Though life has admittedly become more comfortable because of technology and a barrage of
scientific discoveries, we are not as aware about their negative effects on our bodies as we should
be. Almost everything we eat and drink has been compromised in one way or the other; be it through
using so many preservatives or injecting it would synthetic vitamins and minerals.
We now have
thousands of chemicals for everything - to cleanse our water, to enhance the
flavour and extend the
shelf life of our food, to maintain our gardens, to shine our furniture and to keep the moisture in
our cosmetics. Much of these chemicals are admittedly carcinogenic, but little or no
clamour more has
been made to remove them from the market. It is no surprise why so many of us know somebody who is
suffering from some kind of cancer or a disease that did not use to exist 10 years ago.
Western medicine has not helped in increasing awareness for this very important process. A lot of
people still think of detoxification as something you do to withdraw from drugs and alcohol. But in
the East, detoxification is very much a part of everyday life and is looked upon as a necessary evil
towards maintaining good health and vibrant demeanour.
While science teaches us that our body cleanses its own organs every few months by renewing its cells,
our bodies still need to help.
Our liver and gastrointestinal tracts are responsible for cleansing our
bodies, but obviously, they cannot sustain this cleansing for very long without breaking down. They
still get overwhelmed, which is why a liver cancer and colon cancer are the top diseases in the
Western world. When someone suffers from a disease in either of these organs, the usual approach is to
bombard them with even more medication. Sometimes this can do more harm than good. Also remember that
toxins and other "innocent" chemicals are absorbed by the body in more ways than one.
While we may eat
food contaminated with chemicals and preservatives, we also absorb toxins from the air we breathe,
from the lotions we use, from the hair dye that we apply and from the depression that we suffer. We
need to filter this constant barrage of harmful chemicals and toxins periodically. We need to take in
vitamins, minerals, fiber and all the other enzymes to boost our immunity and help our body repair
itself.
We run the risk of being unwitting victims to this chemical overload. The good news is that lately,
more and more people have become more health-conscious and now are turning to organic products and
food. Yet we still have to cleanse our bodies from the load we had put it through, thus the need for
detoxification and cleansing every now and then.
Telltale signs that show that your body's
detoxification system is having trouble are usually the following: precedence of rashes or itching,
allergies and coughing, irritability and depression, intermittent headaches, a general feeling of
weakness, muscle fatigue and an upset stomach. Other symptoms include foul-smelling stool, diarrhea or
constipation, acid reflux, or heartburn. All these symptoms strongly indicate a growing sensitivity of
your liver or GI tract to a certain chemical or additive. If you find that you do suffer from any of
these symptoms, consult a doctor or gastroenterologist. They may ask you to perform a fast or to take
some laxatives. These may work but only in the short-term.
If you do decide to perform a
detox, do
some research first. There are many programs out there that will aid you in beginning your
program. Once you get started and you feel the healthy benefits of the program you've selected, make
sure you are well able to keep it up and you integrate it into your lifestyle.
