A lifestyle that supports your body’s daily detoxification is the surest way to optimum health and vitality, says Juliette Scarfe.
Detoxification is one of the body’s most basic automatic functions. Every day, the body neutralises toxins and then releases them through the organs of elimination – namely: the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin.
Life in the 21st century is full of stress and environmental toxicity. Over 100,000 manmade chemicals in our environment interact with our cell biology on a daily basis. These toxins make their way into our bodies via the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.
Our chemicalised diets – containing an abundance of processed foods, vegetable oils, trans fats, non-organic foods, caffeine and alcohol – radically change our internal ecosystem. Toxin build-up in the body is scientifically proven to accelerate premature aging leading to dull, lifeless, wrinkled and pigmented skin.
Body systems and organs that were once capable of cleaning out unwanted substances are now completely overloaded to the point where toxic material remains inside our tissues. This causes inflammation and damage, leading to chronic disease and abnormal brain and nervous system activity.
Scientific studies have shown that the average person living today is carrying a minimum of 700 known toxins in their blood, skin, fat cells, brain tissue, liver, digestive and other organ systems.
Our bodies protect us from these dangerous substances by surrounding them with mucus and fat cells to prevent the toxins reaching our vital organs. Therefore weight loss is futile without first detoxifying the body – the fat cells will not be reduced unless the toxins they encase are purged.
A lifestyle built around daily detoxifying strategies and periodic deep cellular cleansing is essential to achieve optimal health in the modern world. Deep cleansing can revitalise your system and rid your body of harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Am I toxic?
Do you suffer from any of the below?
- Headaches
- Excess weight around the middle of your body
- Excess cellulite
- Muscle/joint pain
- Food allergies
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Mood swings and irritability
- Fatigue
- Asthma/hay fever
- Body odour/bad breath
- Acne/eczema/dermatitis
If so, your body is communicating that it cannot deal with the levels of toxins currently in your system and it needs some assistance to eliminate them.
The toxicity of nutrient-poor foods
The body’s systems all compete for the body’s finite energy. When we eat during the day, this drives energy to our digestive system and away from our immune system. This is especially true if we are eating low-energy foods such as sugars, refined grains and other processed foods.
Low-energy foods and other environmental toxins also cause blockages in the digestive system and other channels of elimination. This creates an environment for opportunistic parasites to thrive. The parasites excrete more toxic substances that affect lymphatic function, cellular oxygenation and immunity.
What does detoxification achieve?
- Flushes out toxins and impurities
- Gives the organs of elimination a chance to repair and regenerate
- Releases extra energy for healing and immune function
- Weight loss
- Improved energy
- Enhanced immunity
- Better skin and hair
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- More restful and regenerative sleep
- Increased mental clarity
- Better digestion and increased nutrient absorption
- Improved cellular healing and repair
Daily digestive cleansing
“All health begins and ends in the gastrointestinal tract. If we cannot properly digest and absorb nutrients from our food, we set the stage for an imbalanced immune system and the onset and progression of chronic illness”- Dr. David Brownstein.
One of the most positive outcomes of detoxifying is to cleanse the digestive system of impacted food that can be many years old. This will have a profound effect on the health of both your body and mind, stopping the destructive cycle of toxins that are not expelled being re-absorbed into the body, where they cause a cascade of free radical damage and cell oxidisation.
Our digestive system is our second brain – science has proven that we can think and feel with our gut, and as such it requires special care.
To detox daily, you need to pursue an anti-inflammatory diet that is low in sugar and starch and high in antioxidant rich vegetables and herbs. Here are my top tips to maintain a cleansed, healthy digestive system, every day:
Apples and apple cider vinegar
The apple is a powerful colon cleansing food. Rich in natural fibre, it promotes healthy digestion. Apples are also rich in pectin, a carbohydrate compound that acts as a thickening agent inside the gut. When taken in therapeutic doses, pectin can help root out built-up toxins (including heavy metals) in the colon and strengthen the intestinal lining. I recommend a 20ml shot of apple cider vinegar a day.
Avocados
For everyday colon cleansing, avocados significantly aid detoxification and digestion. Avocados contain both soluble and insoluble fibre at a ratio of about one to three, which is unique. Insoluble fibre promotes healthy bowel movements and cleanses the colon. Soluble fibre absorbs water and binds with other digested substances, to help them move effortlessly through the digestive tract. This “gelling” effect helps maintain bowel regularity, preventing the toxic buildup that causes bloating, discomfort and constipation.
Flax and chia seeds
Both seeds possess unique nutrient profiles, containing fats and fibre that stimulate healthy digestion and the expulsion of toxins from the colon. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which stabilise cell walls and reduce inflammation. High levels of soluble fibre bind with food to optimise the digestive process, keeping you regular.
Chlorophyll-rich greens
Green fruits and vegetables are rich in chlorophyll. Great choices include kale, spinach, green olives, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, collard greens, sea vegetables, leeks, peas, wheatgrass and Swiss chard. Chlorophyll helps purify the blood, cleanse the digestive tract and detoxify the liver. It allows the body to utilize oxygen more efficiently, and it also adheres to the lining of the intestinal wall and stops bad bacterial growth, removes putrifactive bacteria from the colon, and helps regenerate the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract.
Chlorella
The single-celled green algae known as Chlorella Vulgaris is renowned for its incredible nutrient profile, including trace minerals, chlorophyll, and anti-oxidant phytonutrtients. Chlorella is the most potent source of pure chlorophyll. It also provides high levels of magnesium to help support the brain and nervous system and to protect against toxic accumulation in the central nervous system. Chlorella supports the elimination of many toxins, including phytates, dioxins, pesticides and industrial waste. It can bind and eliminate heavy metals like mercury, lead, nickel and aluminium, and also pulls out food preservatives, flavourings, additives and colourings. Chlorella is such an absorptive material it should be only stored in glass or paper packaging as it absorbs the toxins present in plastic. Add 2 teaspoons daily to juices and smoothies.
Coriander
Excellent for detoxing mercury, which has permeated our environment to the point where it even resides permanently in our teeth as amalgam fillings. Raw organic coriander can be chopped up and sprinkled on almost any meal. It can be added to juices and green smoothies.
Fermented foods
The human digestive system is composed of a vast network of beneficial microbiota that digest food, absorb nutrients, thwart harmful bacteria, and eliminate toxins. Absorbing chemicals in any form will damage this delicate gut flora and reduce the ability of the gut to digest food, draw nutrients from it, and expel it. You can offset this damage by supplementing with probiotics and eat plenty of fermented, probiotic-rich foods. These include cultured vegetables like kimchi, and fermented beverages like kombucha tea and kefir.
Pure water
A healthy colon is a hydrated colon. Water is the universal solvent, carrying nutrients to every cell in our bodies and flushing away toxins and impurities. The issue we face with water is its purity – with over 200 chemicals found in the average baby’s umbilical cord, one can only estimate the chemical composition of modern-day tap water. In order to drink pure water, choose spring water sold in glass to avoid the petrochemical toxins that leach out of plastic containers into the water. To ensure your cells remain optimally hydrated, aim to drink 2 litres a day – more if you exercise. This quota can include juiced vegetables and herbal tea, but does not include caffeinated drinks as they leach water and mineral reserves from the body.
Fasting
Cycles of intermittent fasting for periods of 12-18 hours daily (make sure you keep yourself hydrated) are highly beneficial for eliminating the majority of toxins consumed that day. Periodic cleansing periods where solid food is eliminated for periods of 24-72 hours are also recommended. Try a weekly juice detox – for 24 hours drink only fresh, raw fruit and vegetable juices. This one day a week will lead to a substantial improvement in your health and wellbeing.
Coconut oil
When you apply virgin coconut oil to your skin, the beneficial elements are absorbed directly into the bloodstream to be carried around the body, enhancing the detoxification process. Coconut oil feeds the immune system and helps provide medium-chain triglycerides that destroy parasitic microorganisms. Coconut oil also helps to provide a clean energy source for the brain and reduces cellular inflammation.
The healing crisis – a cautionary note
Although the end result of detoxing can be incredible health, vitality and energy, the process can produce unpleasant side effects due to the exiting of toxic waste and impurities. Although not always the case, you may feel under the weather and worse than before you started the detox. That’s why I advocate incorporating cleansing elements into your daily diet and lifestyle rather than shocking your system with longer periods of intense detox.
The most effective way to reduce the side effects of detoxing is to stay hydrated – the more pure water you drink, the faster your body can eliminate impurities. Fresh juices, green tea, or plain, filtered water should become your best friends. Rest is also crucial. While detoxing, be sure to get plenty of rest and not to overexert yourself.
Juliette Scarfe is founder of the unique and gorgeous Bare Skin Beauty range. Bare Skin Beauty’s products are 80% organic, 100% natural, and rich in bioactive vitamins, minerals, flavonoids and antioxidants to repair and regenerate your skin.Find out more here.
To book a consultation or organic facial with Juliette, email info@bareskin-beauty.co.uk.