Detox Cleanse for Health and Wellness

by Dr Sonia Russell EdD, MISMA, MAC, Ch.Ed(Nutr.Ad)

Detoxification: How Important is It?

As I walk around and see so many people who appear tired or worn out, it is clearly evident that we clearly live in a world that seriously jeopardises our health in one way or another. Concrete buildings are fast replacing the beautiful countryside; pollution in the environment constantly contaminates the air that we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Fast and convenience foods with which consumers are constantly tempted continue to replace the healthy food in many shopping baskets. Fortunately, the human body has been designed with a liver which plays an important role in the maintenance of our health and wellbeing. In an attempt to rid the body of all the toxic substances that we consume and breathe in, the liver has a fantastic filtering system that detoxifies, recycles and regenerates the body.

The Liver

Weighing just over one kilogram, the liver is the largest organ in the body. It receives more of the blood supply than any other organ, and a lot of that blood is transported to the liver by way of the hepatic portal vein. Food consumed and absorbed in the bloodstream from the gut is also transported to the liver via the hepatic portal vein.

The liver has many functions. As well as destroying old blood cells, the liver plays a vital role in digesting the food consumed. The liver produces bile, and bile emulsifies fat. To ensure that there is never too much sugar in the blood, the liver also stores surplus glucose. This is extremely important because too much sugar in the blood leads to diabetes. Unfortunately, sufferers of diabetes develop the condition when the pancreas and equally the liver are no longer functioning as they should.

Why You Should Detoxify Your Body

Be aware that the body cannot remain healthy under a barrage of toxins such as too much salt, alcohol, poor nutrition or the lack of exercise. A detox programme is often carried out for a variety of reasons, one of the most common is to lose weight. A detox programme is also useful for helping to clear the mind; this is obtained by cleansing the liver, and certainly advantageous when you are under pressure due to your busy lifestyle. As the build-up of toxins are expelled from the liver, your bowels respond by becoming more regulated; your skin becomes clearer, and your mind is able to function easier. In short, detoxifying your liver helps to rejuvenate your body’s cells, improve your mental wellbeing, and help to prevent the onset of disease.

Unfortunately, accumulated stress and stressful situations will also take its toll on the required, optimum health of your liver. As toxic waste builds up in the liver, side effects can and do occur. Some effects, such as bad breath are perhaps seen as being less serious. However, other side effects are clearly more serious, chronic fatigue, excessive migraines, palpitations, and excessive perspiration, could be signs of a toxic liver. If in doubt, it is advisable to speak with your physician. Should toxicity indeed be the problem, below you will find three steps to consider in order to cleanse your liver, your mind, and promote improved health and wellbeing.

Detoxification Programmes

Cleansing the Bowel

According to Plasket (2003:1) “the bowel is often a prime source of toxicity.” Residues of substances consumed that should have been absorbed or excreted by the body often stay in the bowels, and can lead to constipation. In fact, foul smelling stools are often an indication that toxic waste has built up in the bowels. These toxins if not expelled from the body, are then absorbed, and become part of the toxic burden on the body. As the bowels are cleansed, the toxic load is lightened, and your health is improved as the liver benefits. With less work to do, the liver can concentrate on carrying out the task of detoxification more efficiently.
Owing to your busy lifestyle, you might be asking how can a liver cleanse be undertaken?

The good news is, it is easier to do than you might think. Eating a healthier diet, a short fast, and a digestive supplement could be all that is required. With regards to a digestive supplement, you could consider taking a probiotic which is also available in non-dairy form. “Lactobacilli or Bifidobacteria have a beneficial effect,” states Plaskett, “not only on the bowel but also on the function of the liver” (Plaskett, 2003:7).

1 Plaskett, L. (2003) The Wherewithal to Detoxify, Cornwall, Biomedical Information Services Ltd.

Consider Fasting

Fasting continues to be practiced as a way to clear the body of toxins, to cleanse and renew it. The most popular ways are to:
1) Drink a variety of green juices for a day.
2) Eat a combination of fruit and vegetables for between one and three days.
3) Follow a strict vegan diet, which avoids, in addition, the consumption of wheat for 10 days to 30 days.
It is important to choose a fasting regime which will fit in with your lifestyle, and therefore does not cause any additional emotional or physical burden. For individuals who have a medical condition, fasting is not advised. It is also advised to follow the diet for no more than one to three days at time, and certainly no more than one day if doing so for the first time. Moreover, fasting should not be carried out except under the supervision of a qualified naturopath or nutritional therapist.

Caring for the body and mind is an on-going process. Nonetheless, it is possible, even with a busy lifestyle to make those important changes. As Holford (2005) states, “the good news is that regular detoxification may help to restore and maintain optimal liver function” (Holford, 2005:314).

Contact Sonia. Let’s Talk

Perhaps you would like support to help you to cope and improve you’re your mental wellbeing, to avoid burnout, and reduce stress.  Learn how to  or your health and wellbeing in general, let’s talk.

You can contact me by email at Leap to Health, Inverness, [email protected]