NEW YEAR - NEW START
Published: 25/01/2012 by JUANITA JOLLY
» HEALTH
NEW START - NEW YEAR
If you want to have a clean start for the New Year, try a “Mini Detox”.
A Mini Detox prescribed by your naturopath will help get your digestive system and liver back into gear for the New Year, leaving you feeling fresh and lively!
DETOX IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
Do you cringe at the thought of having to do a detox?
Detoxification, it is a great way to begin the New Year and it doesn’t have to be hard. Detoxification encourages the body to remove toxins and may improve energy, fitness and weight loss as well as helping to prevent chronic disease and ageing.
HEALTHY GUT = HEALTHY BODY
In naturopathic medicine, the gut is considered to be the centre of health. If your digestive system gets out of balance it can increase the amount of toxins you absorb, leaving you feeling tired and run down.
The type and amount of bacteria in your digestive system plays an important role in keeping both you and your gut healthy.
If there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria or yeast in your gut, this can contribute too many digestive problems and may also reduce your ability to get rid of toxins.
KILLING OFF THE BAD BUGS
A "Mini Detox’’ plan is designed to help restore balance to your digestive system.
Antimicrobial herbs such as black walnut, wormwood and citrus seed can be taken to kill off any bad bacteria and yeasts that may be upsetting your gut.
These herbs can be combined with a prebiotic consisting of colostrum powder, to help prevent the adherence of harmful microbes to the gut wall.
This herbal combination will help to weed out all the bad bugs helping to restore digestive function.
PUTTING THE GOOD BUGS BACK IN
Part of the “Mini Detox” involves not only killing off any bad bacteria and yeasts, but replenishing your digestive system with beneficial bacteria known as probiotics.
There are different types of probiotics; and whilst they are all beneficial for digestion, their functions can vary slightly.
For example:
Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis are good for restoring general balance and maintaining overall digestive function,
Lactobacillus plantarum 299v is more specific for irritable bowel syndrome.
Lactobacillus rhamnosis is great if you are prone to allergies and eczema.
Your naturopath can determine the best probiotic for you.
REPAIRING THE GUT
- Stress
- Toxins
- Alcohol
- Junk food
- Processed food can cause damage to the delicate cells of the digestive tract.
This may lead to ‘leaky gut’, a condition in which undigested food and toxins pass from the digestive tract and into the blood stream.
If this occurs, it can cause digestive upset, inflammation and increase our risk of food allergies and other diseases.
If you have poor digestion and possibly a leaky gut, then it may be a good idea to use healing nutrients and herbs as part of your “Mini Detox”.
- Glutamine
- Zinc
- Aloe Vera
These nutrients and herbs may be able to reduce your leaky gut, improving digestion and health.
LIVEN UP THAT LIVER!
Once the digestive tract has been repaired, it is time to liven up your liver!
Your liver is your body’s main cleansing unit and to give yourself a good clean-out on the inside, you need a healthy liver that is functioning at optimal capacity.
HERBS such as:
- St Mary’s Thistle
- Globe Artichoke
- Dandelion Root
- Turmeric
- Shizandra
Can all work together to support liver function and stimulate detoxification.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Excessive sugar, alcohol and junk food may upset your digestive balance and can burden your liver, so reducing these will help detox your digestive system and get your liver back into balance.
Freshly made fruit and veggie juices can be added to a healthy diet to improve detoxification.
Suggestions for some great detox juices are:
- lemon, beetroot, ginger and apple;
- watermelon, carrot, lemon and beetroot.
There are many different combinations, just use your imagination! Of course it is also important to make sure you drink lots of purified water while you are doing a “Mini Detox” as this will help flush the toxins out of your body.
A CLEAN START FOR 2012...
So don’t let the word ‘detox’ scare you off!
Start the New Year in a healthy way and see how good you can feel and look!
Remember, your naturopath is there to help you find a detoxification program that is right for you so that you get the results you want.
Balance Complementary Medicine
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