Cleanse & Detox Your Body
With so many conflicting stories out there in the media, many people are asking themselves, "why cleanse?"
There are many benefits of body cleansing. It can improve overall health, decrease risk of disease, increase energy, improve digestion, and help control weight.
Most Canadians start out with vibrant health, but by age 30 begin to develop 'minor' irritations. These small problems become more serious, causing our health to fall into further decline. Eventually, chronic disease sets in and even everyday activities can cause pain or suffering.
Many studies published in prestigious medical journals point to strong associations between chemical pesticides and serious health consequences, including: endocrine disruption and fertility problems, birth defects, brain tumours / brain cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, childhood leukemia, cancer clusters in communities, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, gastric or stomach cancer and learning disabilities.
Ideally it would be great to avoid all of the pesticides, and other chemical pollutants, however this is simply not feasible. Therefore it is up to you to take responsibility for your own health and well being and the first step towards optimal health is cleansing and detoxification.
1) How do you eliminate toxins?
The body has seven channels of elimination which are directly utilized to eliminate toxins:
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The Liver - changes or detoxifies harmful toxins into substances that can be safely eliminated from the body.
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The Colon - eliminates toxins from the liver as well as the waste which has accumulated in the intestines.
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The Blood - flows through the vascular system and carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body while removing harmful waste.
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The Lymphatic System - eliminates poisons from cells through a network of vessels that extend throughout the body.
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The Skin - eliminates waste and toxins through perspiration.
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The Lungs - expel toxins through breathing (ex. Carbon dioxide). Deep breathing stimulates lymphatic flow to eliminate toxins.
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The Kidneys - receive water-soluble waste from the liver, so that they can be further filtered and finally eliminated through the bladder.
2) Who should and who shouldn't do cleanses?
If you breathe, you should cleanse! Let’s face it; we live in a toxic world with chemicals from factories, trucks, and pesticides. Unfortunately, most people focus more on their outer appearance than their inner health and eating nutrient depleted foods, breathing in polluted air and drinking poor quality water is a deadly trio which is poisoning our bodies.
People who should avoid cleansing include women who are pregnant or nursing (the toxins released will circulate to the baby), people who have had recent surgery or people who have a serious medical condition. You should consult your health care practioner before starting a cleansing program.
3) What types of cleanses are there?
There are many types of cleanses for many reasons. There are full body cleanses that work on all channels of elimination, cleanses that target parasites and candida, cleanses for the liver, colon and kidneys and there are even cleanses that help rid your body of heavy metals. Talk to your local health store employee to see which one is best for you.
4) What are the benefits?
After undergoing a complete cleansing program, many people have experienced the following benefits:
Blood pressure and/or cholesterol stabilizes, clear skin, increased mental clarity, weight loss or weight stabilization, improved elimination, reduced inflammation and joint pain and increased overall vitality.
6) Are there any side effects?
Cleansing removes and eliminates toxins from the body. Whenever toxins are released from the tissues in the body, it is possible to experience “cleansing reactions”. These reactions occur during the actual cleanse as the body works to move toxins out. Cleansing reactions can include: flu-like symptoms, headaches, fatigue, brain fog, nausea, diarrhea and skin eruptions. These are not allergic reactions, and in most cases can be alleviated by reducing the dosage of the cleansing program in half. You can also increase water and fibre intake to help flush out the toxins as they are being released.
7) How often should you cleanse?
The good thing about herbal cleansing is that you can it any time during the year, not just spring time. People have used natural herbs to cleanse the body for thousands of years. As the world we live in becomes more and more polluted, cleansing and detoxification has become vital to ensure good health and to guard against disease. One of the most important things you can do to improve your health is to cleanse and detoxify regularly. It is suggested that everyone cleanse the body 2-4 times a year. Remember, if you breathe, you should cleanse!
8) Which ones are the best?
Ideally you’d like to look for a cleansing product that addresses all 7 channels of elimination. Renew Life carries 3 full body cleansing kits; First Cleanse, Total Body Rapid Cleanse and CleanseSMART. First Cleanse is a, 15 day all natural herbal cleanse. It is formulated specifically for the 'first time' or 'sensitive' cleanser. It is designed to stimulate the cleansing and detoxification process of the body's 7 channels of elimination. First Cleanse is strong enough to be effective, yet gentle enough that it will not cause strong 'cleansing reactions' which may occur when performing a more advanced cleanse. CleanseSMART is a 30-day advanced cleansing program that also addresses the body’s seven channels of elimination. It is ideal for those who are constipated or who have cleansed before. For those individuals who are limited for time or want to cleanse more frequently, a great option is Total Body Rapid Cleanse. It is a 7 day cleanse with added fibre that can be performed every month if desired. It is still recommended to perform a 30 day cleanse 2-4 times per year to achieve the full benefits of cleansing and detoxification.
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