If you’re looking for one natural treatment that will help with almost every symptom or disorder, cleansing is it. Cleansing the body to remove toxins has been known to help with ADD/ADHD, allergies, arthritis, chronic pain, fatigue, inflammation, boosting the immune system, strength training, weight loss, and even cancer and other terminal illness.
Most experts in holistic and alternative health care tend to view cleansing as one of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle. If you live in this world, you are inevitably exposed to pollution from the air we breathe, pesticide and chemical residues in our food and water, and free radical damage from inner metabolic processes. Cleansing is one of the only ways to remove certain toxins (such as heavy metals and parasites) from the human body and heal the damage left behind.
It is almost impossible to make lasting changes in health, weight loss, or fitness without doing some form of cleanse.
How Will I Know if I Can Benefit From Cleansing?
How do you know if you’re carrying toxins? You may be suffering from toxic overload if you:
- smoke
- eat refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, or processed foods more than once a month
- consume soft drinks, coffee (even decaf) or low-calorie sugary drinks more than once a month
- have acne or other skin breakouts
- have swelling or sensitivity in any part of your body
- suffer from aches, joint pain or arthritis
- feel tired, sluggish or bloated
- have frequent migraines or headaches
- have gained or would like to lose weight
- have trouble focusing or thinking clearly
- have a chronic condition or a disease which is “incurable” according to medical experts
- experience heart or circulatory difficulties
- have liver problems
- have hormone imbalances: PMS, cramps, pre- or post-menopausal symptoms
- suffer from IBS or other digestive disturbances
- have never done a cleanse before
Most people already in good health experience a noticeable improvement in their mental clarity and acuity, energy levels, and physical fitness after a cleanse.
How to Avoid Toxic Exposure for Better Health
You can limit some of the poisons that take up residence in your body by avoiding known toxins.
1. Undigested Food Particles
The result of incomplete digestion of heavily processed foods, these can be limited by eating more foods high in antioxidants and raw enzymes and by limiting:
- refined sugar
- artificial sweeteners
- artificial flavors and colors
- refined flour
- margarine and other partially hydrogenated (trans) fats
- anything with ingredients you can’t pronounce
2. Water
City water is loaded with chlorine compounds, fluoride, and often rust and heavy metals due to old pipes. Unprocessed water may be contaminated with parasites and bacteria. Drinking only filtered water can seriously decrease the amount of toxin contamination you are exposed to.
3. Personal Care Products
Almost anything you apply to your skin is partially absorbed into your body. Consider avoiding ordinary drug store brand soap, shampoo, perfume, cologne, hairspray, deodorant, laundry detergent, cosmetics, makeup remover, nail polish, or skin care products - which contain known poisons and carcinogens (check out some of the natural options for skin care).
Room deodorizers, scented candles, and synthetic essential oils or incense can also be quite toxic.
4. Other Toxic Exposure
Have you recently:
- painted a house?
- had your home or garden sprayed for insects?
- worked in a laboratory with formaldehyde or other chemicals?
Even if you are in good health, if you have been exposed to any of these a cleanse is probably a good preventative health measure.
More on cleansing:
- What is Cleansing?
- Dietary Cleanses
- Cleansing with Supplements
- Cleansing to Lose Weight
- Aids to Easier Cleansing
- The Master Cleanse
- Cleansing Crisis
Victoria Anisman-Reiner - Victoria Anisman-Reiner is a freelance writer with extensive experience in holistic health care and animal training.
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