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Article: Cleansing-Made-Easy
We have all completed a thorough cleanout of our desks only to discover it makes for a much better work environment. Most of us also do an intense spring cleaning, removing unwanted items from our garages, basements, and even our closets.
If cleaning our outside environment improves our inner balance and harmony, wouldn’t it make sense to cleanse our inside as well for optimal health?
Unlike fasting, which can be too intense for many, cleansing your system two to three times a year is a gentle approach that helps remove toxins that accumulate in your body. These toxins are often the predecessors that tip the scale in terms of illness and disease. There are several different contributors to toxic buildup–be it faulty digestion, the water we do or do not drink, supersizing foods, refined sugars and flours, and an over-consumption of bad fats such as partially hydrogenated fats.
Luckily, once given the proper nourishment and hydration, the body has a very forgiving nature and gravitates towards a state of wellness. After cleansing your body, you will notice significant improvements in your outside appearance and internal health. From the bags being cleared up under your eyes and a radiant complexion, to an increase in energy and weight loss, the benefits of cleansing are unmatched.
Cleansing for Better Health
Follow these simple guidelines for a minimum of seven days to reap the best results.
Flush Out with Fibre
Fibre acts as an internal “dust-buster,” helping to flush out and remove unwanted waste from the intestinal tract. I recommend one to two Tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of ground-up flaxseeds daily sprinkled on your cereal, in juice, in a shake, or on their own.
Acidophilus Supplements
Acidophilus is the “good bacteria” that inhabits your intestinal system and is necessary for keeping unwanted viruses, bacteria, and yeast at bay. Unfortunately, due to the overuse of antibiotics, as well as diets filled with an excessive amount of refined sugars and flours and lack of green foods, our “good bacteria” tends to be on the low side. It’s best to obtain a bottle of acidophilus that has a minimum of 10 to 20 billion organisms. During the cleanse, take one capsule three times daily with food.
Eat Your Phytonutrients
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with chemicals called phytonutrients that fight off and help prevent disease. These chemicals help to repair and reverse any cellular damage that has occurred due to environmental toxins found in our food, air, and water. During the seven-day cleanse, eat as many vegetables as possible (with the exclusion of white potatoes) and a maximum of two selections of fruit per day.
Eliminate Refined Flours and Sugars
Refined flours and sugars found in many processed foods suppress immune system function and fluctuate energy levels. Replace these food items with whole-grains such as spelt, kamut, flax and multi-grain breads, pastas, and cereals. To quell any cravings for sugar, eat fruit or drink berry herbal teas.
Drink Water
Drink six to eight glasses of high-quality, distilled, steamed or reverse osmosis water per day to flush out the toxins from your system. For an even greater effect, squeeze fresh lemon into your water for its cleansing properties.
Don’t Eat before You Sleep
Stop eating by 7 pm. Allow your body to have a mini-fast to clean out your system from 7 pm to 7 am. By doing so, you will notice an improvement in digestion and in your overall energy levels.
It is best to cleanse your body a minimum of two to three times per year. Start by following the aforementioned cleansing steps and you will quickly notice yourself looking and feeling your very best!
Joey Shulman, DC, RNCP is the author of the national best seller The Natural Makeover Diet (Wiley, 2006). She is a regular contributor to alive magazine. Visit alive.com for related articles. |
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