attempt to increase the selenium in their diet.

Foods sources of selenium are the safest and most easily utilized by your body. These include: brazil nuts, broccoli, brown rice, chicken, dairy products, garlic, onions, molasses, seafood, vegetables and whole grains.

2. Add some Zinc–
Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoking, and air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging particles. Free radicals are believed to contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of health problems including heart disease and cancer. Zinc can protect your body from the harmful effects of toxins by 3 separate mechanisms:

• The antioxidant properties of zinc can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
• Zinc is a constituent of the important antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase.
• Zinc is needed for the proper absorption of Vitamin E (yet another important antioxidant).

Food sources include: egg yolks, fish, lamb, legumes, mushrooms, pecans, oysters, poultry, soybeans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, parsley, and kelp.

3. Go natural–
Every day we choose to introduce toxic chemicals and compounds into our bodies, our cleaning supplies, lotions and shampoos, fruits and vegetables, even our medicines. Small changes in your shopping list can make a world of difference. As a rule of thumb it’s best to “go natural”. Try using baking soda or vinegar in place of your chemical-laden cleaning supplies. Buy organic produce whenever possible. Beware of your over-the-counter medications. Many contain unhealthy fillers, binders and flowing agents. Many antacids contain toxic aluminum. Aspirin and Ibuprofen can stress the kidneys. The absolute safest medications are herbs, supplements and homeopathics. Ask Sheena hendonHealth for advise on which ones to use

4. Stay hydrated–
The body’s water supply is involved in nearly every bodily process, including digestion, absorption, circulation, excretion, body temperature, and nutrient transport. Help your body detox naturally by drinking enough water to allow optimal functioning of all these bodily processes. Drink at least 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Caffeine is a diuretic so if you are a moderate to heavy coffee or tea drinker you should match each cup of coffee or tea with a glass of water. If you are drinking tap water make sure to filter it. If you purchase your water then steam-distilled is best.

5. Detox using supplements and herbs
Body cleanse or detoxification herbs – such as St Mary’s Thistle, Schisandra, Dandelion Leaves, Cascara and Gentian,  and supplements such as antioxidants and probiotics can speed up the detox process and reactivate the body’s own detoxification pathways. Ask us for assistance.

Sheena Hendon Health stock a range of excellent detox kits containing supplements, herbs and diet plans including:The Iconherb Ultimate Herbal Detox, Ethical Nutrients detox kit and Good Health Body Cleanse – total body detox.

Just contact us and we can suggest which option or kit is best for you