New Year, New You … It May Be Detox Time
Detox. This particular word can invoke a lot of emotions… It’s also very trendy and often associated with things like juice cleanses and fad diets that include days of not eating anything of substance. But that isn’t what detoxing is all about it.
Everyone can benefit from a detox every once in a while, and what better time than the beginning of a new year to clean out your system and start anew. The liver is the main organ of detoxification. Its main job is to process everything we ingest into our bodies — and when we say everything, we mean everything, including all of the toxins in the environment. Unfortunately, we live in a world where the question of “are we toxic?” has been turned into “how toxic are we?”. There are so many chemicals introduced into things we put in and on our bodies — food, water, hair products, makeup, skin care products, medications, etc. These toxins are then introduced to our body, and it’s our liver’s job to figure out what to do with it. And sometimes, that can get a little muddled.
And a detox is just the thing to help “un-muddle” that muddle!
If we want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, we need to make sure our liver is healthy so it can do its job, and do it well. The first step to doing this is by detoxing in a safe, effective and beneficial way.
While on your detox plan, it is important to only have detox-friendly foods, that is, foods that will assist the body in its natural detoxification process. Some of these foods include cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts), garlic, green tea, celery, cilantro, dandelion greens, and bioflavonoids which can be found in grapes, berries and citrus. Detoxing is helpful for those who suffer from obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure — but it’s also a great for people who want to just feel good.
The purpose of detoxification is to give the digestive system a break from anything that is affecting it poorly. We do this by reducing our intake of inflammatory foods, and increasing our intake of necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients. The main goal is to get our digestive tract back in fully functioning, working condition so that it can easily get rid of toxins the way it’s supposed to — without wrecking havoc on our stomachs, energy levels, mood, etc.
Our nutritionist at Evolve Acupuncture and Wellness is only a phone call away if you need help getting started on your detox journey. Contact us today at 561-819-0530 to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified holistic nutritionists.