Detox, Retox, and Detox Again


Our bodies are detoxification machines. By design, we detoxify through the bowel, bladder, breath and sweat and process toxins through the liver and kidneys. Regardless of the exposure of toxicants in food, water, medications, alcohol, etc., we have to metabolize what we ingest, create energy from it and release the waste.

The more toxins we have in our bodies, the harder our bodies work to detoxify. If the toxin demand exceeds what the body can clear, you can become quite ill, but most people are walking around slightly toxic and don't feel well.

Metabolism (eating digesting and extracting energy from food) always produces waste (free radicals or oxidants) and your body buffers the free radicals with antioxidants and eliminates the waste. The best example I can think of is a fireplace. The fire is your body producing energy, the waste is the ashes, and the free radicals are the smoke. The smoke from the fire is cleared with a vent, and if you clean out the fireplace after the wood is burned, then things are relatively clean.

However, if you don't vent the fire, your entire house fills up with smoke, and if you don't clean up the ashes, they spill over into the room making a big mess. That is basically an example of being toxic - how well can you clear the smoke, how well do you clear the ashes, and most importantly - what type of wood are you burning? Some people have a heavier daily burden of toxicity based on what they eat, what they drink, lack of movement, genetics, and medications.

Symptoms of toxicity are relatively generic and can be indications of other health issues. Common symptoms of toxicity will present as pain, bad breath, acne, fatigue, puffiness of face and under eyes, swelling and edema, excess thirst, constipation, lack of endurance or enthusiasm, weak immunity, eczema, rashes, muscle and joint aches and pains, spasms and cramping, offensive body odor and a white or yellow coated tongue. These symptoms are a state of dis-ease that over time leads to disease. Do not accept these symptoms as normal.

This greater need to detoxify can be enhanced in a variety of ways such as exercise, diet, supplementation with herbs, antioxidants, and water. The following are my simple recommendations to detoxify on an as needed or regular basis:

  1. Spanish Black Radish - enhances liver and lymphatic detoxification
  2. Glutathione - the master antioxidant and most potent intracellular antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Combine with selenium and N-acetyl cysteine for best results
  3. Milk Thistle - detoxifies and protects the liver helps the body produce antioxidants
  4. Vitamins A, C, and E - free radical scavengers
  5. Turmeric - antioxidant and liver detoxifier
  6. Watercress, Arugula, Bitter greens - alkalize and detoxify
  7. Go Vegetarian for a day - lots of colored fruits and vegetables and purple and sweet potatoes
  8. Drink purified fluoride chlorine free water always
  9. Cut out alcohol, coffee, fried foods, and processed foods
  10. Exercise regularly
  11. Try an infrared sauna, float tank, or cryosauna.

This isn't your practice body, and the last you want to do is abuse it. If you take care of your body, it will take care of you. I hope you are healthy and feeling good. I know that if everyone took better care of themselves, they would feel better physically and emotionally.

About the Author

Dr. Josh Kantor is a leading NYC Chiropractor and owner of Chill Space, a Health and Wellness Spa in Manhattan. Learn more about their services by visiting ChillSpaceNYC.com

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