Alternative Medicine

Top 5 Easy and Effective Full Body Detox Tips

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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 over-the-counter medications are homeopathic medicines. There are many versions of homeopathic medicines available, the least toxic of which are water-based homeopathics rather than lactose tablet or alcohol-based forms. Go to your local healthfood store or shop on the internet to stock your medicine cabinet with non-toxic homeopathic alternatives.

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 homeopathically
Many herbs may be effective in detoxification but the risk of side effects and interactions with other medications can make these a dangerous choice. Homeopathic medicines, on the other hand, have never caused side-effects or drug interactions in over 200 years of use. They work by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. Homeopathic medicines are wonderfully inexpensive and easy to use. Many homeopathic products are available for any type of cleansing and detoxification: liver detox, lymph detox, blood & kidney detox, heavy metal detox and more. If you are unsure of what areas need detoxing in your body its best to start with a blood & kidney detox and then move on to a liver detox. If symptoms still remain then begin targeting with homeopathic formulas that address specific causes such as heavy metals, chemotherapy, etc.

Happy Detoxing!

by Nicole Evans
About the Author: Nicole Evans is an alternative medicine researcher/developer turned medical student. She also works with King Bio, a homeopathic company dedicated to empowering people to safely and naturally improve their health. For cutting edge contemporary homeopathic medicines visit: http://www.kingbio.com/naturalmed/index.html

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/66179962@N00/756676177/

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