Detoxing the body…and the planet

Detoxing the body…and the planet
By Anita SK Cheung

The word “detox” (short for “detoxification”) has become fashionable these days and has been used to mean very different things in different contexts.

In the health context, human beings have been using different practices (e.g. hot springs, enemas, herbal medicine etc) since the beginning of time to facilitate the vital process of detoxification, which is the process of neutralising and eliminating toxins and wastes, something our body performs at the cellular level every moment.

The wastes and toxins come from our own metabolic processes and from the external environment. Environmental toxins from the air, food, water and products we use have skyrocketed since the industrial revolution and these are NOT what our body was designed to deal with. A diet of processed foods, alcohol and tobacco consumption, over-consumption of acid-forming meat, dairy and caffeine, and stresses in the daily life of many, further weaken our body’s natural detoxification capacity and create more toxic build-up. While in the past, we often associate “detoxification” with drug addicts or alcoholics and so on, for natural health practitioners and the more health conscious of us, we have realised that a proper detox is not a “fad” but a vital practice for optimal health and wellbeing.

Some common FAQ’s:

1. Q: How do I know if I need to do a detox?
A: A lot of common conditions we live with and have accepted as part of “life” or part of aging could very well be related with toxic overload, e.g.

* fatigue
* dull looking skin
* poor memory and moodiness
* overweight and stubborn weight (difficulty in losing weight)
* muscle soreness and stiff joints
* poor digestion and constipation

Toxicity also affects fertility by lowering sperm count. It can pollute the uterus and makes it uninhabitable. It pollutes the blood of a future mother or potentially her breast milk. (Due to the proportion of the baby’s small size and their developing organs, toxins affect them more and may leave permanent damage.) So it is very advisable for those preparing to be parents to do a detox at least one month before conception.

2. Q: What are the benefits of a properly administered detoxification programme?
A:

increased energy
clearer and healthier looking skin
weight loss for those who are overweight
improved mood and mental functioning
improved senses, especially taste and vision
improved digestion and absorption
improvement or disppearance of health complaints e.g. allergies, aches and pains, digestive complaints
improved immunity
elimination/reduction of cravings for unsupportive foods (e.g. coffee and sugar)
motivation to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle
3. Q: Does detox mean fasting? Can I just eat less and “detox”? Will I experience discomforts?
A: Detox does not have to involve fasting. Fasting generally does not provide sufficient nutrients required for complete detoxification of today’s poisonous toxins and may do more harm than good. I have seen traditional fasting work for those who are already living a healthy lifestyle and/or with a robust body constitution, but most others experience unnecessary sufferings. Some people believe the more the suffering the better the detox effect. I cannot subscribe to that. A smart detox diet that is low in calorie, high in nutritious foods or natural food replacement, full of enzymes, antioxidants and sufficient plant based protein needed for complete detoxification is satisfying and does not need to be hard. Supportive therapies like sauna, colonic and lymphatic massage, all support the process and increase the effectiveness.

4.Q: Will I lose weight? Is the weight loss sustainable?
A: Weight loss is natural for those who need to lose weight only. As most toxins are stored in fat, when the body can safely neutralise and eliminate toxins, excess weight starts to come off. But a weight loss programme is not the same as a detox programme.
It’s important to choose a detox programme that does not slow down the body’s metabolism (fasting does this) and aims to restore body’s optimal functioning. The reduced food cravings from cleaning out and increased awareness from a holistic detox programme makes keeping the weight off easy beyond the programme. I do not recommend using habit-forming laxatives or drugs to keep weight off. The body naturally maintains itself in its ideal weight when it is in balance.

5. Q: How can I become more informed about environmental toxins in order to protect myself and my family?
A: Visit websites like: www.ewg.org (Environmental Working Group), and the www.organicconsumers.org (Organic Consumers Association), a non-profit organisation based in the US. One small but important step you can take is to reduce using meat and dairy. They contain many times more toxins than plant food. Consider the real cost of food and products you buy – consider the health cost for you down the road, and the environmental cost too.

6. Q: So how can I reduce environmental toxins and help “detox” our planet?
A: What’s the point of keeping our body clean when the planet that sustains us is sick and dying from environmental toxins we have created in the first place? The good news is we can still do something about it. Experts are saying we have got only 10 years to turn the corner for our planet. A great resource to going green for your own health and for the planet is the “Going Green in Hong Kong” (www.goinggreenhk.com). It’s not too late to start recycling, and to ask your product suppliers to use more environmental packaging. Bring your own shopping bag. Meat and dairy consumption is the biggest contributing factor to green house gases. Eating less meat (especially red meat) and dairy as well as cleaning the taste buds from a detox which allows for greater appreciation of simpler plant based food, is a common result I have observed among my clients.

Anita, founder of i-Detox (www.i-detox.com), is a wellness coach specialised in nutritional detox with natural products mostly from fair trade and sustainable sources and that are free of chemicals and animal or dairy ingredients.