What is a Detox?

A better question is, what is toxicity? And how does Detoxification help our health?

   Toxicity is the amount of a toxic substance and how poisonous a substance is.  Each year, more than 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the environment; these toxic chemicals can accumulate in your body and affect overall health. Toxic substances can be found in large amounts such as nuclear waste, or in trace amounts, such as arsenic in soil. If you have a small exposure to a largely toxic substance, it can cause harmful effects to health. At the same token, if you have a large amount of exposure to a small substance, the outcome is remains the same. TOXICITY OF THE BODY!

   Toxins can come from the environment (exogenous) sources such as air pollution & water pollution or internal (endogenous) sources such as pesticides ingested from foods & mercury from digestion of fish. These substances can affect our cells and DNA, accelerate the aging process, are linked to cancer, and many of them stored in our fat cells if not roaming in our blood and other tissues. This can lead to a variety of chronic diseases!

   Symptoms of too much cellular toxicity can show up in a variety of ways: Fatigue, foggy brain, nausea, vomiting, depression, blood sugar imbalance, mental impairment, digestive issues, etc. These symptoms vary depending on the type of toxicity you are exposed to. (for instance, chronic alcohol abuse will show up differently than mercury toxicity).

   A natural detoxification program can be one of the most effective strategies for rapidly improving the state of your health as it may help clear toxins out of your body and leave you feeling healthy and energetic. Just like a car needs good fuel, period fluid changes, and oil flushes, our bodies need to flush out the waste as well!

Here are some tips on reducing endogenous and exogenous toxins!

1. Eat Organic. Organic foods are grown naturally without the use of pesticides, extra hormones, or antibiotics, all of which have a negative impact on our cells (particular hormones used in foods, not hormones in general)

2. Reduce your use of Plastic microwave containers. Some plastics contain a substance called Bisphenol A (BPA), which is toxic to our cells. This substance can leak into our food if heated to a certain temperature. This is also true of plastic water bottles left out in the sun!

3. Eat more asparagus,  broccoli, spinach, avocados, garlic, kale, onions, watercress, cabbage, curcumin, and  Brussels sprouts and foods. These nutrients help to create a powerful antioxidant called "Glutathione", which is needed to help the liver filter out toxins.

4. Limit time spent in environmental areas that could expose large amounts of toxins: Old houses with lead paint chipping, bars with heavy cigarette smoke, places with very restricted air flow, areas with unventilated chemicals sprayed, nuclear waste areas, or largely populated cities with a multitude of factories & motor vehicles causing pollution.

5. Eat foods high in Vitamin A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants that protect cells from damage. This won't prevent toxin exposure, but limit the effects it has on our cells.

6. Do a dietary detoxification cleanse. Done correctly!, a detoxification cleanse can help push toxins through your system for excretion and rejuvenate your cells to proper functioning. Most people experience improvement in energy, sleep, libido, mood, cravings, and clarity of thought!! (Detoxification cause symptoms and side effects if used improperly or not under the care of nutritionist or physician.)

For more information on cellular detoxification, contact Dr. Misty Kosciusko at www.newhorizonchiro.com, drmistyk@newhorizonchiro.com, 401-683-6430.