Isn’t it just a normal body function?
Detoxification is a series of natural metabolic processes where our bodies turn toxins from our environment into substances that are less harmful and more easily excreted. It is something that our bodies do everyday, without us even thinking about it. Why then the hype about ‘detox’ that we see in magazines and on television?
The idea of a detox program is to address dietary and lifestyle factors to reduce the burden placed on our natural detoxification systems, while at the same time providing an abundance of the nutrients required to allow the detoxifying organs to do their job to their full capacity. Many of the popular detox programs involve eating only juice, or a certain type of food. But these programs generally don’t include enough protein, which is required to produce the enzymes that we need to improve the function of our natural detox processes.
There should be three main goals in a good detox program:
- Reduce toxins from the diet.
- Improve the natural capacity of the liver, kidney and intestines to remove waste products.
- Improve antioxidant systems to protect our cells from damage from free radicals.
Who can benefit from a detoxification program?
We are all exposed to toxic chemicals in our daily life, however some people are more affected by them than others. Toxicity may be related to symptoms such as:
- Excessive tiredness
- Digestive problems including bad breath, bloating, diarrhea, constipation
- Skin problems
- Recurrent headaches
- Muscle aches and pains
- Poor short-term memory and concentration
- Food sensitivities
- Depression, anxiety and mood swings
- Weight gain
Most people who follow a comprehensive detoxification program feel better in their digestive system, are more able to concentrate, have healthier skin, sleep better and feel more energetic. We tend to recommend the practitioner only detox programs such as those offered by Metagenics.
For more information, please ask one of our trained professionals in the pharmacy.
