Our modern lifestyle can leave us feeling lethargic, bloated, stressed out and even at times a little guilty. A regular detox can make all the difference.
There is more than one way to detox and finding one that works for you and using it on a regular basis can do wonders for your body and mind. Detoxifying cleanses the physical body, re-invigorates the whole system right down to a cellular level and supplies us with a natural energy boost which has a great affect on our body, clears the cobwebs out of our mind and gives us a feeling of being well.
Even if you are fairly health conscious already, detoxifying is still important as none of us can avoid the pollutants of modern life entirely. Being stressed, as most of us are produces acids and waste products in the body that are best dealt with regularly to keep us healthy. The benefits of detoxing are increased alertness, vitality, vigour, improved immunity, higher libido and a younger look.

Exercise and Detox "If the detoxification program is combined with a sensible exercise program, then as well as the known benefits of a general detox, there may be additional benefits like reduced cellulite and loss of weight," says a leading nutritionist. Getting rid of toxin build-up can be quite liberating, although you must expect to put in some work. Detoxifying requires some commitment and discipline, and yes, that means looking past the chocolates, the caffeine and the garlic bread just to name a few of the typically restricted foods.

Side effects Detox can produce some less than pleasant side effects. When starting out people may feel fatigue, nausea and even end up with some diarrhoea as toxins are expelled from the body. Headaches are also quite common as our systems go through withdrawal from caffeine and refined sugar. Symptoms vary according to your diet, living conditions and the amount of toxins you have.
There are many products on the market that promise to clean out your system in a few weeks, give you more energy and improve the function of the kidneys, liver, bowel and stomach. They come in different shapes, sizes and prices, and while there are a few radical programs, others are quite feasible and there are even some you can literally sleep through.

Detox dietary programs Pharmacy shelves reveal a range of products available for those wanting to embark on a home detox program. As with anything there are the good ones and the not so good ones, we have a detox program that we recommend and it features a complete nutritional support system that provides your body with the optimum nutrition and metabolic support while you are detoxing.
Fasting: One of the more popular forms is the juice fast with various length programs from a few days to a few weeks. These plans can be found on the internet, magazines and books, but if you're going to go radical, it's recommended you first consult a naturopath, nutritionist or other health professional before you start.

Therapeutic Detox There are also many treatments promising to give you the 'ultimate' detox, however many of these are overpriced and do not give you the benefits of a true detox. One therapeutic approach that I do recommend is the iDetox Ioncleanse Foot Spa. If you can find a practitioner near you, this is a great way to enhance any detoxification program that you decide on and for some it is all they will need.

MY VIEWS ON DETOX To detox is to stop consuming unhealthy foods, beverages, stimulants and drugs for a period of time to improve overall health. It is also important to minimise exposure to environmental toxins as much as possible. It also helps to speed the bodies ability to remove toxins through a dietary approach such as extra fibre and therapies that pull toxins out of the body.
It also pays to remember that to keep detox symptoms like headaches, painful muscles and skin break outs to a minimum you will need to take things slowly. Drink lots of water to help flush the cells.

What are the benefits of detox? Doing a detox forces you to take a good look at what you are eating and the type of lifestyle you lead, and then evaluate whether that is helping your health, or hindering it. In our clinics we see many patients with conditions such as fatigue, allergies, insomnia, frequent infections, excess weight and skin problems. Each of these conditions can be greatly improved with a good detox.

But what of the opposing view?
The human body has inbuilt detoxification mechanisms, designed to remove toxins from our body via our bowels, urine, breath and perspiration. This would function well enough in an ideal, stress-free, unpolluted world but we do not live in such a world. In today's times we are exposed to much higher levels of chemicals, heavy metals and stress than any generation before us, with new challenges such as food irradiation, genetically modified foods, microwave ovens and an increasing amount of artificial sweeteners.

Where does exercise fit into a good detox program? Exercise is a fantastic way to speed up the removal of toxins from the body because it improves circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system to remove waste from the bloodstream, and many toxins are excreted through perspiration. Exercise also increases energy levels and motivation to eat well and look after ourselves. However while doing a detox, we strongly recommend that people exercise at a lower intensity than usual.
A great way to exercise the lymphatic system and therefore aid detoxification on a regular basis is via vibrational exercise. This kind of exercise first came into vogue during the seventies with the 'rebounder' and now we have the 'fit ball' both of these take advantage of the bouncing effect to cause our cells and circulation to vibrate.
Now however, you can buy machines much like a treadmill, that vibrate your whole body. Check out our website for more information on these amazing machines. I personally use ours as often as possible, usually daily, you can literally feel the energy in your body and almost feel your cells vibrating. One of the added benefits is that they also exercise your body and help you to move fat out, and one of our regular fitness centre members swears that two sessions a week rid him of his persistent sciatic pain.
EAT MORE: Pungent foods like those found in ginger and coriander are great for the digestion and so help the liver to detox. The Liver is one of our organs of detoxification. Sour foods are also specific for the liver (grapefruit, lemon, pears, plums and mango). Peppermint tea, celery, broccoli, seaweed, chamomile, rye and wheatgrass are good. Generally, your detox diet should be made of good fats, fresh fish and lots of vegies.

EAT LESS: All preservatives and chemicals. Processed and refined foods, such as white stuff (anything refined: white flour, white bread, white rice, etc..) and sugar. All junk food, processed oils, rich and heavy food.

NONE AT ALL: I don't think that you should particularly deprive your of anything. But it's good to be mindful of the foods listed above.

MY TIPS: Drink lots of water do gentle exercise and don't rush into anything too quickly. Think of detox as a change of lifestyle, rather than a quick-fix solution.