Gentler Ways to Detox the Body

When your mind is drained, your body aches and your energy levels are close to zero, its time for a body detox.

Imagine yourself having clearer skin, sharper mind, energy revitalized, stronger immune system and feeling healthy inside out – these are the things that you can enjoy by undergoing a detoxification program.

Detoxification basically means blood cleansing through eliminating impurities from the blood in the liver, through kidneys, lungs, intestines, lymph and skin.

Taking your first step:

First, you have to reduce toxins in your body. Try to cut down on the following: cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, eating foods with saturated fats and refined sugars (cola and ketchup contains a lot) – these acts as toxins in your body and as a hindrance to your healing development.

The use of household cleaners that are chemical-based and personal health care products such as shampoos, toothpaste, deodorants and cleansers should be reduced as well. These chemicals are inside us; we never really fully eliminate them unless going to a process of detoxification.

There are many ways to detox the body. It's up to you to choose which suits your lifestyle and preference.

Juice fasting

Drinking only fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrot, spinach, celery, cabbage, apple, pineapple and cranberry (avoid citrus fruits). An effective way of discharging toxins, it also provides loads of nutrients as well as enzymes to lessen the intensity of the cleansing process to an easy stage.

Fast weight loss is the main benefit from juice fasting. A person may drop 30-40 lbs on a 30-day juice fast. By juice fasting, a person gains self-confidence and feels light and clean.

Duration of juice fasting is usually 1-3 days. Medical administration and careful assessment is required for longer fasting.

Water fasting

Only water is consumed during a water fast. Water lets the digestive tract and organs to rest completely, allowing all of your energy to self-repair and strengthen damaged organs. It also eliminates toxin build-ups.

Water fasting not only eliminates obstruction and aids in self-healing, it is also revitalizing and motivating to make a fresh start.

Gentler way to detox the body:

Here are gentler and safer ways to detox your body that you can try out or incorporate different methods as part your routine.

1. Change in diet

Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables instead of packaged and fast foods that are high on fats and sugar can become part of your daily lifestyle in maintaining good health.

2. Sauna

The sauna is widely used by many cultures as a regular part of detox. It is a great method of removing chemicals buildups in fat cells. Saunas are usually combined with diet, exercise and nutritional supplements.

3. Skin brushing

Again, with the combination of diet, exercise and nutritional supplements, skin brushing is also a gentle way of detoxing. It removes old skin cells, stimulates the lymph system and draws out toxins through the skin. A dry skin brush made of soft vegetable bristles should be used.

Before taking a shower, lightly brush your feet in circular motion towards the chest area for a minute or two.

4. Yoga

Through breathing exercise, the bloodstream thoroughly oxygenates thus giving energy and improves the body's physical process. Different positions lightly massage the internal organs and stimulate them to slowly discharge toxins.

These cleansing methods are just a guide to what it can do to improve your health. It is necessary to know why detox is important and understand the different ways on how to detox the body before you begin with the different programs.


 

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Raw Is Good!

Raw! That's the way many of us like it. Just plain raw! Give us raw and we are happy campers. We like raw sports, relationships with a rawness to them, raw sex, and kind of living our lives on a raw edge. Those of us who are raw oriented also know the value of eating raw. And believe it or not when we eat raw vegetables we provide our body with some very essential vitamins and nutrients that are not found in the can.

When we are single and living by ourselves we do have a tendency to live out of the can. We eat canned foods because it is quick and easy. Pour the can contents into a bowl and throw it into the microwave. Within a few moments we have something warm to fill our bellies with. However, when we live out of the can our bodies are not getting the nutritional value it needs to function at its best.

The body functions at its best when we do raw. That is when we eat vegetables that are raw or near being raw. But for many of us eating raw vegetables can be a little repulsive, and depending on the vegetable, a little difficult to eat. Regardless, raw vegetables, or as near to raw as possible, have many nutritional values and advantages for our bodies.

All vegetables contain enzymes. Enzymes help the body break down many of the other nutrients we might consume so that those nutrients are more effective for our body's use. The bad thing about canned products, especially concerning vegetables, is that those enzymes we need for healthy living have been cooked out of what's in the can.

The basic principle here is that the more a vegetable is cooked the more enzymes within it that are lost. That's right, and it is something to be remembered when we cook vegetables. The more a vegetable is cooked the less its nutrient quality becomes.

Unfortunately, most of us are not chefs or doctors who know about the nutritional value of vegetables. Even on the raw food diet, certain vegetables do need to be cooked before they are consumed, primarily for digestive reasons. It's hard for the body to process raw asparagus for example. Asparagus, although tremendously high in nutritional value, is real tough to eat raw and when eaten raw is hard on the digestive system to process. That is OK, though, as most raw food diet experts say you only need to make up eighty per cent of your diet with raw foods in order to get the health benefits.

For a large number chefs and nutritional advisors the advice given for cooking the vegetables you have to cook is to cook them as briefly as possible. Nutritionally scientific evidence does show that boiling vegetables does make them softer to eat, but the nutritional value of those veggies is lost in the water that the vegetables were boiled in. However, when you cook your vegetables gently and for a short period it is a different story.

Is raw good? It depends on the kind of raw you want, as we have seen. It does seem that eating our raw vegetables raw, however, has more of a health benefit than does boiling them. Maybe there is something to be said about being a little raw.


 

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Fasting to Detox the Body

Do you want to detoxify your body? The process of detoxification dispels unnatural chemicals and toxins from your body. Even those who lead relatively healthy lifestyles can still benefit from an occasional detox.

If you are interested in detoxifying your body, you will likely turn to the internet. Online, you will find a lot of free information, including detailed guides. You will also soon see that there are many ways to detox or cleanse the body. A few examples include limiting calorie intake, consuming organic foods only, and fasting. Due to affordability, many opt for a water fast.

Before you, yourself, opt for a water fast, it is important to know the benefits, as well as the dangers.

Water fasting can be free. The fact that we all have free access to water is one of the reasons why a water fast is a popular way to detoxify the body.

Water can be filled with chemicals. Recent studies have hit the news circuits and they show that many cities have water that contains chemicals. Small traces of some prescription drugs have found in some water samples. Although you may have clean drinking water, it can be difficult or next to impossible for you to know. For that reason, you may opt for bottled water, which can get costly.

No solid foods are consumed. The fact that no solid foods are eaten during a water fast is both considered an advantage and a disadvantage. As for the advantages, it makes it easier for you to detox your body. It takes both time and energy for food to be digested. Without solid foods, your body can rid itself of toxins easier and quicker.

Lack of nutrients. As for the disadvantage of not consuming solid foods, there is a lack of nutrients. Water is an important component of our body's ability to survive, but so is food. Our bodies depend on it to flourish. With that said, those who are healthy and do not have medical conditions, can survive on a water fast, although it may be difficult for your body to adjust.

The adjustment. Speaking of adjusting to a water fast, the difficulty will depend on the foods and drinks that you consume. It is easy for individuals to become dependent on caffeine. If you consume a large amount of soda or coffee, your body may soon start to experience withdrawal symptoms when on a water fast.

Is a relatively natural way to detoxify your body. As previously stated, the human body depends on water to survive. In that aspect, the consumption of water is natural. What is unnatural about a water fasting is the non-consumption of solid foods. However, when compared to many detoxifying or cleansing drugs currently available for sale, this is considered a very natural approach.

Can be dangerous. As with all fasts, there are dangers associated with a water fast. A relatively unknown danger is the consumption of too much water. This leads to water intoxication. Too much water can cause brain damage, as well as death. If you opt for a water fast, drink the recommended amount or talk to your healthcare provider for more information.

Readjustment. It may take your body a day to adjust to a water only diet, but it will take your body even longer to readjust to food. If you fast for longer than three days, you will want to start eating slowly. Many professionals recommend first adding other liquids, such as juice or soup, and then solids. Also, since you just spent days detoxifying your body, be careful with the foods you do consume afterwards. There is no better time to make the switch to organic foods than now.

As you can see, there a number of advantages and disadvantages to using a water fast to detox or cleanse the body. A safe way to do so is with the advice of a healthcare professional and for a short period of time. Some recommend water fasting for a least five days, while some state that you should never go more than three days. Consulting with a healthcare professional is your best bet, but always listen to your body and any distress signs it may show.


 

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Raw Food Diets And Children

Many people within the medical community, as well as those outside of it, are seeing the positive benefits of raw food diets. People and their doctors are seeing rapid weight reduction, a balance in blood pressure levels, and other health benefits. With such positive results many families are looking to incorporate raw food diets into their children's diets. However, because children are children this can be easier said than done.

Many children can be rather picky about the things they eat, and vegetables are a funny truth of this fact. As many parents know all too well their children often leave the vegetables on their plate to be eaten last. And even then it can be a parental challenge to get the child to eat their veggies before leaving the table.

For children the issue is largely about taste and texture. And quite frankly, and in agreement with the child's viewpoint, many raw foods can taste somewhat odd and have an equally odd texture when eaten. For most anybody many raw foods do take some getting used to, and a child is no different. However, the question is how you get your children interested in a raw food diet. Here are some possible strategies.

All young children like to help their parents because they see it as doing grown-up things. It's also one way they learn socialization skills, although it can be more of a game to them than it is an awareness of learning. However, the parent can use this 'helping' behavior to their advantage by bringing the child into the preparation of the raw food meal.

Raw food preparation is a fairly safe thing to do because there's no cooking involved and therefore the parent doesn't need to worry about the child burning or scalding themselves. Even though there may be some cutting involved, which would require the use of knives, something young children probably shouldn't do, there are still other things they can do to help. For example, after you cut a food the child could place the cut pieces in a bowl or plate, or if the meal will include leafy raw foods children can wash these under cold water for you. What's important here is to get your children involved in the preparation as means of introducing them to a raw food diet.

Another way to get children to embrace a raw food diet is provide them with fresh fruits like grapes, berries, and bananas for example. Most children enjoy these fruits and the more variety you can provide them with the better. Watermelon slices or apple pieces are a treat to almost any child. If you provide more types of these healthy choices they are more likely to be less inclined to ask for candy or cookies. There is a significant difference of taste in natural sugars from processed sugars, and children even seem to know this difference and go for the healthier choice.

For the family picnic or trip to the zoo fill the picnic basket with raw foods. Children enjoy outings because they are fun. When children are having fun they will be more open to new food experiences. Especially after running around and burning up energy they will be hungry and ready to eat practically anything.

Be a good example. This fact applies to any part of child rearing, as well as it does to introducing your child to a raw food diet. All young children watch they parents as examples of what to do or not to do. The things they see you do they'll want to do the same, including eating the same foods as you do.

The main point in this article, as you introduce your child to a raw food diet, is to make it a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. And remember, children are children and can be picky about what they eat. If they don't care for one type of raw food, try another.


 

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Factors to Consider Before Detoxifying Your Body

Do you want to cleanse or detoxify your body? If you are the one of the many Americans who has heard that you may be carrying up to 20 pounds of excess waste and toxins due to buildup, you may be ready to take action. Before you start with a cleanse, it is important to determine if you are the right candidate.

Factors that can help you determine if you are ready for a body detox or cleanse include:

Your health. Are you healthy? Do you suffer from any medical conditions, such as diabetes or a thyroid condition? If so, you should not start a body detox or cleanse without first speaking to your doctor. The are many cleansing programs available, including water fasting, juice fasting, the Master Cleanse, and making the switch to all-natural, organic foods. There should be at least one cleanse that is right for you, but others could lead to serious health problems.

In keeping with your health, if you are female, it is important to make sure you are not pregnant. When water fasting, your body will be robbed of needed nutrients. These nutrients are not only important for your body, but they are vital to unborn babies. Women who are pregnant or even breastfeeding should never try a water fast. Juice fasting and the Master Cleanse do provide you with some nutrients, but not enough. Speak to your doctor, but the only safe ways to detoxify your body while pregnant is with exercise and healthy eating.

Your daily and weekly schedule. If you opt for the Master Cleanse, you will see that 10-days is the recommended length of detoxification. Throughout those 10-days, you will experience a number of side effects, as well as make multiple trips to the bathroom. Although many are able to continue to work or go about their daily routine on the Master Cleanse, others find it difficult to do so. You may have to slightly modify your schedule or start a detox diet on the weekend.

Your weight. If you are overweight, a detox is recommended. As previously stated, our bodies can store up to 20 pounds of toxins and waste. Those who are at normal weight have some buildup, but it is significantly less. If you have tried different exercise plans, as well as healthy eating and still were met with defeat, it may be time for a cleanse. Although a detox is not recommended simply just for weight loss, the end results can improve your health in the long run.

Your ability to stay focused and on task. If you opt for waster fasting, juice fasting, or the Master Cleanse, solid foods will be eliminated from your diet. Whether you cleanse for 3 days or for 13, you will experience severe hunger pains. These pains will be accompanied with discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Right away, you may wish to give-up. That is okay, but your ability to stay focused, on task, and avoid solid foods will result in success. If you do not believe you can go without food for 5 to 10 days, examine other options of detoxifying your body. Simple steps such as increasing water consumption, fiber consumption, and exercising can improve your health too.

In conclusion, unless you have health complications, no harm can come from at least trying a body detox or cleanse. With that said, always listen to your body. Any pain and discomfort you experience should pass within one to two days. If not, seek medical attention.


 

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