Safe, Natural, Effective Cleansing

According to organizations devoted to protecting the environment, including the Sierra Club and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we are exposed to literally tens of thousands of chemicals and contaminants every day. In fact, the EPA estimates that there are approximately 500,000 chemicals in use today, with 5,000 more being added each year. All across America, from big cities to small towns, from sprawling suburbs to wide-open prairies, harmful toxins are present in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.

The evidence is clear. It's no longer a question of the need to detoxify, but how to detoxify. In this article we will discuss the safest, most effective, and healthiest method of detoxification: a program of whole body cleansing with powerful, yet gentle, natural products.

Detoxification refers to the elimination of toxins from our bodies. Our liver, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skin all work to eliminate toxins that we take in, and for the most part, they do a pretty good job. But the large amounts of environmental contaminants that most of us are exposed to today may present a tough a challenge for these built-in detoxification systems, so often, the toxins remain in our bodies, accumulating dangerously. As these toxins accumulate, they will affect every part of our body: slow our metabolism, rob us of energy, reduce our immunity, and can even lead to serious chronic illness. The result? A body in serious need of cleansing.

Detoxification doesn't only involve doing a cleanse two or three times a year; it also involves supporting your body on a daily basis from the onslaught of toxins. This means finding the right whole body cleansing program as well as a daily supplement specifically designed to support your body's own detoxification mechanisms.

Key Daily Cleansing Nutrients

Don't forget that a comprehensive nutrient foundation is key to keeping our body's detoxification system in tip-top shape. Essential vitamins and minerals should be taken at efficacious levels. So make sure you get you're A, C, and E, all the B vitamins, and minerals like magnesium, zinc, selenium, and copper.

Add in some natural antioxidants that will reduce free radical damage. Free radicals are responsible for a significant amount of toxins in the body. The most important cellular antioxidant for neutralizing free radicals is glutathione, a nutrient that plays a critical role in detoxification. Other good antioxidants are N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), quercetin, and milk thistle.

Finally, look for nutrients that support the binding process in the body's detoxification system. Calcium D-glucarate increases the net toxins and steroid hormones removed. Amino acids, such as glycine, taurine, and glutamine, also assist in binding toxins.

What is whole body cleansing?

Most detoxification supplements focus only on the liver and colon. That's because significant amounts of our body's own built-in detoxification happens in these important digestive organs. However, the only way to make sure that detoxification is truly successful is to cleanse the whole body. And that demands detoxification of the blood and lymph. These two vital fluids nourish and protect the liver, colon, and every other organ, tissue, and cell. And if toxins are present in the blood or lymph, every organ, tissue, and cell will be exposed to these toxins and contaminants, too.

Detoxifying the colon and liver without cleansing the blood and lymph is like replacing your car's dirty oil filter with a new clean one, but not changing the oil. Running dirty oil through that new filter will certainly not improve the performance of your car or help it run more efficiently. It's the same with your blood and lymph systems. These fluids also need "changing" or detoxification for your body's best performance.

The best detoxification program is based on safe and effective natural herbs and nutrients. The program should be gradual and gentle and work with your body's own detoxification ability and normal patterns of elimination. The initial two-week phase should:

Scrub the Intestines

One of the most effective, yet certainly one of the most gentle laxatives available, magnesium hydroxide, draws water into the intestines, causing its contents to soften and swell, then scrubs, loosens, and cleanses the intestinal walls. Slippery Elm bark helps coat irritated mucous membranes, draw out toxins, and soothes the lining of the intestinal wall. Marshmallow root helps white blood cells seek and destroy disease-causing germs, then coats and soothes the intestinal walls. Peppermint leaf extract increases the flow of bile, relaxes intestinal muscles, and reduces cramps and gas that may occur during detoxification.

Bind and Excrete Toxins

After the toxins have been stirred up and scrubbed from the intestinal walls, the next step is to grab onto them with natural detoxification fibers. When fiber enters the intestines, it expands and soaks up the toxins and waste materials for elimination through the intestines. The best and safest fibers to use in detoxification are oat bran, pectin from citrus fruit, psyllium husk, and guar gum.

Restore Liver Health

Without question the most revered herb for the health of the liver is milk thistle. Not only can milk thistle help regenerate liver cells injured by toxins, it can actually block the toxins from entering the liver in the first place. Milk thistle has been shown to prevent liver damage in people suffering from alcoholism or hepatitis and can improve the way the liver works in people with cirrhosis of the liver, a chronic and sometimes fatal disease.

But not all milk thistle products are equal. Only milk thistle standardized to contain 80 percent silymarin and formulated in a patented process with phosphatidylcholine are capable of these amazing feats. And when combined with artichoke extract to stimulate healthy bile production, as well as licorice and dandelion to help bile flow better into the small intestine, these liver-loving herbs provide excellent liver restoration.

Purify the Blood

Blood is the fluid of life. It nourishes every tissue and organ in the body as it flows through the body. Blood transports oxygen from the lungs, nutrients from the small intestine, hormones from the glands, and immune cells to fight infection and reduce inflammation. Blood also takes toxins to the liver and transports waste to the kidneys. Unfortunately, if the liver is unable to detoxify as it should, toxins will remain in the bloodstream, affecting every cell, tissue, and organ in the body.

Burdock is by far one of the most effective natural blood purifiers and cleansers. It also helps the kidneys filter impurities from the blood more quickly. And it helps cleanse the respiratory, lymphatic, urinary, and circulatory systems, too.

Cleanse the Lymph

Lymph is the fluid of health. The lymphatic system—the lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and lymph fluids—are often the first to alert the body that toxins are present. Lymph absorbs cellular wastes and drains them into the lymph system, where they're carried to the lymph nodes for filtration. Once lymph has been drained and filtered, it re-enters the bloodstream. It's pretty easy to see how cleansing lymph and the lymph system is vital for good health.

One of the most effective herbs for lymph detoxification is red clover extract. It has been studied for its ability to keep harmful toxins out of the lymphatic system. Red clover extract also keeps the liver strong, especially during the detoxification process; it also stimulates bile production, important in digestion.

Another effective way of improving lymph movement is exercise. Exercise stresses muscles and the cardiovascular system, activating lymphatic flow.

Additional Intestinal Support After Detoxification

After detoxification is complete, your intestines may need some help in getting back to business. This transitional phase is like "re-booting" a computer after certain functions have been restored. There are several natural products that can provide powerful intestinal restoration.

Supplemental Fiber

Containing inulin and oligofructose (OF), these soluble dietary fibers nurture the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines, fight bacteria and viruses, improve the strength of the heart, and keep the entire digestive tract healthy.

Probiotics

Retained intestinal toxins can cause beneficial bacterial flora to decline significantly. Once detoxification is complete, probiotic supplements can replenish this intestinal flora. Be sure to buy a probiotic product that guarantees delivery of the bacteria into the intestine, where they belong.

Are detoxification programs safe?

For most people, the answer is definitely yes. However, pregnant or nursing women should not use any detoxification programs—even those that are specifically designed to be extremely gentle.

And it's best to not detox more than four times in one year, unless directed by your healthcare practitioner. If you develop cramping or diarrhea simply reduce the dose of the intestinal cleanser. And if these problems persist, are painful, or are disruptive, you should discontinue its use.

It's also very important to drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water every day while on the detoxification program.

References available on request.