How to Analyze Your Toxic Load

As you may realize if you've been reading our blog posts for a while, your body is a pretty complex organism. It handles many thousands of tasks each day - many of which you’re completely unaware of. When something isn’t right, your body will start sending you warning messages.

The problem is that not many people understand that these warning messages come in the form of symptoms. When there’s an issue, your body tries to get you to address it by causing something to hurt, to swell, or by taking up more energy than it normally would.

Far too many people ignore these messages in the form of symptoms until they reach a point where they feel too poorly to keep up with the tasks involved in their day-to-day living.

Toxic. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the reasons that your body can start sending out warning messages is because it can reach a point where toxins build up, leading to toxicity. By the time you reach that point, you’ll feel pretty bad!

You can do a lot to help your body stay in good health by checking to see if your mind or body have been showing symptoms commonly associated with a toxin build up (also called toxic load).

In the mind, the number one symptom is mental fog. When this happens, you’ll begin to experience trouble with the way that you think. You’ll lack the clarity that you once had.

At first, you might not even notice that your mind isn’t as quick as it used to be but as time passes and toxins continue to build up, the mental fog will only grow worse.

Mental fog can vary from one person to the next, depending on the level of toxins you’ve been exposed to and how your body reacts to those toxins. What can be kind of frustrating is that testing for toxins isn’t easy. In fact, many lab tests will come back within normal parameters when you actually do have a problem, because they're not really testing for the things that are causing the problems..

Your body will also show symptoms of fatigue when you have a build up of toxins in your body. This fatigue can reach the point where it leaves you unable to function. This type of fatigue is often attributed to other conditions, rather than looking at your toxic load.

When toxins stay in your body, over time, it takes away your energy stores and that’s why you feel drained of energy. Your body can only handle so much and when your toxic load is high, your system tries to get rid of them, but unfortunately, it often can’t keep up with the volume of toxins we’re exposed to on a daily basis in the modern post-industrial world.

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That’s why your body needs a detox. When you go through a detox plan, you can cleanse your body of all these toxins, even if the toxins have built up over time. You can restore clarity of mind and get the energy that you lost back. However, you need to do this the right way.

Some "cleanses" and detoxification programs can actually cause additional stress to the body - which is not helpful. This month, we'll be discussing some ways to cleanse and detoxify your system gently, and naturally reduce your toxic load. Be sure to check back next week, when we'll be discussing one of the best little-known ways to rid your body of toxins naturally!

In the meantime, grab a copy of our Free Report that discusses some popular means of detoxifying that are NOT healthy for you:

http://www.newholisticliving.com/request-free-detox-e-book-b.html

4 Simple & Effective Detoxing Methods

Some of you may know that my husband and I are in the process of buying a house. We closed on Monday, and are in the process of moving, so for the next couple of weeks, we will only be posting once a week on this blog until we get settled in. So be sure to check back on Wednesdays for helpful info on how to live a cleaner, greener, and healthier life! And remember to visit our main blog at http://www.newholisticliving.com/blog.html for more healthy living topics and resources for natural living.

And now on to this week's topic - how to cleanse and detox without disrupting your life!

It can feel a bit intimidating to hear about other people's detoxification efforts.  Perhaps you know of people who have paid large sums of money, and spent weeks in detox "camps" where their diets are strictly regulated.  Maybe you know of people who have received enemas, gone on very restrictive diets, have felt terribly ill, or otherwise have had to take large amounts of time out of their lives to detox.

Most of us cannot just stop our lives in order to do a hard-core detox.

If you want to detoxify while still getting on with your life, here are some gentle but effective methods:

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Raw Vegetables and Fruits

In this kind of detox, you simply eat only raw fruits and vegetables for two or three days, and drink only water, herbal teas, or diluted fruit juice.  All foods consumed in this detox diet need to be organic.  Much of the principle behind this type of detoxification is to reduce the intake of toxins, as well as flushing them from the system.

2. Meditation

Many proponents of detoxification claim that meditation helps cleanse the mind and body.  Because meditation relaxes the body and brings focus, it makes sense that it would be a healthy means of personal cleansing.  Some practitioners of meditation use visualization and energy channeling to move toxins out of the body.  Meditation can easily be worked into your schedule, either performed every day or just a few times a week.

3. Smoothies

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This can be a very tasty, creative detox!  As long as the ingredients are fresh and organic and based on fruits and vegetables, you can mix all sorts of smoothies for your daily meals. 

Some foods to consider in your smoothies are: kale, broccoli, spinach, apples (unpeeled), berries, citrus fruits, pears, peaches, and so forth.

Another advantage of the smoothie detox is that you can add any supplements you want to take, such as probiotics, organic whey protein, or fiber, to the smoothie ingredients before mixing them in the blender.

4. Overall Lifestyle

Instead of a temporary detox diet, you can simply make some long-term simple lifestyle changes to detoxify your body and keep it that way.

Some ways to do that include:

• Switch to organic, whole, fresh foods rather than conventionally grown, processed, or prepackaged foods.

• Exercise regularly - it keeps things moving in the body, and induces sweating, another form of detox your body naturally employs.

• Use only natural, toxin-free cleaners to clean your home. (Visit our website for some suggestions.)

• Use only natural, toxin-free soaps, shampoos, deodorants, and styling products. (Visit our website for some good options.)

• Eat meat only a couple of times a week, and switch to organic, grass-fed, free-range meats.

• Cut back on dairy products and eat only organic products.

• Eliminate or reduce your refined sugar intake and, when you do need a sweetener, consider raw, unfiltered honey, maple syrup, or the calorie-free herb, stevia.

• Drink plenty of water.

Above, you have been provided with several simple ideas on how to incorporate detoxification into your life, without disrupting your life and health, or undertaking an arduous cleansing regimen. Living a cleaner, healthier lifestyle can result in a life filled with increased health and wellness.  

For more suggestions about how to reduce toxins in your home, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/reducing-your-toxic-load.html and be sure to download your FREE Home Checklist!

What You Need to Know About Doing A Detox

As you go about your everyday activities, your body has mechanisms in place for ridding itself of toxins.  When you use the bathroom, exhale, and sweat, your body is excreting substances for which it has no use or that might cause harm.

The organs involved in these processes sometimes get overwhelmed and need a break.  Like any system that works 24 hours a day, the human body sometimes just needs some "down time."

What Does a Detox Involve?

In some cultures and religions, fasting is part of religious observance.  A "detox" is a sort of variation of the fasting theme, designed to purify and cleanse.  A detox, like a fast, is always to be regarded as a temporary dietary adjustment, not a permanent one.  Most detoxes last anywhere from one to five days, with most lasting three.  Do not ever attempt a detox if you are pregnant or nursing.

There are several different types of detoxes, or cleanses, that are prevalent today.  Among them are:

(Photo credit: Livin' Spoonful)

1. Juicing

* This is probably the most common and popular kind of detox.  "Green" juices made from raw cabbage, kale, or other leafy greens are allowed, as well as some fruit juices.

* Some nutritionists recommend preparing for the juice detox a day or two before by eating only raw fruits and vegetables.  When coming off the juice detox, eat only raw fruits and vegetables for another two days, then gradually introduce small meals of other items back into the diet.

* The lemonade diet, where the participant drinks only maple-syrup sweetened lemon juice mixed with water for several days, is one of the best-known juice-based detoxes, but it can be very hard on the body, and reported results vary.

2. Fruit and Veggie

* This detox is said to be good for anyone wishing to relieve the body of the stresses caused by digesting dairy and meat products.  On this detox diet, the fruits and vegetables can be raw or cooked - and they often include beans, so you have a good source of protein.

3. Water Only (Fasting)

* While this is a fairly popular form of detox, some experts strongly advise against it.  Drinking water only can upset your electrolyte balance, and it also tends to result in a too-rapid release of toxins into the bloodstream for elimination.  If you do choose to do a water only detox, make it for just one day.

Detox diets are often supplemented with herbs and/or fiber supplements as well.

What Are the Benefits of Doing a Detox?

1. Cleansing your body's organs

Detoxification is helpful in cleansing the blood and lymphatic systems, cleansing the colon of impurities, and giving the kidneys and liver - the main blood filtering organs - a rest.  As the intake of toxins is curtailed in a detox, the body has a chance to release stored toxins.

2. Removing toxins stored in your fat tissue

Interestingly, most agricultural chemicals, especially pesticides, are fat-soluble.  This means they tend to accumulate in fatty tissue in the body, and are found in higher concentrations in high-fat foods which are not organically grown.  As you undergo a detox, you begin to lose some fat, and as the fat gets "loosened up," the toxins get released from it.

3. Improved sense of well-being & physical healing

Detox diets are also touted as a means by which ill people can correct their illness.  Ulcers, cancer, depression, and general inflammation have all been relieved by detox diets.

Ultimately, a detox program can be very helpful when done periodically to improve your health. However, you should always use caution, listen to your body, and we generally recommend a gentle detoxification program such as the Total Wellness Cleanse, rather than an extreme program or regimen.

7 Dietary Ways to Remove Toxins for Healthy Skin

Have you applied all sorts of expensive creams or cleansers and wondered why your skin continued to look unhealthy?  That is because healthy skin comes from the inside out.  You might not often think of it this way, but remember, your skin is an organ, and like all organs, it benefits from a healthy, toxin-free diet.

Here are some dietary steps you can take to have healthy, beautiful skin:

1. Stay hydrated

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* You have probably heard about the importance of drinking water to stay healthy and cleanse the system, and that includes your skin.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, at least six 8oz. glasses a day.  In fact, all fluids you drink count towards your daily hydration needs, but limit caffeinated beverages as they have diuretic and dehydrating effects. 

* Add a squeeze of lemon juice to cleanse your liver.  In traditional Chinese medicine, poor skin indicates an unhealthy liver - which makes sense, as these are our two main organs of detoxification.

2. Bring on the fats

* For your skin to remain plump and supple, applying moisturizers can help, but taking healthy fats into your system will also have a deeper, healthier effect on your skin. 

* Flax, olive, and fish oils, as well as clean animal fats such as organic butter from grass-fed cows, and expeller-pressed organic coconut oil, should be incorporated into the diet. Eat fatty, cold-water fish such as salmon at least once a week, but make sure it is from a reputable source so that you are not adding to your body's toxic overload by eating fish that have lived in toxic waters. Only eat wild-caught fish - never farmed.

3. Fresh fruits and vegetables

* In addition to hydrating the body, fresh veggies and fruits provide vital skin-healthy nutrients and antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E and toxin-absorbing fiber.  Lightly steamed or raw are the ideal ways to consume these foods, in order to preserve their vitamin and antioxidant powers. 

4. Nuts and seeds

* These little gems include important blood-building nutrients like iron, and healthy circulation and blood are key to good skin health.

* Nuts and seeds also contain healthy fats which, as noted above, keep the skin smooth and glowing.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. Go organic

* If you have not already, switch to organic foods.  Your body needs to be as free from toxins as possible for your skin to be healthy, and organic food is not contaminated with synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers.

* These harmful substances can also cause hormonal imbalances, which are strongly implicated in acne and other skin problems.  This goes for produce, as well as meats and dairy products. Speaking of dairy products...  

6. Limit dairy products

* Except for plain yogurt, you should sharply limit your dairy intake if you want healthier skin.  Most modern dairy products are likely to contain hormones or antibiotics or other toxins. Only eat dairy from organically raised, grass-fed animals.

7. Limit junk and fast foods

These "foods" are full of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and unhealthy fats.  Cleanse your skin from the inside by eating whole, fresh natural foods instead. They taste better and are more satisfying too!

There you have it - 7 ways to get healthy, glowing skin - naturally!  And your whole body will be healthier as well.

How Can Foods Contribute to Cleansing & Detoxification?

Cleansing the body of toxins is a popular topic these days, and for good reason.  We do, in fact, live in an environment where our bodies are bombarded with toxic substances on a daily basis. 

Exercise, supplement programs, fasts, meditation, yoga, etc. are employed to varying degrees in order to bring cleansing to the body.  However, the important role that food plays in cleansing - simply what we eat - cannot be ignored. (For lots more articles on how important food is to your health, visit our main blog at www.newholisticliving.com/blog.html)

Americans have a tendency to want quick fixes to problems and symptoms.  We love our pills.  We can swallow a capsule or tablet and go on about our business with no lifestyle changes necessary.

Why isn't it okay to employ quick fixes?

The problem with this approach is that it completely eliminates the connection between food and health that is so vital!

Pills may mask symptoms, but the underlying problem of a poor diet will not be addressed.  In other words, toxins are still building while the symptoms are being alleviated. What does this mean? It means that your long-term health is still being compromised. You may not have immediate symptoms, but eventually this continual build-up of toxins can (and in many cases will) lead to serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimers, and more.

Sometimes, we look at food as our enemy - we think the less we eat, the healthier and thinner we will be.  But what you do eat is very important.   

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine your food," said Hippocrates (from whom doctors get the "Hippocratic Oath").  (This is pretty much my favorite quote ever!!!)

Let's look briefly at some of the constituents in whole foods and their various cleansing benefits.

* Fiber

This is a big one.  Fiber is one of the primary ways to eliminate waste from the colon.  Without it, bowel movements lack bulk, and toxins can build up in the colon.  Fiber absorbs poisons and waste matter as it moves along the intestinal tract, picking it up, and moving it out.

High-fiber diets are also associated with a decreased risk of colon and rectal cancer, as well as heart disease.

* Vitamins and Minerals

Healthy, whole foods contain these vital nutrients.  These substances have more roles in the body's health than can be discussed here, but some particular vitamins, such as C and E, have specific antioxidant effects.

Iron builds the blood; other vitamins and minerals build bone and tissue; still others play an active role in cell regeneration.  Without vitamins and minerals, the body cannot repair and rebuild itself from a cleanse.

Healthy Berries are Good Food for Health (Photo credit: epSos.de)

* Antioxidants

Many foods contain these bodily scavengers that fight free radical damage in the body.

Green tea, berries, tomatoes, and many other foods have antioxidant properties.

Cranberries, for example, promote bladder and kidney health, which are important organs involved in bodily cleansing.

* Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3's)

More and more, we are hearing about the importance of good fats in the diet.  It turns out that they are crucial, and, among other things, help support liver health.  The liver is a major cleansing organ. They also compose much of the matter that brain tissue is made of, so be sure to eat your healthy fats!

* Phytonutrients

These are simply the nutrients found in plant foods, and they tend to have anti-cancer and antioxidant benefits.

All in all, what you do choose to eat has a significant role in the cleansing of your body (as does what you avoid eating).  Refined sugar, white flour, and processed foods full of artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors will have the effect of building toxic waste in your tissues, so be sure to choose foods wisely.


For a good, natural food-based cleansing & detoxification program, check out The Total Wellness Cleanse.

Video: 20-Minute Detox Yoga Routine

As we discussed on Tuesday, exercise is imperative in your detoxification efforts. Exercise should be done daily as well - not just during a cleanse! This will keep your body healthy, strong, and rid it of toxins on a regular basis. Yoga is a great way to detoxify your body - it detoxifies your lungs, your muscles, relieves stress, calms digestion, and even removes toxins through your skin if you do it hard enough to sweat!

This 20-minute yoga workout is designed to encourage detoxification and improve digestion, as you flow through a relaxing series of poses that will stretch, strengthen, and relax your entire body.

(Note: Remember to consult your healthcare provider or personal trainer before beginning any new workout routine, especially if you are at a low fitness level.)

Detox Yoga | 20 Minute Yoga Flow for Detox and Digestion
Join Adriene for this sweaty cleansing Yoga For Detox practice! This detox yoga sequence is designed to make you sweat as you build strength and twist it out...


 For lots more fun yoga workouts and more, visit our Fun Ways to Exercise page!

Should You Do a Cleanse?

The New Year is often a great time to undertake a good cleansing program - especially after all the rich and sugary foods of the holiday season. With so many cleansing diets and supplements out there, it is easy to wonder what all the fuss is about.  Does the body really need cleansing, and if so, why?  To clear up some of the confusion, here are a few FAQs about cleansing and detoxing to help you decide if it's right for you:

1. What does a detox cleanse do?

Organs of the digestive system (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Cleansing generally refers to the digestive tract, but the ultimate intention of a cleanse is to bring health to the whole body.

• The digestive organs are responsible for filtering toxins and other harmful substances out of the bloodstream.  Giving these organs a rest helps them to heal and do their job more effectively.

• By ceasing to take in chemicals or other toxins, the body has a chance to rid itself of them, and will do a better job of filtering once the cleanse is completed.

2. Which organs are involved in a detoxification, and why do they need it?

• The primary organs involved in everyday body detoxification are the colon, liver, and kidneys, but many other organs, such as the skin, lungs, and more are also involved.  

• In our modern age, these organs are faced with a daily onslaught of chemicals, from pesticides on food and clothing to industrial pollution and food additives (such as preservatives, colors, or artificial flavors).

• Unfortunately, such foreign substances are often stored, usually in fatty tissue or in the liver, as the body does not know what to do with them.  A continual replenishment of the toxins from our daily exposure means that these organs never get any "down" time.

• Some health experts believe that the toxins build up in the system, causing a wide range of unpleasant but vague symptoms.  Still others note the "mucoid plaque" build-up in the intestines, claiming its presence as a cause for all sorts of disease.

Healthy foods can help the body detox. (Photo credit: epSos.de)

3. How does a detox diet or cleanse work?

• A cleanse gives the body a chance to release these toxins. It frees up the colon, liver and kidneys from the daily assault of toxins ingested with foods and alcohol.  Cleanses usually result in some weight loss, so the toxins stored in the fatty tissue are flushed from the body.

• Fasting is a usually component of all cleansing, whether it is targeted toward the kidneys, colon, or liver.

4. Are supplements used when doing a cleanse?

• Sometimes, supplements are used to augment the cleanse.  Psyllium husks and bentonite clay are popular detoxification supplements that act as bulk laxatives, and are said to bind to poisons in the body as they move along the digestive tract.  

• Some people take probiotics while undergoing a cleanse, in order to re-populate the colon with friendly, helpful bacteria that may be lacking due to toxic build-up, or previous use of antibiotics.
  
•  Supplements aren't always necessary during a cleanse, but can often be helpful.

In summary, doing a cleanse can be one way to detoxify your body of accumulated toxins.  Those who undergo cleanses claim they have renewed energy and focus, and feel healthier, so it may be something that you want to try this year.

Our favorite cleanse program doesn't involve any supplements or weird juice diets - it focuses on feeding your body whole, natural, clean foods that give it the tools to detoxify gently and safely. Check out The Total Wellness Cleanse for more information.

The Potential Risks and Dangers of Detoxing

If you’ve been considering a detox diet or a detox plan you may have come across some alarming information. Many experts consider detoxing to be extremely dangerous. Detoxing does offer some powerful health benefits. However, it’s not a strategy to take lightly. Detoxing isn’t for everyone and it’s important to know the potential risks and dangers before you start. And above all, be sure you are following a safe and natural detox plan that works with your body to help it detoxify and heal - stay away from extreme diets and weird detoxification supplements if you're not sure what's in them or what they do.

Always choose a safe, gentle cleanse that works with your body, not against it.

Existing Health Conditions

If you have an existing health condition, detoxing may not be right for you. For example, if you’re pregnant, do not detox. If you have diabetes, an immune deficiency, or compromised organs then detoxing should be approached with extreme caution and the guidance of an educated health professional.

If you have kidney disease, liver problems or heart disease, do not detox. If you’re unsure if a detox plan is right for you ask your doctor. It’s always a good idea to get a doctor’s approval before you take any significant steps in this arena.

Detoxing for Weight Loss

Many detox plans are designed specifically for weight loss. They work by essentially starving the body of calories over a period of days. Some even add laxative measures so you’re purging your body of existing material. This can cause dehydration, digestive problems, headaches, dizziness, and extreme fatigue. Yes, you’ll lose weight because you’re not consuming many, if any, calories. However, as soon as you begin eating normally you’ll often gain most if not all of the weight back.

If you’re going to detox for weight loss, choose a safe, healthy long term plan. For example, drink organic juices for breakfast and lunch and eat a solid meal for dinner. Choose organic foods without pesticides and eat a healthy and well balanced meal. You’ll lose weight naturally and gradually while you also detoxify your body. (For an example of this type of plan, see the Total Wellness Cleanse.)

 (Photo credit: sillydog)

Serious Side Effects

Some detox diets come with a handful of unpleasant side effects. They include dizziness, diarrhea, headaches, mood swings and insomnia. These side effects are generally caused by withdrawal.

For example, if you normally consume sugar or sugary substitutes and you suddenly stop, your body is going to miss them. Caffeine, white flour and other food elements can cause similar effects. (This is called a food addiction, and it's so common almost everyone has at least one.)

The good news is that these side effects generally go away a few days into the detox diet, as you break your unhealthy addictions. Most people then feel energetic, clear headed and extremely healthy. However, it is also important to pay close attention to your body. If the side effects are severe or are making your day to day activities difficult then modify the detox diet and approach it more gradually.

It is important to take care when detoxifying. It can be a great first step to improved health. However, it’s not a strategy to take lightly. Follow a proven and trusted detox plan that is gentle and works naturally to detoxify and heal your bodily systems. Pay careful attention to your health and listen to your body!

Health Considerations: Non-Toxic Versus Standard Paints

While most standard paint no longer contains toxic lead, it is still undesirable to many.  That being said, non-toxic paint has a few drawbacks too.  Let’s take a look at the two side by side so you can make an educated decision for yourself.

Paint, once it’s on your walls, furniture and floors, releases gases for years.  These low-level emissions contain toxins called VOCs or volatile organic compounds.  Non-Toxic paint does not emit these toxins and is thus preferred by many, particularly those who are chemically sensitive or may suffer from chronic illness.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The benefits of non-toxic paint include:

• Health benefits including a reduction in toxins released into your home. 
• Environmental benefits because these toxins are not contaminating our soil, water supply or depleting the ozone. 
• You don’t have to call the hazardous waste folks to come pick up your leftover paint.
• Generally considered to be durable and effective.  In comparison to standard paint, non-toxic paint generally covers well, is easy to clean and is durable. 

The drawbacks of non-toxic paint include:

• Non-toxic paint can be difficult to find. While it’s becoming more and more popular, it’s not carried by all paint stores.
• Non-toxic paint can be difficult to match.  Non-toxic paint just doesn’t come in the same variety of colors that standard paint offers.
• Non-toxic paint is also more expensive than standard paint.  In fact, if you’re employing someone to paint your home with non-toxic paint you can expect to pay up to 25% more.
• Non-toxic paint isn’t regulated and some manufacturers are misleading about the ingredients in their paint.  Buy from trusted retailers who carry familiar and trusted paint brands.

Sample of cadmium orange hue paint.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tips for Buying Non-Toxic Paint

• Understand the difference between paint options. In addition to standard paint you can buy natural paints made from water, plant oils, clay, and chalk.  This type of paint offers the safest and healthiest option but can be extremely difficult to find.

• Zero VOC Paint isn’t really zero VOC but contains 5 grams or less of VOC per liter.  Low VOC Paint offers anywhere from 250 grams per liter to 6 grams per liter.  If choosing this option look for 50 grams per liter or less.

• When buying non-toxic paint be sure to read the ingredients carefully.  The ingredient list should contain only natural, non-hazardous items like plant dyes, essential oils, milk protein, clay and resin.

• Look for natural pigments.  Standard color tints are what increase the paint’s emissions or VOC content. Purchase premixed colors or add natural pigments even though they’ll limit your color choice. 

Non-toxic paint is better than standard paint for reducing chemical emissions, and if you have any type of chemical sensitivities then it’s a good idea.  It’s better for your health and for the environment. 

Video: Introduction To The Total Wellness Cleanse & Detox Program

This quick video gives you a good overview of the Total Wellness Cleanse - my favorite detox program. I like it because it's gentle and natural and supports your body in doing what it does naturally to regain and maintain optimal health. Unlike popping a bunch of weird pills, or going on some extreme diet of vinegar or lemon juice, which is very unnatural and stressful on the body, the Total Wellness Cleanse provides a program for eliminating sugar cravings, and feeding the body with whole, healthy, natural foods that give your immune system and detoxification organs a boost of healthful nutrients.

The video describes the parts of the process, and what the main goals are for the 30-day cleanse. Check it out, and if you are interested in learning more, click the link below the video for more info.

Happy and Healthy New Year to you!

Total Wellness Cleanse and Detox Program.mp4
Total Wellness Cleanse is a 30-day diet developed by a team of registered holistic nutritionists - Yuri Elkaim, Amy Coates, and Adam Elkaim. This is a time-proven detox and cleanse diet plan that will get rid of toxins and other wastes clogging your ...


Click Here for More Info on The Total Wellness Cleanse...

Video - Reduce Exposure to Toxins in 5 Areas

This video provides succinct guidelines for reducing the toxins entering your body through cleaner air, water, and food choices. From choosing a good air filter, to filtering your water, to finding and identifying organic foods that are affordable, to choosing natural cleaning and personal care products, she offers a number of tips that can help reduce toxins in your daily environment. Tips such avoiding dry cleaning, and choosing natural methods of pest control in your home and garden. She also lists ingredients to avoid when shopping for personal care products, and reviews the "Dirty Dozen" list - produce which is most contaminated through conventional farming, and is most important to buy organic.

Check out this informative video to learn more about how you can reduce toxins in your home and lower your toxic load naturally.

Brenda Watson's Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps - Reduce Exposure
Excerpt from Brenda Watson's Detox Strategy (PBS Special) where Brenda Watson, CNC explains that the "R" in RENEW is for Reduce. She gives you some easy ways to reduce exposure to toxins in your life.


For more helpful tips on reducing your toxic load, as well as where to find cleaner, healthier products, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.

Does Detoxing Help You Lose Weight?

If you want to lose weight you might be considering a detox plan. Although usually the main goal of a cleansing/detoxing program is to remove toxins from the body and restore healthy function, in recent years, many celebrities have touted detox plans as a quick weight loss strategy, and many people have found great success detoxing for weight loss. However, there are some facts to consider before using a detox program to lose weight.

(Photo credit: fantasyhealthball)

How Does Detoxing Help you Lose Weight?

Most detox diets require significant dietary restrictions. In fact, the Lemonade Diet or Master Cleanse diet limits you to drinking a lemon, maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper concoction throughout the day. You don't eat anything. When you reduce your caloric intake like this your body begins to burn its fat stores. The result is that you lose a lot of weight quickly.

However, there are repercussions to this type of weight loss. You regain the weight as soon as you begin to eat normally again. Studies have also shown that dieting like this can slow down your metabolism.

There is good news, though. Not all detox plans have these same harsh side effects. Some detox diets and plans - such as the Total Wellness Cleanse - can help you lose weight naturally and gradually. Detoxing helps purge the toxins from your fat cells. This process can help you lose weight faster once you start a diet and exercise program. A detox diet doesn't have to mean starvation. And you can also detox (or enhance your detox diet efforts) with tea, massage, saunas and detox baths. Purging the toxins from your body can help you get a clean slate before you begin a diet and fitness program.

Additional Dieting and Detox Benefits

Detoxing can also help you lose weight in a number of other surprising ways. One important example is the renewed energy that you’ll likely have once you’ve completed your detox program. Most people who have detoxified state that they have more energy and more mental clarity when they finish. This energy will help you get and stay motivated to stick to your diet and exercise program.

You may also sleep better. Studies have shown that quality sleep helps boost weight loss. It also helps you keep the weight off once you’ve lost it. Finally, when you have completed a detox program you’re going to feel healthier. You will have eliminated sugary foods and processed foods from your diet. This process essentially reprograms your taste buds and your metabolism. You won’t have the same cravings or desire for junk food. This helps you stick to your diet program and lose weight.

When detoxing for weight loss keep your long term goals in mind. Starvation detox programs don’t always offer the best solution. However, there are quality detox plans and programs that help you get healthy and lose weight naturally. Find the plan that is right for you.

We do review various detoxification and cleansing programs here on this blog, but so far our favorite has been the Total Wellness Cleanse - a gentle method that has you eat lots of whole, fresh natural foods, to help support your body's own natural detoxification systems without starving you or subjecting you to all kinds of crazy supplements and pills that may actually be hard on the body.

Why Water Is Important To Your Detoxification Goals

When undertaking a detox plan, regardless of the method you choose, water will play a very important role in your success. Water will help you detoxify more quickly. It will also reduce or alleviate detoxification side effects.

Here are three compelling reasons why water is important to detoxification.

Alpine water fountain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1 Water helps you eliminate toxins more quickly. Water helps accomplish several things in your body. It keeps your vital organs hydrated and functioning properly. We’re talking about your kidney, liver, bladder and digestive tract. These organs are an important part of the detox process. When they’re functioning optimally you’ll detox faster.

Additionally, water helps you flush the toxins from your body. Sweating and urination both help remove the toxins from your body. The more you drink, the more you’ll urinate thus sweeping the toxins from your body quickly and easily.

#2 Water helps you lose weight. Water helps you lose weight in a number of ways. First and perhaps foremost, it helps your metabolism function optimally. The better your metabolism the easier it is for you to lose weight and keep it off. Secondly, water helps you feel full. In fact, many health and fitness experts recommend drinking a glass of water a few minutes before you eat any snack or meal. Studies have shown people consume fewer calories when they drink a glass of water first.

#3 Manage side effects better. When you detox you’re going to inevitably have a few side effects. These include dehydration, headaches, diarrhea, insomnia and mood swings. You may also experience a bit of mental fogginess during the first few days of detoxing. Drinking water helps reduce many of these symptoms.

Not only will you experience them for a much shorter time period, they’ll also be less severe. Of the symptoms, dehydration is the most serious and potentially risky side effect. It’s absolutely vital to your health and well being to stay hydrated.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You may also experience a few cravings when you’re detoxing. Drinking a glass of water, or a glass of water with lemon or a dash of fruit juice, will help you manage those cravings.

Detoxing is a wonderful way to achieve a number of health benefits. Drinking water when you detox is absolutely essential for success. Consider creating a checklist to make sure you drink enough during your detox. Try to drink a glass of water every three hours or so – when you’d normally be having a meal or snack. If you're at work, keep a glass or bottle of water beside you on your desk - you'll be surprised how much you'll drink without even thinking about it.

You may be juicing or drinking tea during your detox. Drink a glass of water with each glass of juice or tea. If you notice your urine is yellow, you’re not drinking enough. Drink water and stay healthy during your detoxification process.

For More Helpful Detoxification Tips, Visit www.totalwellnesscleanse.com.

How Eating Raw Triggers Detoxification

Cleaning is an every-day part of our lives. If we’re not cleaning the house, we’re doing laundry, cleaning the car, cleaning out the garage or attic, or clearing our desk of the never-ending piles of bills, junk mail, and coupons we accumulate. For the computer-savvy, cleaning is even an every day process in order to maintain an optimally-running, reliable and safe system. We even clean the outside of our bodies in some form or fashion on a daily basis, from showering to teeth brushing.

So, if cleaning is such a healthy part of our every day lives, logic would dictate we should do the same for the inside of our body as well, right??

Anterior view of the abdominal region. Skin is translucent in order to see the lymphatic system (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Detoxification and tissue cleansing is the process of purging environmental and chemical toxins from your body. Such toxins can disrupt every system in your body. If our body is polluted with such toxins, its own detoxification system – namely the liver, lungs, skin, kidneys and lymphatic system – cannot work properly, and these unruly poisons set up shop in every cell of our body, and soon begin to wreak havoc with our physical, mental and emotional well-being. (For more on toxic load and and how to minimize its impact on your health, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.)

These contaminants can create such problems as lethargy, foggy thinking, unhealthy skin, decreased vision, mood swings, and digestive disorders. However, by adopting a healthier and cleaner lifestyle, including eating healthy raw foods, our body can conduct its own ‘spring cleaning.’ And contrary to what most might think, raw foods are actually more easily digestible than cooked foods are.

Eating raw foods also enables the digestive system to ‘clean house’ and begin the process of purging the dangerous environmental and chemical toxins from the cells of the body, thereby restoring the systems to their optimal states. In addition, since raw foods are so nutrient-dense, they also simultaneously provide the body with much-needed and missed nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs in order to continually perform optimally on an ongoing basis.

Whether you choose to continue on a raw food diet long-term is up to you, but it's great for cleansing and purging toxins from your body on a short term basis as well.

Video - What Is a Detox Cleanse Program?

You may have heard of different cleanse programs, such as the "Master Cleanse," and other weird diets that sound pretty challenging and unrealistic for you to incorporate into your life. These types of extreme diets or cleanses are unsustainable, and may even be harmful to your body in some cases. That's why I love the Total Wellness Cleanse - it is a step-by-step, gentle approach to help your body do what it's made to do, and cleanse itself naturally. Check out this short video for a straight-forward explanation of this program, and how it works with your body to help it detoxify naturally and rid your body of toxins and excess fat, and improve your overall health dramatically in just 30 days.

Want to learn more? Just click the link below the video for a more in-depth explanation of the system.

Total Wellness Cleanse and Detox Program-Explained
Total Wellness Cleanse is a 30-day diet developed by a team of registered holistic nutritionists - Yuri Elkaim, Amy Coates, and Adam Elkaim. This is a time-proven detox and cleanse diet plan that will get rid of toxins and other wastes clogging your ...

Click Here For More Info On The 30-Day Total Wellness Cleanse...

Tips To Get Started With Detoxification

Detoxing can be a real challenge. However, it can also be extremely rewarding. Detoxing can help you achieve several health and lifestyle goals. In order to achieve those goals it’s important to start your detox plan off right.

Cover of Detox (Natural Care Handbook)Tip #1 Set a detox goal. Why do you want to detox? Do you want to cleanse your system? Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to stop your addiction to sugar and/or processed foods? Choose your goal first, your reason or purpose for detoxing. If you don’t have a goal it’ll not only be difficult to choose a detox plan, it’ll be difficult to stick to it.

#2 Choose the right plan. Now that you have a goal for detoxing, choose a plan that supports that goal. Consider your lifestyle. Also consider the time you have to detox and take the potential side effects into consideration.

For example, most detox plans will have some side effects. You may feel tired or irritable. You may also experience headaches and have some digestive issues. This is your body purging the toxins. You may also experience some withdrawal symptoms if you have a diet that is high in sugar and caffeine. If you plan accordingly, you can experience these side effects during low stress times – like the weekend.

Choosing the right plan also requires you to be honest and realistic. Juicing or eating only vegetables may be more realistic than a program that has you drink only detox tea for three days.

#3 Prepare yourself. The potential side effects have already been mentioned. Managing these side effects can be challenging. However, if you prepare for them this short period will be easier.

You might rent movies or grab a couple of books and plan to simply rest during the challenging part of your detox. You’ll also want to make sure you have all the supplies you need. For example, if you’re juicing then you’ll need juice recipes, a juicer or blender, and tons of produce. (See our previous article on juice detoxing here.)

#4 Consider other methods of detoxing. Epsom salt baths, saunas, and even massage can help you detox your body’s tissues. They can also be relaxing and help you transition through the challenging part of your detox plan.

Health (Photo credit: 401K)#5 Reward yourself. Celebrate success. In addition to taking great care of yourself during the detox, plan to reward yourself once you’ve completed it. Now, that probably doesn’t mean binging on junk food! However, you might do something nice for yourself. Take a new fitness class. Take a day and spend it doing something you love.

Once you’ve completed your detox program set another goal to continue improving your health. For example, if you detoxed to purge the junk food habit, you might choose a new fitness program to begin. You might also take a healthy cooking class or begin eating healthier. Your health is important. Detoxing is a great way to move forward toward good health. Choose the right program for you. Be smart and safe when you detox and treat your body well.  

For a comprehensive, gentle, and natural detox program that we recommend, click the banner below. You'll also get a FREE Report on The Toxic Side of Food.

Video - Gentle Home Detox Program

Here is a short video detailing a simple and gentle detox method which can help you cleanse your liver and gall bladder, as well as your lymph system. This easy method doesn't require you to take a lot of weird supplements, and it can be done with just a couple of readily available ingredients you can find at just about any supermarket.

(Be sure to consult your heathcare practitioner before attempting this or any other detox or cleanse.)

Simple Home Detox Program
This simple home detox program is for people who are relatively healthy. If you are very toxic, you will start to feel sick after a few days, in which case stop the detox program because you are detoxifying too quickly. I...


Here are the details on this detox method:

Simple Detox Program:

When you get up in the morning drink:

2 Tbsp organic olive oil with juice of 1/2 fresh lemon

An hour later drink a Detox Tea or take a Milk Thistle capsule

You can then eat a healthy breakfast.

Schedule:
* Detox Program for 10 days
* Stop for 5 days
* Repeat these two steps

Note: This detox program is gentle and gradual. You can easily do this gentle detox program for at least 3 to 6 months.

Top 5 Detoxing Mistakes

Detoxing can be a good way to improve your health. You can reset your taste buds and metabolism. You can lose weight. You can get the toxins out of your body, blood and organs. With all of the benefits of detoxing, it’s also easy to make mistakes. These mistakes can derail your detoxing plan. However, knowing the mistakes in advance helps you prepare for them and avoid them. You can have a safe, effective and well managed detox.

Cover of Detox (Natural Care Handbook)Mistake #1: Choosing The Wrong Detox Plan

There are a wide variety of detox plans and programs. Some are designed for weight loss. Others are designed to help you eliminate a dependency on sugar, caffeine or gluten. Others are simply designed to help you purge toxins from your body. When you choose the right program, it’s much easier to stick to it. It’s also easier to recognize the benefits of detoxing and to celebrate the rewards.

Mistake #2: Not Preparing For The Side Effects

Most detox programs have side effects. They include headaches, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia and mood swings. There are a few common reasons for the side effects. Most of them are caused by withdrawal. If you include sugary foods in your daily diet, going “cold turkey” can cause withdrawal. Eliminating caffeine and starchy carbohydrates can also cause withdrawal symptoms.

The other commonly held theory behind the side effects is the release of toxins into your body. When you detox you’re experiencing a sudden release of toxins from your tissues into your body. Your body will need to work to get them out of your system. Drinking lots of water helps.

Mistake #3: Bad Timing

Detoxing can be incredibly challenging. It’s best to detox during a weekend or a low stress time. That way you can take care of your body and manage your side effects without additional outside stress. If you cannot time your detox for a weekend or a vacation, consider choosing a gentle detox plan. There are plans that last a week or two but don’t require a sudden elimination.

Mistake #4: Not Drinking Enough

You’ll likely experience diarrhea when you’re detoxing. This is part of the purging your body of toxins. Make sure you drink plenty of water. The water will help you stay hydrated. It will also help the toxins get out of your body more quickly. Drinking water, and green tea if the diet allows, will also help you prevent headaches.

Image via WikipediaMistake #5: Not paying attention to your body

It’s very important to pay attention to your body during the detox process. It is possible to detox too fast. It’s also possible that detoxing can be bad for you. It’s not right for everyone. If you have compromised health or are fighting an illness, it’s not the right time to detox. Pay careful attention to how your body is reacting. It is okay to stop detoxing or to take it more slowly.

Detoxing can provide a number of powerful health benefits. Choose a plan that fits your needs, goals and lifestyle. Pay close attention to your body and prepare for the detox well and always remember to consult your doctor before starting. To your great health!

Exploring Common Detox Methods

When it comes to detoxing there are as many ways to detox as there are reasons to. It can be confusing trying to figure out which one is right for you. Before you make a decision, decide what you want to accomplish with a detox plan. Also consider your lifestyle and how you might fit a detox program into your life for a few days. Finally, make sure the program is safe and reputable.

Once you know what you’re looking for then you can begin comparing methods. The following are the most common detox methods.

Image via Wikipedia#1 Juicing

A juice detox plan generally requires you to drink juice and only juice for several days to a week. Some juicing detox plans actually let you gradually ease into the plan and ease your way out. Juicing is a fairly easy way to detox. You are able to consume calories which is better than a starvation detox diet. And all of those organic vegetables and fruits are great for your body. You’ll be consuming a vast amount of fiber and nutrients.

#2 Tea

There are several tea type cleanses or detox diets. They essentially require you to drink an herbal or laxative tea for several days. The challenge to this diet is the fact that you don’t get to eat anything. You just drink a lot of tea. People tend to lose weight on a diet like this. However, they also tend to gain it back once they quit the diet. They do, however, often work to flush out your kidneys, liver, colon and cleansing organs.

#3 Elimination diets

Elimination diets like a Candida diet, a gluten free diet or a sugar free diet are all great for helping you regain your health. They tend to last a few weeks to several months. This means you need to be committed to the diet. However, once you cleanse your system of the offending food(s) you will be much healthier. These types of deist are best for those who are struggling with poor dietary habits. Or if you suspect you have a food sensitivity or allergy.

#4 Traditional methods

Image via WikipediaTraditionally people detoxed by sweating. Saunas are a wonderful way to detox. You can enjoy a traditional steam sauna. You might also take a look at infrared saunas. Massage helps move the toxins from the muscles too.

Another traditional method to detox is to take a salt bath. Epsom salts cost just a few dollars at your supermarket. You can find them in the first aid section. Pour a cup, or two, of Epsom salts into a hot bath. Add essential oils to the bath to add an aroma therapy element to the bath. Bathe for thirty to sixty minutes. While bathing use a loofa or scrub to brush dead skin cells and toxins from your skin. Rinse off.

There are many detox methods to consider. Some are easy, like taking a sauna. Others are a bit more challenging. You might consider combing some methods to receive maximum benefit. Always take care to detox slowly and to make sure you’re healthy enough for a detox plan.

Video - What to Expect During a Cleanse

Here is a video that will give you some ideas of some of the side effects you may experience while on a cleanse diet. Keep in mind that these may vary depending on your health and how toxic your body is before starting the cleanse. A cleanse diet is usually one of the more gentle ways to detox your body, as it is allowing the body to cleanse itself naturally without forcing anything. That said, if you are used to eating lots of sugar, white flour, and caffeine every day, your body may take longer to adjust to a healthy diet, and you may experience more side effects than someone who eats fairly clean already.

Check this out, and for some more info visit the link below.

Body Cleanse - What to Expect on a Cleanse
www.totalwellnesscleanse.com Get your FREE report today - "The Toxic Side of Food" and learn how to cleanse properly and safely. Go to: www.totalwellnesscleanse.com


For more information on the Total Wellness Cleanse click here.