Whew… the holidays are over. How did you fare?
Even the most devoted health nut can fall off the “wellness wagon” during the holiday season. The phrase “out with the old and in with the new” resonates with most of us at the start of the new year and detoxification is the physiological way your body does this. Over time, your body accumulates toxins from your environment – the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink all have chemical residues that can ultimately get stored in your tissues. The liver should be able to process these chemicals – but unfortunately, in this day and age, our livers can’t handle the “toxic overload” in our environment.
Toxins wreak havoc on your body – disrupting hormone balance, increasing fat stores and encouraging chronic illness. Detoxification kits that contain a whole foods menu plan and comprehensive nutrient blends are a great way to support your natural biochemical detoxification pathways which will improve your digestion, your immunity and your ability to lose fat.
I would steer clear of detox products that come in a single bottle or juices that contain large amounts of sugar as they can be counterproductive. If you want to support detoxification with diet alone – focus on leafy green vegetables like kale and swiss chard as well as watercress, celery, beets, garlic and onion. Spices like turmeric and ginger act like natural anti-inflammatories and support detoxification too. Most importantly – drastically limiting your daily intake of processed or refined foods and incorporating a variety of raw fruits and veggies into your diet will lessen your toxic load and support optimal health year round.
Be well and stay healthy!
– Ashley Howell, CHC
