Using A Sauna to Detoxify Your Body

Although most people really don’t like it, sweating is actually good for your body. But thanks to the ultra-convenient lifestyles of today, sweating isn’t something that a lot of people do on a regular basis.

We go from air conditioned homes to air conditioned vehicles to air conditioned offices and shopping places. But this lack of sweating can cause your body to keep toxins trapped inside, which is another cause for increased toxic load in modern society.

Sweating (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Toxins enter the body one of two ways - either through the mouth or through the skin. When you sweat, your body expels some of the toxins and can help prevent a build up. Sweating opens up your pores to let the body release toxins. Not only do you feel better and look better, but your skin will also look younger and healthier!

Using a sauna can be a good way to help increase sweating and eliminate toxins from your body, because a sauna causes you to sweat a lot more than you normally would.* If you could check what your sweat contains, you’d see that it probably contains a lot of toxins - including airborne ones like pesticides that are sprayed in homes and on plants.

In a sauna, your body also works to release toxins that have been stored in the tissues. It basically forces them loose and then eliminates them. Studies have shown that saunas are effective in detoxification based on the amount of sweat your body will produce at the higher temperature.

Your body will get rid of toxins like uric acid, which is a waste product - and a toxin. If uric acid builds up in the body, it can lead to things like kidney problems. Not only can saunas help your body detoxify itself of uric acid, but also from toxins from metals, chemicals, household cleaners, and from any medications that you take or put on your skin.

A modern infrared sauna. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you use a sauna, your heart rate also increases - and this is a good thing.* A faster heart rate will increase blood flow. The increase in blood flow will help push toxins out of your body faster.

Not only that, but there’s a correlation between the temperature of the sauna and the benefit it gives your immune system. When you get a fever, it raises your body temperature to kill off whatever is making you sick.

In a sauna, the increased temperature helps your body fight things that can make you sick. It used to be that if you wanted the detoxification benefit from using a sauna, you had to leave your house to go to one.

But today, you can buy a sauna that you can use right in the comfort of your own home - and they’re affordable. You can find both steam and dry heat saunas for home use.


* Note: You should not use a sauna without consulting your physician first - especially if you have any type of disease or condition that affects your skin or cardiovascular system.

A Few Examples Of Personal Home Saunas:

   

Could Chelation Help Reduce Your Toxic Load?

As we discussed last week, at this moment, you’re carrying far more toxins within your body than you’re aware of. These toxins have the potential to negatively impact your health - and some can even build up to the point where they can shorten your life!*

Many people assume that they have a few toxins, but they don’t realize that just by living in your home and going about your daily life, you ingest thousands of different toxins.

Chemical cleaning products can contain toxins. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Toxins can be a number of things - but especially chemicals. These chemicals come from your mattress, cleaning products, your floors, the foods that you eat and the things you drink - and even the air you breathe.

When you ingest toxins in some way, your body has natural processes in place to remove these toxins as a way of protecting itself. For example, your body may get rid of toxins by secreting them through your kidneys.

As the build up continues, it tries to rid these toxins by expelling them as waste material and pushing them to leach out through the skin. Unfortunately, in today's chemical-filled world, it often happens that these toxins are so numerous, and the build up can be so great, that the body can’t eliminate them all without some help.

That’s why detoxing can help. By detoxing, you can eliminate a build up, boost your health and improve your immune system. One of the ways that you can do this is by using a chelation detoxing process.

Doctors use chelation therapy to rid a patient’s body of heavy metal toxins in particular. The patient receives EDTA or Ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid through an IV and has to return for numerous visits.

Fortunately, there’s a more natural way that you can use chelation to detoxify your body. This natural chelation process is a combination of cilantro and chlorella.

Fresh Cilantro (Coriander). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cilantro, also called coriander, is an herb from the parsley family and has been used for medicinal purposes, as well as in cooking. It has antioxidant properties as well as essential oil, and is rich in fiber.

This herb is believed to improve health and fight disease. It’s an anti-inflammatory and is helpful in helping the body get rid of mercury toxins.

Chlorella is fresh water alga. It contains antioxidants, vitamin C, iron and B vitamins.

It works to remove toxins from the body because it contains chlorophyll. This is what you see when you look at green plants. Chlorophyll is the pigment. What it does for humans when used as part of a detox plan is eliminate metals from the body and from the bloodstream through a binding process.

You can find chlorella at health food stores in various forms. It’s used in a combination chelation process with cilantro. Both of these are natural living substances that can help cleanse and detoxify your body naturally, without the harmful side effects of many harsher cleanses.



* Please note that this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as medical advice, and you should always consult a qualified medical practitioner before beginning any cleanse or detoxification program.

The Hay Diet for Good Health

Dr. William Howard Hay introduced food combining in 1911. After 16 yrs of medical practice his own health began to deteriorate, and he developed high blood pressure, Brights disease (now more commonly known as acute or chronic nephritis, a kidney disease) and a dilated heart. There being no treatment available for dilated heart at the time, Dr. Hay was inspired to treat his own symptoms. His basic premise is that there is one underlying cause for health problems and that is the wrong chemical condition in the body (also sometimes caused by toxic load).

Chart from How to Always Be Well, Dr. William Howard Hay (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He did this by eating 'fundamentally' as he called it; taking foods in a natural form and not mixing proteins and starches at the same meal. The wrong chemical condition is acidity which is caused by the manufacture and accumulation of acid from the products of digestion and metabolism in amounts greater than the body can eliminate. 

Along with dietary changes, Dr. Hay also advised fresh air, exercise and general lifestyle changes. The basic rules of this diet are: starches and sugar should not be eaten with proteins and acid fruits at the same meal; vegetables, salads and fruits should play a major part in the diet; proteins, starches and fats should be eaten in small quantities and only whole-grain unprocessed starches should be used; and finally at least 4 hours should elapse between meals of different food groups. It is also known as the "food combining" diet. 

Acid foods are protein rich, meat, fish, dairy, etc., and alkaline the carbohydrate-rich starch foods like rice, grains and potatoes.

Following the simple rules of the Hay Diet has shown great potential in reversing chronic and degenerative conditions such as constipation, indigestion and arthritis. It can be beneficial to asthma and allergy sufferers. It can also stimulate natural weight loss, thus reducing the health risks linked to obesity, such as diabetes, gallstones and coronary heart disease. 

 To Learn More About the Hay Diet, Consult These Resources:

   

 

7 Nutrition Tips To Reduce Your Toxic Load

You may have heard a lot about cleansing diets or fasts, but if you want to keep your system clean, it really very simply comes down to what you eat every day.  If you want to keep your body at its best, here are some tips toward maintaining optimal nutrition.

1. Eat Organic, Whole Foods

This is rather basic, but very important.  Whole foods are those that have undergone the least processing, but they do not have to be eaten exclusively raw. 

Examples include whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables, grass-fed and free-range meats that are not processed into preserved meat products, and natural sweeteners. 

Your system will not be clean if you continually pump it full of unhealthy foods.  This does not mean you can never indulge, but it does mean that your diet should consist of at least 80 percent whole, organic foods.  That way, when you do choose to indulge, your body can handle it and eliminate the toxins on its own.

Sucanat (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Replace White with Brown

This is a basic nutritional rule of thumb for optimal nutrition.  Replace all refined or "white" foods with whole or "brown" foods.  It's not the color of the food (white popcorn, for example, can be very nutritious); it's the level of refinement.

For example:

* White flour/Whole wheat flour
* White sugar/Raw, unfiltered honey, blackstrap molasses, or Sucanat (natural sugarcane)
* White rice/Brown rice
* Pasta made from refined flour/Whole grain pasta

3. Add Probiotics

These friendly bacteria are important for helping the body keep itself cleansed, and keep intestinal flora in balance.  Sources include yogurt, miso (a fermented soybean paste), kefir, acidophilous milk, tempeh, kimchi (or naturally fermented sauerkraut), lactic-acid fermented pickles and other naturally fermented foods, and probiotic supplements. Many of these (like yogurt) are very easy to make at home - and contain more good bacteria than purchased sources.

4. Choose Nutrient-Dense Foods

These are foods that provide the most nutrient value for their caloric value.  In other words, they are the opposite of "empty calorie" foods like candy, pop, or fried potato chips that are full of calories but lacking nutrients.

Nutrient-dense foods are not necessarily low-calorie (although they can be) - avocados and nuts are examples - but for their calories they deliver large amounts of nutrients.

5. Get Enough Fiber

High-fiber diets are essential to keeping the intestinal system clean.  Fiber bulks up bowel movements, taking toxins along with it as it moves along the intestinal tract.

Healthy choices for high fiber are whole grains, including air-popped or stove-top popcorn (not microwave popcorn, as it may contain some dubious chemicals), fruits, fresh vegetables, beans, and legumes.


6. Don't Be Afraid to Supplement

The supplement debate is likely never to be resolved, but supplements are worth looking into in today's often nutrient-deficient culture.

If you are not getting enough vitamins, minerals, fiber, or probiotics from your diet - and such dietary goals can be difficult to reach - consider supplementing with a natural multivitamin, minerals, probiotics, or fiber sources (such as psyllium husks). Choose a good quality manufacturer such as Garden Of Life, or Standard Process, which are made here in the US and include organic and whole-food ingredients.

7. You Are What You Drink

Do not forget to drink plenty of water!  No other beverage is a good substitute for water. Regardless of what else you drink, you still need to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Add a few generous squeezes of lemon juice to your first glass of water in the morning for a liver-cleansing tonic.


Good Supplements Are Easy to Find Online:
   

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!

Avoiding Dangerous "Fragrances"

Have you ever had someone walk past you wearing perfume or some other fragrance and received an instant headache?  Scented candles, soaps and detergents and even shampoos all contain fragrances that can be harmful to your health, and many can accumulate in your body and increase your toxic load, leading to lowered immune function and future health problems.  Let’s explore some of the most dangerous fragrances, where they hide and how you can avoid them.

Why Avoid Chemical Fragrances?

Image via Flickr

Chemical fragrances contain just that, chemicals.  Here are a few statistics that may surprise you:

* Researchers have found that people who were regularly exposed to cleaning sprays were 30 to 50 percent more likely to develop asthma.

* The NRDC study showed that many air fresheners and scented products contain phthalates, which are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can be particularly dangerous for young children and unborn babies.  Exposure to phthalates can affect testosterone levels and lead to reproductive abnormalities, including abnormal genitalia and reduced sperm production.

* 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxics and sensitizers, which are all known to cause cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions.

* A 1991 study performed by the EPA found numerous harmful chemicals are commonly used in fragrance products, including acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, and methylene chloride.  Alone or in combination with each other, when inhaled these can cause central nervous system disorders, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, drowsiness, irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs and GI tract, kidney damage, headache, respiratory failure, ataxia, and fatigue, among other symptoms and illnesses. 

So How Can You Avoid These Chemicals?

There are many wonderful options to go chemical free and still have a good-smelling world around you.  Here are a few tips:

* Switch to natural cosmetics, hair-care and personal products.  Not only does this eliminate your exposure to harmful fragrances, it’s better for the environment.

Image via Flickr

* Skip the perfume and use natural oils.  Essential oils, and combinations of them, make wonderful natural perfumes and they won’t harm your health. 

* Buy non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products.  They won’t use harmful fragrance chemicals, which protects your health and the environment.

* Get rid of your paraffin candles.  Use soy or beeswax candles so you aren’t throwing petroleum and chemicals into the air you're breathing. 

* Skip the commercial air fresheners.  Air fresheners typically work one of two ways; they neutralize your receptors, numbing them so you don’t smell anything, or they cover scents up with stronger scents.  Neither is ideal.  If needed, use an essential oil diffuser with natural oils to freshen the air in your home naturally. 

The fragrance industry, including cleaning products, isn’t heavily regulated.  Nor are the chemicals studied for their effects on our health and environment.  From mild symptoms like headaches and fatigue, to dire illnesses like cancer and autoimmune disorders, chemical fragrances aren’t doing you or your health any good.  Take good care of yourself and switch to scents that are more natural today.

To find natural cosmetics and personal care products, check out The Natural Product Directory. This site offers helpful reviews, as well as safety and other ratings that can help you choose natural products that work effectively.

Video - Eating the Right Type of Fiber to Detoxify Your Body

This informative video discusses the different types of fiber and how they are both important and work together to clear toxins from the body, and improve overall health in a number of ways. Eating both types of fiber is important, but you don't have to work that hard to include more fiber in your diet. Eating a wide variety of whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains every day will easily provide you with all the fiber you need for optimal health. (But beware of processed foods claiming to contain "whole grains" - these are often loaded with sugar and other unhealthy substances, and the amount of actual whole grains may actually be minimal.)

Interestingly, he also discusses how different seasonal foods naturally have the proper balance of the right kinds of fiber for your body during each different season. Check it out!

Eat the Right Fiber
/HomeDetox Eat the Right Fiber You have heard of the h...

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.

Video - Juicing Organic Vegetables for Detoxification

This short video demonstrates how easy it is to make a delicious and nutritious juice drink for detox purposes. She also explains why it's extremely important to use organic vegetables for your detox diet, and discusses how to choose fruits and vegetables (and other foods) that minimize acidity and increase your alkalinity to release more toxins and help you lose weight more effectively.

Detox Weight Loss Diet: Organic Juicing for Alkalinity
Juice a delicious alkalinizing beverage with Dashama.
 

Learn More About Alkalinity, Health & Weight Loss:
   

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.

Want to Know What's In Your Food? Grow It Yourself!

While, as we have shown, eating organically does not have to break the budget, there are times when it can get expensive, especially if you don't have access to a good local farm market or CSA. So why not grow your own? Image via WikipediaGrowing some of your own food is not only helpful for the environment, but it also provides many other great benefits, such as healthy and delicious produce for the dinner table, an increased sense of connection to the environment and your impact upon it, and the fulfillment and satisfaction of knowing you are providing for yourself and your family. Heck, it's even a great form of exercise!

We cover this topic in detail on our sister Sustainable Gardening blog, but it is also very relevant here. One of the best ways to know what is in your food is to grow it yourself. Whether or not you choose to grow organically (and we hope that you do!!), you will know what inputs were used in growing the food, how fresh it is, and of course, where it came from! You won't have to wonder if the labels are telling the truth, or what chemicals your organically grown food may have been exposed to during transport and delivery. You will not only save money on groceries, but also save on fuel costs and reduce the toxic load of the planet as a whole, by eating food that has not been transported for hundreds (or even thousands) of miles before it reaches your table. In fact, the only transport involved will be done by your two legs!

Why not try growing a garden this year, and see how rewarding (and healthy) it can be? For articles, tips and resources on starting your own garden, including choosing and preparing a garden spot, gardening in small spaces, making your own compost (organic fertilizer!) and much more, visit our Sustainable Gardening blog at http://nhlsustainablegardening.blogspot.com/.

Video - Where to Start in Reducing Your Toxic Load

Here is a pretty interesting video to check out. I do agree with a lot of what she says, and I agree that fiber is important - just understand that it is not the entire solution. There are MANY other aspects that must be examined in building your immune system - supplements, enzymes, probiotics, diet, exercise, and stress must all be addressed as well. However, fiber can be a great way to start, and this video explores why.

Fibromyalgia & Reducing the Toxic Load
www.iHealthTube.com Dr. Gloria Gilbere feels antidepressants are being over-prescribed and if people would reduce the number of toxins they give their body, they could repair the damage naturally. Treatment begins in the intestines. An educational vi...


P.S. My favorite part? "We don't have an antidepressant deficiency!" (Amen to that.)
For more information and ideas on reducing your toxic load, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.

Home Body-Detox Programs

From birth up to the present, your body has accumulated a build up of many toxins (often called your "toxic load"). Some of the chemicals from all the foods and beverages that you've taken in your entire lifetime will build up because the body can't handle the detoxification process alone, due to the sheer amount of toxins we are now all exposed to.

Image via WikipediaThus comes the detox program. Many people swear by detox programs as the solution to their unhealthy way of life. (Unhealthy meaning you are doing things which are somewhat harmful to your body. A typical example is cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol. Cigarettes and alcohol have many harmful chemicals that are considered toxins once they entered a person's body.)

Through a good detox program, you can expect to gain higher energy levels, relieve symptoms of asthma/diabetes, and slow down your aging process, as well as other desirable effects. The detox program can also aid your body's natural detox process. Since almost everyone has some sort of 'bad' eating habit, not to mention their 'other' unhealthy ways of life, the body can't cope with all the toxins that need to be removed, which causes an imbalance in the body.

Detox programs can be easily done at home. There are a number of home body-detox programs available, lasting anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks or more. These programs are focused in helping you lose weight, enhance circulation, increase body elimination, colon cleansing, detox diet, and provide nutrients for the liver. If you still don’t know yet, the liver is the main organ of the body which is responsible for the detoxification process. So you really need to protect and support this body organ.

Some people who have undergone this type of home body-detox program say that they were able to lose weight much more quickly than other weight-loss products. Aside from that, they noticed that they now have clearer skin, improved digestion, improved energy, normal bowel movements, etc.

Image by Jeff Hester via FlickrHome body-detox programs also teach you what foods are best for the body. Fresh vegetables and fruits are great for almost any weight loss program, most especially with a home detox. You can eat broccoli, onions, and sprouts, green and red veggies, fruits, and more (you should really try if at all possible to eat ONLY organic foods during your detox program, to avoid introducing new toxins into your body through your food).

Virgin oils, lemon water, rice milk, and non-caffeinated, unsweetened drinks (like tea) are also good for a home detox program. Drinking at least eight glasses of water everyday is also advisable.

A good home body-detox program will help a person restore his/her body's balance, and efficiently removes many toxin build ups. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that you will no longer have toxins in your system. If you continue with your unhealthy lifestyle, over time you will again build up toxins in your body.

Start by slowly changing your lifestyle now. There are many resources which you can make use to aid you in changing little by little. This might take a long time, but your body will thank you for your efforts to adapt a healthier way of life.

Eat Less Toxins and Save Money

We talk a lot about detoxing here on this blog - that is, removing chemicals from your body to reduce your toxic load. But it is equally important (perhaps even more so) to prevent those chemicals from entering your body in the first place. Reducing your toxic load by not contributing to it is actually one of the best and healthiest things to do for yourself. We often share articles and resources on the importance of using natural/organic products on your skin and around your home, but what about your food?  We focus more on that on our Cooking From Scratch blog, but it is also fitting here to talk about just how helpful it can be to "eat clean."

Image via WikipediaSo what does it mean to eat clean, and is it really feasible for most people to eat only (or mostly) organic foods?  First of all, eating clean and healthy does not necessarily cost a lot more money. By watching what you eat, and focusing the majority of your diet on foods that contribute to health, rather than cause health problems, you can actually lower  your cost of living (and your medical bills). Fruits and vegetables are full of healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They also tend to be much cheaper than meat and processed foods, especially if you buy less exotic varieties that grow closer to home.

Also, depending on where you live, you may be able to participate in a co-op or CSA, which can lower your costs, while providing your family with fresh, locally grown, often organic foods, and supporting your community at the same time. I have been a member of a CSA now for almost 3 years, and I can say that while my grocery bills maybe have not gone down, they certainly have not substantially increased - and 95% of the fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy I now consume are organically or naturally grown. I feel so much healthier - have great energy, my skin is better, and I rarely ever get sick with anything - even during the cold winter months of the Midwest.

Image via WikipediaSo, what does all this fresh, local, organic food cost me?  I'll get personal here, and share a breakdown of approximately what I spend - keeping in mind that I get all my meat and eggs through a CSA, and veggies, fruit, and milk about 9 months out of the year. (FYI - the photos on this page aren't from my CSA - sorry - I keep forgetting to take pictures! But the two links below will take you straight to the websites of the CSAs I'm a member of, if you're interested.)

Veggie/Fruit/Milk CSA (Veggies are 100% certified organic, fruit is spot-treated only with minimal chemicals, milk is from pasture-fed, non-hormone, non-antibiotic cows): $640.00 for 20 weeks at a time (Summer and Winter seasons) ($32/week).

Meat/Eggs CSA (Most is organic, all is pasture-fed, no hormones, no antibiotics): $260 for 30+ lbs (and 6 dozen eggs), which lasts me about 6 months, as I try to limit meat consumption for health reasons. (About $11/week.)

Prior to joining a CSA, I spent between $150-$200/month on groceries (as a single person, in a large city in Ohio).  Now I only grocery shop once or twice a month, instead of weekly (or more often), for things like flour, pasta, beans, rice, and that sort of thing. This also cuts down on impulse buys!  My CSAs combined cost me a total of about $175/month. With the occasional grocery shopping trip, I probably do cross $200 once in a while, but not by much.

Image via WikipediaEssentially, I am spending the same amount, to a few dollars more, to eat fresh (usually harvested that morning, in the case of the veggies!), locally grown, mostly organic foods for the majority of my diet. And I also have the pleasure and satisfaction of meeting and supporting local farmers who contribute so much to the community.

If you've never looked into a CSA, make it a point to try one this year. Now is the time when most CSAs are accepting signups - typically they will fill their membership slots before planting time, so they can plan for the season ahead. So don't wait 'til summer, as most do fill up. Check out LocalHarvest.org to find a CSA in your area, or learn more info on CSAs first at http://www.newholisticliving.com/csa.html. Get healthy, reduce your toxic load, and get connected to your community by joining a CSA today!