Striving4Zen

The following is a list of the common symptoms of chronic toxicity. If you suffer from any of the following, detoxifying might be critical for you to get healthy and feel good again:

• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Sinus congestion
• Postnasal drip
• Excessive sinus problems
• Headaches
• Bloating
• Gas
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Foul-smelling stools
• Heartburn
• Sleep problems
• Food cravings
• Water retention
• Rashes
• Skin problems
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Canker sores
• Acne
• Bad breath
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Other menstrual disorders
• Puffy, dark circles under the eyes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble losing weight

Labels: detox, detoxify, holistic healing, Holistic Health, illness, wellness

To naturally increase your glutathione, increase your intake of the following foods:

• Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, collards, kale, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, arugula, radish, wasabi, watercress, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga, turnips) - at least one to two cups, cooked, daily

• Curcuminoids (turmeric, curry)

• Garlic (a few cloves a day)

• Green tea, one to two cups a day (boosts liver detoxification)

• High-quality, sulfur-containing protein (eggs, garlic, onions)

Labels: cruciferous vegetables, detox, detoxification, garlic, green tea

Dr. Alejandro Junger: There is another “inconvenient truth” still hidden from popular awareness. Global warming is just a symptom. At the root of it is global toxicity, the build-up of chemicals that is threatening all life on earth.

The air we breathe, the water we drink and shower with, the buildings we live and work in, and most of all, the foods we eat, are loaded with chemicals that alone or in combination cause irritation, inflammation, sickness and, ultimately, death.

Preservatives, conservatives, additives for color, smell, taste and texture, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, hormones, antibiotics, wax, chlorine, mercury, lead, arsenic, fluoride, polyhydrocarbons, DDT, PCB’s, phthalates, PBA, saturated fats, trans fats, MSG, detergent and thousands of new chemicals are released every year, with thousands more awaiting FDA approval.

The human body comes equipped with a highly effective detox system, a team of organs working together to eliminate the toxic waste of normal metabolism, such as uric acid, lactic acid, carbon dioxide, ammonia and homocysteine. Somehow it can even detoxify most of the modern chemicals. The problem is that when the detox organs get overwhelmed, toxins continue circulating and cause inflammation. As a defense, the body generates mucus to coat toxins and trap them in the tissues where they remain when digestion is kept working day in, day out. If they persist over time, toxin and mucus accumulation can cause increased acidity, malfunction and eventually the collapse of all systems, one by one.

Global toxicity is enough to overflow the body’s detox capacity. Modern habits worsen the problem by keeping the detox process slow. All the different organs of the body need energy to function. Energy distribution has to be prioritized when many systems are being used at the same time or there won’t be enough. The body still gives priority to digestion over detox. For centuries, food was hard to come by. Only recently in evolution do we have food available and eat it 24/7, but our genes still act as if each feeding is the last meal and slow down everything else to concentrate on food. With digestion a full-time job, detox has to wait its turn while toxins keep coming in.

Modern medicine is detox-blind. Even though this information could save your life, there are no medical specialists dedicated to detect and treat the effects of global toxicity.

Source

Labels: detox, detoxification, digestion, healthy diet, toxic metals, toxins

The only things as important as eating the right foods for brain health are limiting your toxic exposure and enhancing your detoxification system.

Avoid Brain-Damaging Foods

The list of brain-damaging foods you need to avoid is short:

1. Processed, refined carbohydrates and sugar
2. High-fructose corn syrup
3. Toxic fats—especially trans fats
4. Food additives and preservatives
5. Alcohol
6. Caffeine
7. Food allergens (the two most common are gluten and dairy)

Eat Detoxifying Foods

If you want to enhance your detoxification and develop an UltraMind, you need more glutathione, a sulfur-like substance that transports toxins out of your body via your urine and stool. To naturally increase your glutathione, increase your intake of the following foods:

• Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, collards, kale, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, arugula, radish, wasabi, watercress, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga, turnips)—at least one to two cups, cooked, daily
• Curcuminoids (turmeric, curry)
• Garlic (a few cloves a day)
• Green tea, one to two cups a day (boosts liver detoxification)
• High-quality, sulfur-containing protein (eggs, garlic, onions)

Take Vitamin D3

In addition to what is in your multivitamin, you should take vitamin D3 because it is significantly deficient in so many people.

Reduce Your Heavy Metal Exposure

Heavy metals are some of the most toxic chemicals in our environment. The two biggest culprits are lead (from lead paint, leaded gas, and coal-burning factories) and mercury (from dental fillings, vaccinations, and industrial pollutants).

Avoid Environmental Petrochemicals

Limit your exposure by doing the following:

• Do not dry clean your clothes.
• Avoid the use of garden chemicals.
• Buy furniture that has been built without the use of formaldehyde or other preservative agents.
• Eliminate your exposure to secondhand smoke and car exhaust.

Source

Labels: brain, cruciferous vegetables, detox, detoxify, Dr. Mark Hyman, formaldehyde, garlic, lead, living holistically, mercury, toxins

Spring is often the time of year that people ask about cleansing. The World's Healthiest Foods have detoxifying and cleansing properties because they are nutrient-rich foods, which are able to cleanse and regenerate all at the same time. They also do not contain synthetic additives, and if organically grown, will not have pesticide residues. Here are some of the ways that World's Healthiest Foods can assist with cleansing and detoxification:

• Lemon juice detoxifies and cleanses the digestive tract and balances pH
• Cilantro can detoxify and reduce mercury levels
• Prunes help cleanse and detoxify the digestive system and help prevent constipation
• Whole grains, high in fiber, help cleanse the digestive tract
• Fibers such as beta-glucan, found in oats and barley, help eliminate excess cholesterol
• Turmeric helps cleanse the liver
• Allium vegetables like onions and garlic contain sulfur compounds critical for the detoxification of many potential toxins
• Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, and cauliflower are sulfur-rich foods, which are important for cleansing the liver

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Labels: beta-glucan, cilantro, cleanse, cruciferous vegetables, detox, detoxification, eating healthy, prunes, Spring, turmeric, Whole grains

As the name implies, dry brushing is brushing with a dry brush. Commonly used for exfoliation, these brushes help remove flakes but actually help with several different things at the same time. Unclogging skin doesn't just eliminate dead cells but also encourages the body’s discharge of metabolic wastes and other things excreted through perspiration.

Using the brush before you get in the shower stimulates circulation and de-gunks your pores. It detoxifies your skin with a gentle internal massage while helping tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite. It also helps mobilize fat and improve muscle tone by stimulating those nerve endings that causes the individual muscle fibers to activate and move.

Pick up a brush with soft bristles — preferably made from natural materials, as most synthetic bristles are too sharp. Make a circular motion with the brush, applying light pressure in areas where the skin is thin and harder pressure on places like the soles of the feet. Work over your entire body. Now, I'm not saying this brush is an excuse to stop eating healthily and eliminating that gym regimen but, if you're like me, you want to get all the help you can get to keep your skin and body in tip-top shape!

Thanks Bella!!

Labels: detox, detoxify, dry brush, healthy living, living holistically, massage, skin care

Artichoke leaf	Stimulates production of bile, the liver's main carrier to expel toxins; helps strengthen liver cell membranes so they can resist toxin absorption.
Dandelion root	Increases bile flow from the liver.
Green tea	Protects the liver from toxin damage, especially that of alcohol; may also help prevent liver tumors.
Milk- thistle seed	Strengthens liver cell membranes; stimulates bile production; promotes glutathione production.
Turmeric root	Anti-inflammatory herb that elevates detox enzymes in the liver.

Labels: dandelion root, detox, detoxify, green tea, healthy living, milk thistle, supplements, turmeric

A reporter from US News and World Report called me for an interview about toxins and how or if skin-care products could purge them from skin. I appreciated how this reporter framed her question; she asked if it was possible.

Much like any myth, if you hear or read about it often enough it becomes fact in the mind of many consumers. Once that happens they are eager to seek out the benefits of what amounts to little more than snake oil. Purging toxins from the body and skin is equal to the perceived need to drink lots of water (and often too much water) to keep skin hydrated. Neither is based on fact. Just like the medical world discourages people from smoking and over-eating, or it encourages exercise and other beneficial behavior in the most direct campaigning possible (with solid research and studies of why you should follow their advice), so it’s no surprise the medical field hasn’t jumped with agreement on the “let’s purge toxins” bandwagon. If purging toxins from your body could help then physicians would be at the forefront of getting the information out to you (as soon as it was shown to be true). But truth doesn’t always sell products.

When it comes to fiction, snake oil salespeople are supreme at quick fixes and euphoria. I love the drink more water example, because if your water intake is greater then what your body needs all you do is go to the bathroom more. Nothing in your body changes, it doesn't change the status of "toxins" in your body or how dry your skin is. Dry skin for most adults is the result of sun damage, genetics, health issues, certain medications, and their environment, not water intake. Believe me, I wish alleviating dry skin was as easy as increasing water intake!

In terms of skin and the purging of toxins we move into the absurd. At least with routine (not excessive) water intake it helps to stay hydrated and not be thirsty. When it comes to purging toxins from the skin there isn't a shred of evidence it is even possible, let alone helpful. Yet somehow sucking toxins out of your pores or between skin cells has become a basic part of many women’s attempt to achieve flawless skin. As a result of this flawed belief, detoxifying skin as sold by the cosmetics industry or earnest spa attendants and estheticians and the vitamin/herbal supplement world has become a sizable business.

And exactly what is a toxin? What you may hear are more general, vague terms such as bacteria, airborne pollutant particulates from cars and city life, bad fats (this is a big lie in cellulite treatments), faulty lymph systems that build up who knows what, even fast food and secondhand smoke requires purging in this part of the cosmetic industry. Listening to all of this is enough to make some people want to live in a sterilized, airtight bubble for the sake of whole body purity, but there’s no need to take such a drastic step.

Without ever doing even basic testing, the people selling these detoxifying skin-care products or treatments leave it up to their imagination and they are adept at creating imaginary, unspecified toxins that are causing wrinkles, open pores, oily skin—you name the skin care complaint—and purging the skin is supposed to help. That expensive spa treatment wrapping your body in herbs, salts, fragrant oils, clay, or minerals might feel good and for a short time make your skin feel smooth, but in reality no skin condition has changed: your wrinkles haven’t gone away, cellulite is still there, pores haven’t changed, yet your pocketbook is lighter.

Many of these products claiming to detox the system, at least as far as the cosmetics industry and spa world is concerned, are fairly benign and do little, if any, harm. Overheating the body with saunas, Jacuzzis, and facial steaming can cause more problems than they help by damaging the skin’s ability to hold moisture, causing capillaries to surface, and increasing oil production. Putting fragranced salts into your bath can irritate the vaginal skin lining. Mostly it is just a waste of money and following myths isn’t a recipe for good skin care.

What has me concerned is some research I saw on really dangerous snake oil treatments as reported on a blog/podcast site at http://skeptoid.com, which had several posts written by Brian Dunning, a computer scientist who debunks pseudoscience reports as a hobby (I confirmed that the content is accurate and all quoted material below is from the author’s blog):

Mucoid plaque is supposedly a toxin naturopaths and herbal charlatans say everyone has growing inside their bowels; in fact they are created by the pill sold to purge them. In other words, the supposed cure is causing the problem making people assume the malady is real.

What you get to cure mucoid plaque is “…a bowel cleansing pill, said to be herbal, which causes your intestines to produce long, rubbery, hideous looking snakes of bowel movements, which they call mucoid plaque. There are lots of pictures of these on the Internet, and sites that sell these pills are a great place to find them. Look at DrNatura.com, BlessedHerbs.com, and AriseAndShine.com, just for a start.”

“Imagine how terrifying it would be to actually see one of those come out of your body. If you did, it would sure seem to confirm everything these web sites have warned about toxins building up in your intestines. But there's more to it. As it turns out, any professional con artist would be thoroughly impressed to learn the secrets of mucoid plaque (and, incidentally, the term mucoid plaque was invented by these sellers; there is no such actual medical condition). These pills consist mainly of bentonite, an absorbent, expanding clay similar to what composes many types of kitty litter. Combined with psyllium, used in the production of mucilage polymer, bentonite forms a rubbery cast of your intestines when taken internally, mixed of course with whatever else your body is excreting. Surprise, a giant rubbery snake of toxins in your toilet.”

“It's important to note that the only recorded instances of these "mucoid plaque" snakes in all of medical history come from the toilets of the victims of these cleansing pills. No gastroenterologist has ever encountered one in tens of millions of endoscopies, and no pathologist has ever found one during an autopsy. They do not exist until you take such a pill to form them. The pill creates the very condition that it claims to cure. And the results are so graphic and impressive that no victim would ever think to argue with the claim.”

Another detoxing gimmick I came across is from the electrical foot bath products on the market. “The idea is that you stick your feet in the bath of salt water, usually with some herbal or homeopathic additive, plug it in and switch it on, and soak your feet. After a while the water turns a sickly brown, and this is claimed to be the toxins that have been drawn out of your body through your feet. One tester found that his water turned brown even when he did not put his feet in. The reason is that electrodes in the water corrode via electrolysis, putting enough oxidized iron into the water to turn it brown. When reporter Ben Goldacre published these results in the Guardian Unlimited online news, some of the marketers of these products actually changed their messaging to admit this was happening — but again, staying one step ahead — now claim that their product is not about detoxification, it's about balancing the body's energy fields: Another meaningless, untestable claim.”

“But detoxifying through the feet didn't end there. A newcomer to the detoxification market is Kinoki foot pads, available at BuyKinoki.com and many drugstores. These are adhesive gauze patches that you stick to the sole of your foot at night, and they claim to ‘draw toxins’ from your body. They also claim that all Japanese people have perfect health, and the reason is that they use Kinoki foot pads to detoxify their bodies, a secret they've been jealously guarding from medical science for hundreds of years. A foolish claim like this is demonstrably false on every level, and should raise a huge red flag to any critical reader. Nowhere in any of their marketing materials do they say what these alleged toxins are, or what mechanism might cause them to move from your body into the adhesive pad.”

“Kinoki foot pads contain unpublished amounts of vinegar, tourmaline, chitin, and other unspecified ingredients. Tourmaline is a semi-precious gemstone that's inert and not biologically reactive, so it has no plausible function. Chitin is a type of polymer used in gauze bandages and medical sutures, so naturally it's part of any gauze product. They probably mention it because some alternative practitioners believe that chitin is a ‘fat attractor’, a pseudoscientific claim which has never been supported by any evidence or plausible hypothesis. I guess they hope that we will infer by extension that chitin also attracts ‘toxins’ out of the body. Basically the Kinoki foot pads are gauze bandages with vinegar. Vinegar has many folk-wisdom uses when applied topically, such as treating acne, sunburn, warts, dandruff, and as a folk antibiotic. But one should use caution: Vinegar can cause chemical burns on infants, and the American Dietetic Association has tracked cases of home vinegar applications to the foot causing deep skin ulcers after only two hours.”

“Since the Kinoki foot pads are self-adhesive, peeling them away removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells. And since they are moist, they loosen additional dead cells when left on for a while. So it's a given that the pads will look brown when peeled from your foot, exactly like any adhesive tape would; though this effect is much less dramatic than depicted on the TV commercials, depending on how dirty your feet are. And, as they predict, this color will diminish over subsequent applications, as fewer and fewer of your dead, dirty skin cells remain. There is no magic detoxification needed to explain this effect.”

I’ll end this article by coming full circle back to skin care. Trying to eliminate wrinkles and other skin woes with false hopes that involve throwing your money down the toilet on products that can’t help doesn’t really make sense. When there are brilliant things you can do your skin, wasting money isn’t the way to go. Purging yourself of the myths the industry loves instigating and perpetuating and learning what you really should do instead is the best way to take care of your skin.

Source

Labels: detox, detoxify, Kinoki Foot Pads, myths, Paula Begoun, scam, skin care

Some signs that your bod may need a jump-start include: chronic headaches, insomnia, eye puffs or dark circles, sinus problems, acne, hair loss, allergies, iffy digestion, joint pain, low energy, mood swings and frequent illness. But a detox
plan is also something you may want
to try after a holiday season of overindulging,
or anytime you feel like your body and brain need some fine-tuning.

The main goal of a detox diet is to knock out the foods that tax your body’s ability to eliminate toxins. These include fatty cuts of meat, processed foods of any kind, simple carbohydrates (white flour, white rice, and pasta), sugar, caffeine, coffee, alcohol, yeast, and artificial sweeteners. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of foods that frequently cause allergic reactions, such as dairy, soy, nuts, and night shade vegetables (peppers, white potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant). Side-stepping condiments such as vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, teriyaki, mustard, and mayonnaise is also advisable, since they are fermented and so contain yeast, which can compromise the body’s immune system. So is laying off fruits with a high glycemic index (those that quickly break down into sugar). Think: grapes, bananas, oranges and watermelon.

So What Can You Eat?
Pretty much every vegetable and salad fixing are on the menu, as are fruits with low glycemic indexes (those that are broken down slowly). Think: apples, pears, melon, grapefruit, and
blueberries. Chicken, turkey, fish, and even lean cuts of lamb and beef also get the green light. Olive oil and other healthy fats are also a “do.” “Many detox diets fail because they are so low
in fat that people never feel satisfied,” Dr. Morrison says. “Healthy fats also ensure your body stays well-lubricated. Many detox diets fail because they are so low in fat that people never feel satisfied...” Salt, black pepper and virtually every other spice, except for cayenne pepper,
should help beat the blandness of overly rigorous detox programs. And if you can’t completely ditch caffeine, green tea is definitely doable.

Source

Labels: detox, detoxify, diet

Cabbage is the featured Food of the Week and is available and affordable year-round. Although there are hundreds of varieties of cabbage, we primarily feature red, green, napa cabbage and bok choy. They are all great additions to your Healthiest Way of Eating however they do provide different nutritional benefits.
Comparing green and red cabbage: While both are comparable in folate, fiber and vitamin A, red cabbage has twice the amount of vitamin C while green cabbage has ten times more calcium and three times more beta-carotene.

Did you know that cabbage is great for losing weight? One cup of cooked cabbage contains only 33 calories while supplying you with a wealth of health-promoting nutrients. Like its other cruciferous cousins, broccoli, kale and mustard greens, cabbage is not only an excellent source of vitamin C and dietary fiber, but also contains many unique sulfur-containing phytonutrients, such as indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and sulforaphane. I3C and sulforaphane help activate and stabilize the body's antioxidant and detoxification mechanisms. Other sulfur compounds, which are produced as a result of cutting, chewing or digesting cabbage, increase the liver's ability to produce enzymes that neutralize potentially toxic substances.

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Labels: cabbage, cancer, cruciferous vegetables, detox, eating healthy, Green veggies

Sally Kravich, a natural health expert and herbalist for 25 years, recommends these easy-to-grow healthy herbs.
(Keep in mind the more concentrated the source, the more dramatic the benefits.)

Borrow a strategy from Asian chefs and plant cilantro, frequently used for detox diets to clear mercury and other heavy metals from the body.

Boil a bunch of parsley and steep for 10 minutes for an old-fashioned remedy to clear the kidneys and urinary tract.

Add fresh basil, mint or chamomile to your tea. Basil can be used to treat a variety of ills, including indigestion, colds, nausea, cramping and fevers. Mint has a calming effect on the digestive system, and chamomile is soothing as well.

Try cayenne pepper to kill bacteria and improve circulation. In the Middle East, it is used to guard against ulcers.

Turn to rosemary's healing properties to fend off headaches, as a substitute for aspirin.

And don't forget marigold, a natural insecticide to keep pesky bugs away from your garden.

Thanks!

Labels: Chinese Herbal Healing, detox, eating healthy, herbs

Green leafy vegetables Eat them raw, throw them into a broth, add them to juices. Their chlorophyll helps swab out environmental toxins (heavy metals, pesticides) and protects the liver.

Lemons You need to keep the fluids flowing to wash out the body and fresh lemonade is ideal. Its vitamin C, considered the detox vitamin, helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that's easily flushed away.

Watercress Put a handful into salads, soups, and sandwiches. The peppery little green leaves have a diuretic effect that helps move things through your system. And cress is rich in minerals too.

Garlic Add it to everything -- salads, sauces, spreads. In addition to the bulb's cardio benefits, it activates liver enzymes that help filter out junk.

Green tea This antioxidant-rich brew is one of the healthiest ways to get more fluids into your system. Bonus: It contains catechins, which speed up liver activity.

Broccoli sprouts Get 'em at your health-food store. They pack 20 to 50 times more cancer-fighting, enzyme-stimulating activity into each bite than the grown-up vegetable.

Sesame seeds They're credited with protecting liver cells from the damaging effects of alcohol and other chemicals. For a concentrated form, try tahini, the yummy sesame seed paste that's a staple of Asian cooking.

Cabbage There are two main types of detoxifying enzymes in the liver; this potent veggie helps activate both of them. Coleslaw, anyone?

Psyllium A plant that's rich in soluble fiber, like oat bran, but more versatile. It mops up toxins (cholesterol too) and helps clear them out. Stir powdered psyllium into juice to help cleanse your colon, or have psyllium-fortified Bran Buds for breakfast.

Fruits, fruits, fruits They're full of almost all the good things above: vitamin C, fiber, nutritious fluids, and all kinds of antioxidants. Besides, nothing tastes better than a ripe mango, fresh berries, or a perfect pear.

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Labels: detox, detoxify, fruits and veggies, Green veggies, greens, Holistic Health, liver, nutrition, Vitamin C

Toxins are certainly not good for you.
In fact, theycontribute to nearly every major health concern. But toxins can also make you put on the pounds.
Sound crazy?
Well, it actually makes a lot of sense. We're overloading our bodies with toxins in the food we eat and in the products we use every day. It's your liver's job to protect you from these toxins by removing them from your body.
The problem?
Your liver was designed for a much lighter workload than it typically gets these days. It can't filter out all the toxins, and you end up storing them in your body fat to be filtered later when your live has time to catch up. But the problem is, you have a constant supply of new toxins entering your system, so your body never has a chance to catch up and the toxins continue to accumulate and damange your body and metabolism. It's a complex process, but, in a nutshell, those excess toxins slow your metabolism and you gain weight. If you want to lose weight, and keep from gaining more,you've got to limit your exposure to toxins and start detoxifying your body.
Ready to detox?
Start breaking a sweat! When you sweat, you lose mostly water, but you also get rid of some fat, cholesterol, and toxins. You know that exercise can make you sweat. But why not try a sauna or steam bath? Both can make you sweat AND help eliminate toxins.

Source

Labels: detox, exercise, metabolism, sauna, sweat, toxins

The contrast between hot and cold water increases microcirculation through body tissues, promotes detoxification, and strengthens the immune system. This helps bring nutrients, oxygen and immune cells to damaged and stressed tissues and carries away metabolic waste, inflammatory by-products and other toxic substances.

Contrast showers also strengthen the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells.

Instructions:
Start with three minutes of hot water followed by less than one minute of cold water. Repeat this pattern at least once, always finishing with cold (e.g. 3 minutes hot - 1 minute cold - 3 minutes hot - 1 minute cold).

Source

Labels: Contrast Shower, detox, living holistically, shower

There are numerous methods that can be used to help detoxify your body, varying in cost, time and efficacy.
The treatments below can be incorporated into your daily life. They all work to support your body's natural detoxification systems, namely your digestive system, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin.
- Stimulate blood flow through your organs of elimination. Constitutional hydrotherapy treatments increase blood flow through your liver and kidneys, enhancing their filtering effects.
- Increase toxin elimination through the skin. Use a sauna regularly to increase how much, how often, and how deeply you sweat.
- Give your lungs some extra support. By practicing deep breathing exercises you can greatly enhance this vital detoxification mechanism.
- Stimulate lymphatic flow. Dry skin brushing and exercise are two of the only ways to increase the flow of the lymphatic system, your body's garbage collector.
- Maintain optimal levels of beneficial intestinal flora. The best ways to accomplish this are by incorporating fermented foods, such as natto or natural kefir into your diet.

Labels: breathing deeply, detox, dry brush, exercise, fermented, sauna

If you want to see what a little traditional Chinese medicine can do for your beat-up body, head over to Yin Beauty & Arts Spa for their diagnosis.
A therapist will give you an evaluation before performing exfoliation… to improve circulation and "release blocked energy." Then they'll follow with a body treatment made of detoxifying herbs and seaweeds and end with a qi massage (qi being your life force, which could use a little pampering right now) to release tension.

Yin Beauty & Arts

Labels: Chinese Herbal Healing, cool spot, detox, NYC, Spa

1) Digestive Cleansing
One of the most comprehensive ways to rid the body of the accumulated junk (mucous and build-up) in our digestive track. Digestive cleanses may involve fasting, wheatgrass juice, or juicing, cayenne pepper, enemas and colonics. Each of these is intended to assist the body in the process of elimination (particularly the elimination off all the "bad" things we’ve ingested over the years). Often the results of digestive cleansing - after the initial "reaction" stages of headaches or irritability- include feeling more "clear-headed", lighter, more aware, less fatigued, energized.
2) Skin Brushing / Dry Brush
Brushing your skin with a dry body brush is one of the best ways to clean your skin. It may feel kind of odd but it is more effective than brushing your skin with a wet soapy brush or sponge.
3) Pranayama
Incorporating a breathing practice, with breath retention, and focus on expelling all the air out of the lungs helps invigorate and cleanse the lungs. Many yoga studios offer a pranayama class or incorporate pranayama in their scheduled classes.
4) Tongue Scraping / Tongue Cleaning
Ever notice that slimy white (or sometimes yellow, if you’re sick) film on your tongue? Sounds, gross, I know, but that’s the mouth’s eliminatation system and one of the causes of bad breath (the rest of it is coming from your digestive system). A tongue scraper can be used to scrape off coated tongues first thing in the morning.
5) Detox Bath
Use a combination of epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda to help pull out toxins from the skin (another great way to eliminate toxins). This one can be especially beneficial to ease emotional imbalances.
6) Water Flush
Most of us know that it’s important to stay hydrated and drink lots of water. A Balinese healer gave me another tip…drink 2 liters of warm water first thing in the morning to flush your system.
Thanks!

Labels: cleanse, detox, dry brush, Fall 2007, toxins

Dry brush before the shower.
Use a soft, natural bristle brush to gently stroke the skin up towards the heart -- believed to increase circulation and energy.
Post shower, on damp skin, apply detoxifying and Vata balancing oils.
Don't skimp on breakfast. Add some almonds, honey and warming ginger to granola or oatmeal.
Replace coffee (dehydrates) with Vata tea packed with warming spices (great for digestion). Use the golden oil of ayurveda.
Try cooking with ghee -- a natural, salt- and lactose-free butter (minus the milk-solids) that's been "carrying" herbs and spices through bodies for thousands of years. (Olive oil works, too).

Labels: ayurveda, detox

There is no doubt that we live in a toxic world and sometimes our bodies need some help coping with big exposures such as when the neighbor uses a lot of herbicides on their lawn.
Here is a famous detox remedy for times when you know that you are chemically overloaded. It is bittersweet with some spice.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about the equivalent of the juice of one lemon)
1/6th of a teaspoon (or a pinch) of cayenne
1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup
10 oz. filtered water

Combine ingredients in a glass, stir to blend, and drink. Drink a glass for four-five days in a row for best results.

Labels: detox, drinks, recipe

Simple yet highly effective poses to detoxify our bodies. Seated in Half Lord of the Fish Pose, sit up super tall with a straight spine, bending 1 leg over the other. Anchor the elbow outside of the leg and take a nice deep twist. Ahhh ... This position stimulates the liver and kidneys, and aids in the detox process. Take 20 deep breaths (helps to purify and oxygenate the blood). Repeat on other side.
Next, fold over into Child's Pose and take 20 deep cleansing breaths there. This pose calms the central nervous system.

Labels: detox, yoga