Spotlight on Natural Detoxification: Fact vs. Fiction
by Brenda Watson, C.N.C.
Despite its increasing popularity, natural detoxification is not a new concept.
The use of herbs, minerals, and other organic ingredients as a means of
cleansing the body has been practiced for centuries and by countless cultures
worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine, for example, focused on the use of
herbal remedies to help eliminate toxins from the body and restore health and
vitality, and similar methods were employed by the ancient Greeks, Romans and
Egyptians. So why is natural detoxification suddenly getting such a bad rap? For
starters, it has a lot to do with the broad misconception among consumers and
health care practitioners about what it is and the benefits that it provides.
Beneficial? Yes. Magic Bullet? No.
Recently The New York Times ran a story on the growing popularity of natural
detoxification, reporting that, “…sales of herbal formulas for cleansing,
detoxification and organ support among natural food retailers were more than $27
billion” from the beginning of December 2007 to late November 2008. The reason
for the growing interest? People are beginning to realize that the human body
may be up against more than it can handle.
These days our bodies are exposed to more dangerous toxins than ever before.
They’re in our homes, our cars, our places of work. They’re in the air we
breathe and the food we eat; they’re even in our cars, and although we’re
equipped with certain natural defenses that help us to purge those toxins, our
bodies are simply too overwhelmed to perform the task on their own. The organs
and organ systems we rely on to filter and eliminate waste and
contaminants—primarily the lungs, liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood
and bowel (or colon)—have become bogged down under the weight of our
increasingly toxic modern world, and the key to reversing the damage may lie
with the healing benefits of herbal cleansing and detoxification.
The Good, the Bad and the Unhealthy
Natural detox programs can be an effective way to support overall health, but
whether the goal is to eliminate toxins, flush away excess fat, or simply to
live healthier, it’s important to know the difference between what is healthy
and supportive, and what is potentially harmful and counterproductive. For
example, if you’ve considered natural detoxification as a way to jumpstart
weight loss, it’s best to think about your goal before you get started and focus
on taking a healthy approach.
Avoid regimens that involve things like strict fasting, eliminating entire food
groups from your diet, or other unsafe practices that can leave your body
feeling deprived and run down. Such methods typically end up having the exact
opposite effect—causing sharp fluctuations in blood sugar that often lead to
increased cravings and overeating. Instead, choose an herbal cleansing formula
made with natural ingredients to support long-term weight management, combined
with a high-fiber, low-calorie diet and healthy lifestyle habits such as getting
enough sleep and drinking plenty of water.
A Little Common Sense Goes a Long Way
Getting the most out of natural detoxification is all about using a little
common sense. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember
that cleansing and detoxification are not synonymous a miracle cure for whatever
ails you, and that being healthy means making a lifelong commitment to wellness.
Once you do that, regular internal cleansing and other natural detox methods are
like a booster. They help keep the body in prime condition by supporting those
vital organs and organ systems that process and eliminate toxins, and when you
slip and ‘fall off the wagon’, cleansing and detox can provide the jumpstart you
need to reestablish a state of optimum health.
Further Detoxification Information
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