Body Cleanses, How They Work

ingredients of body cleanses

Body cleanses are currently popular methods to detoxify the body to feel better, look better and possibly even lose weight.  Not just for cosmetic purposes, cleansing is important.

Why Cleanse?

Toxins or contaminants enter the body through the skin, drinking tap water, eating processed foods and even just from breathing air from the environment. After entering the body, harmful microscopic organisms such as viruses, bacteria, parasitic worms, and yeasts live within the digestive tract, feeding off nutrients there. That’s when diseases develop.

Skin conditions such as eczema and many other health issues can result from the buildup of these toxins and contaminants capable of invading the body. To learn how to cleanse your body, ridding it of these harmful toxins, read on.

Can the Body Cleanse Itself?

The body removes toxins on its own, somewhat. The role of the liver is to recognize, and breakdown toxic compounds, removing them from the body through waste.  The liver can get overwhelmed though when overloaded with toxins. When this happens the natural detoxification process slows down or stops altogether.

The colon and kidneys also play important roles in the detoxification process of removing toxins and contaminants from the body. The colon expels the toxins from the digestive system removing them within bowel movements while the kidneys remove toxins from the blood system through the urinary system.

Natural Body Cleanses

Natural methods can be used to reduce the number of toxins the liver is exposed to. Eliminating processed foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeine from the diet are all examples of these methods.  Instead, the diet should consist of a predominance of natural, organic produce and ingredients.

Heavy exercise can also help rid the body of toxins through sweat.

Natural herbal remedies can be helpful as a body detox as well.   Dandelion, turmeric and ginger root teas as well as organic apples, cranberries, grapes, garlic, sprouts, cucumbers and onions all help to detoxify the kidneys.  Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice added to water is effective as a colon cleanse and liver cleanse.

Many of these natural cleansers are ingredients in my morning smoothies:

ingredients for body cleanses

Commercial Body Cleanses

Commercial detoxification products remove the buildup of harmful toxins stored in the body for many years. Cleansing the liver, kidneys, and colon will help restore their natural detoxification effectiveness.

Made of natural ingredients, Commercial cleanses should not cause any adverse effects. Be sure to follow instructions closely.

body cleanses

Chiropractic Care: Is it For You?

Fix and Prevent Mixed Messages to Your Nervous System

Recently I have been seeking chiropractic care for various (un)health(y) symptoms. I’ve shared with you here a recent scoliosis diagnosis, as well as TMJ and arthritic hip joints.

This is the time of year when my gardening season is winding down and I have more time to reflect, and I take the time to care for my physical well-being. With a recommendation from my son who is happy with the treatments he has been receiving there, I turned to Hazeldean Family Chiropractic.

How Can Chiropractic Care Help You?

We seek to find the cause and correct the root of the problem, not just mask the symptoms. Chiropractors are experienced in the function of the spine and nervous system. Our approach, focusing on your overall health, will allow you to function better with less pain and more enjoyment of life.

Hazeldean Family Chiropractic

An added bonus of receiving their chiropractic care is a subscription to the blog that Hazeldean Family Chiropractic provides. As my own blog also features posts on health and wellness, I find the tidbits of advice in their blog very informative and relevant to my lifestyle.

Here is the great advice within the most recent email I received:

You have an amazing healing power in your brain and spinal cord. THOUGHTS (emotional stresses), TRAUMAS (physical stresses), and TOXINS (environmental stresses) can affect that healing power… the 3 T’s. In order to maximize your healing potential, we have to make sure that we address all these stresses…

Thoughts: If you have no control on the outcome of a situation, you must release it.

Traumas: Children slip and fall; it’s an unfortunate part of growing up and playing full-out! Keep an eye out for any recurring pain or pain that does not subside quickly. Remember, symptoms are an indication that something is not right.  Correcting it early will definitely help for a quicker recovery and to prevent any future problems.

Toxins: Studies have shown that diets which are high in carbohydrates have been linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, gout and cancer. Lowering your carbohydrate intake isn’t just good for your waistline, it can also have a direct beneficial effect on the prevention of malignant diseases.

New Patient Special

Chiropractic Care:  How it Can Work for You

What are you waiting for? If you live in this area, give them a call to reserve your spot. Contact info is as follows:

Hazeldean Family Chiropractic Clinic.

8 – 484 Hazeldean Road. Kanata, ON K2L 1V4.

T: (613) 831-9665.

If you live elsewhere, do your research, get recommendations, and go for a consult.

I have only received two adjustments in my chiropractic care regime so far, am looking forward to reaping the benefits over the next several weeks. Not just the physical adjustments, but the health advice and relevant exercises too.

Have any of you had experience with chiropractic care?

Foot Bath to Remove Toxins

While I was bored this week because it was too hot to garden, I tried a method I found online to remove toxins from my body with a foot bath.  Years ago I remember a friend asking me to go with her to some clinic somewhere locally that offered this type of detox.  We never did get there, partly because I was skeptical especially because of the price involved. When I saw a home remedy online recently, I thought I would give it a try at home.

The main ingredients (in this version of detox) are salt.  Equal parts sea salt and Epsom salts with more baking soda. The “recipe” called for two cups of baking soda, but I did not have that much on hand, so probably used just 1/4 cup.  I added a few drops of citrus (you could use any scent you want) essential oil for a nice smell.  You add these ingredients to a container large enough to soak your feet in, then add hot water to dissolve the salts.  Soak your feet for at least 30 minutes.

That was the difficult part for me, to stay sitting in one spot for that long, especially as the water started to cool off.  Always a multitasker, I wrote this post as I was detoxing.  The water is supposed to turn dark in color as the toxins are removed from your body through the bottoms of your feet. 

Although I’m not sure how many toxins this foot bath removed from my body, (the water turned a bit murky but not dark) my feet do feel nice and smooth!