How to Detox Safely & Effectively

Toxins are everywhere. In a modern milieu where convenience is increasingly paramount to health and nearly everything comes in a plastic package to go, the human body is more and more assaulted with the preservatives and chemicals that keep fast food fresh and beauty products smelling fragrant and fruitlike.

All the toxins that pass through the body are filtered through a variety of cleansing mechanisms your body already has in place— the respiratory system, immune system, excretory system (your colon), and liver. But overworking any of these systems by consuming the chemicals that permeate a Western diet lowers the body’s defenses against sickness and inhibits balanced organ function.

An abundance of detox solutions litter the shelves of health food stores and the pages of magazines, but how do we know what is really healthy? In recent years, detox fads have grown increasingly popular, but there is a fine line between detoxification and a total nutrient flush that characterizes crash diets and extreme fads.

The “Master Cleanse,” a detoxification program popularized by Hollywood darlings in the last decade, mandates a purely liquid diet of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper for anywhere from one week to 40 days, alongside laxative tea or a salt water “flush.”

Other fads include the “grapefruit diet,” the “fruit flush diet,” the “cookie diet,” and others that require a diet of only one thing for days—all programs that are meant to flush the body of toxins, but in reality, they push your system into starvation mode because they do not supply nearly enough nutrients to sustain your body. Plus, if used for weight loss, you will most likely end up gaining back all if not more weight than you lost.

So, How Do We Detox Safely?

There are a number of gentler yet effective alternatives. First, take a look at your diet as it stands now. It is equally important to keep your body toxin-free after the flush.

Step 1: Cut down on processed foods.
They are usually higher in fat and sugar, not to mention food additives and trans fats that put extra strain on your liver. Opt for organic vegetables (chronic exposure to pesticides can cause long term damage to your liver).

Step 2: Herbal Tea
Herbs have been used by the Chinese for thousands of years, and are becoming increasingly popular in the Western world as alternative medicine. Below are some of the most effective detoxifying herbs.

Dandelion Root: The plant is a mild diuretic, improves digestive problems, remedies appetite loss, and effectively aids the liver to cleanse the blood and stimulates the flow of bile to help digest fat. Dandelion leaves are also high in vitamins A, B, C and D, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and calcium.
Red Clover: Also a mild diuretic, red clover functions as an expectorant, improves blood flow and cleanses the liver, recommended by many homeopaths as a remedy for skin problems.
Burdock Root: Boosts immunity and purifies the blood. Widely used in eastern medicine as an antidote to tumors, fungal infections, and inflammation. May also be taken as a diuretic.
Ginger: A tasty and gentle digestion aid, also good for soothing the stomach.

These herbs can be taken in capsule form or be steeped as a detoxifying tea. For best results, consume after every meal and before bedtime. For some added punch to your cleansing routine, use a few drops of milk thistle extract in your tea to protect the liver from toxicities commonly found in drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Step 3: Add raw or lightly cooked vegetables to your diet.
Overcooking them can break down the naturally occurring enzymes which are vital to proper digestion.

Also, remember to drink lots of water, the oldest secret of all.