Detox 2018…Part 2!
In this second part we are going to be looking in to nutrition & hydration strategies that could seriously boost your family’s health.
So, in part 1 we briefly examined lifestyle and home based ways in which we can help reduce toxicity in our everyday lives. However, we’re aware that certain nutrients actually help support our liver on its quest to keep us living with reduced toxicity? Or, exactly how much water is enough to help dilute the pollutants that we consume on a daily basis?
Just to recap, to Detox doesn’t mean that we abstain from eating for lengthy periods or that we embark on a spiritual journey in to the hills, it quite simply refers to how we can support our bodies quest for natural health by abstaining from a whole host of pollutants which contribute towards inflammation & disease.
In principle, this sounds quite simple, however, we now live in a time when we are challenged by more chemicals and toxins on a day to day basis more than at any other time in history. It is estimated that more than 84,000 chemicals are put in to American food products each year, generating more than $763 billion in profits for the chemical industry.
Good news is that we don’t have to fall foul to the chemical soup that we are exposed to, nor do we have to eat tasteless, bland offerings that are commonly accepted as “Clean” foods. By simply making a few changes at a time to our food choices, we can give ourselves a much better chance of promoting long term health. Try some or all of the following:
1) Eat more cruciferous vegetables, eg, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and similar green leaf vegetables. This family of vegetables are well known for their dense nutrient properties. Try lightly steaming them so they retain full flavour and all vitamins & minerals.
2) Go organic and free range wherever possible, for both meat and vegetables. Look for certified organic products. This ensures that the produce has far less exposure to contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers. It also means that animals will not have been exposed to antibiotic use. Local farmers markets are often better than supermarket produce.
3) Flush out your toxins – “The solution to pollution is dilution” – aim to consume 0.033 litres per day per kg of your body weight. Thats around 2.5 litres for an 80kg individual.
4) Add more fibre to your diet. This includes both soluble and insoluble fibre. Benefits include lowering cholesterol levels whilst moving waste through your intestines. Keeping your bowel movements regular helps to rid of many toxins.
5) Drink Green Tea – Whilst not to everyones taste, there is great evidence to suggest that regular drinking can promote a whole host of health benefits – including detox. Our favourite is Organo Gold which also contains a healthy adaptagenic herb Ganoderma Lucidum.
6) Avoid burnt/blackened food. The blackening contains very harmful heterocyclic amines and dioxins. These are known carcinogens and should be avoided.
7) Limit smoked food intake. Try reducing smoked and or chargrilled foods for similar reasons to point 6.
8) Eat wild caught fish. Try avoiding farmed or tinned.
Nutrients
1) Glutamine – The benefits of Glutamine have been well established with evidence strongly suggesting that it helps to promote gut repair and gut health – vital for absorbing key nutrients.
2) Milk Thistle – the active ingredient in Milk Thistle is Silymarin, which is both an antioxidant and is anti inflammatory. Many believe Milk Thistle to be helpful for people with liver damage.
3) Antioxidants – substances which prevent cell damage caused by oxidation in the body. Antioxidants neutralize cellular damage and combat free radicals which cause premature aging and even cancer.
4) B-Vitamins – B complex refers to the 8 B Vitamins. These vitamins are vital in that they cover so many benefits from skin and hair health to energy & vitality…and of course antioxidant support.
5) Vitamins A,C,E, Co-Q10 & Selenium – all powerful antioxidants and some are vital for optimal skin health and anti aging.
6) Zinc, Copper, & Magnesium – Balanced levels of these 3 metals can provide an array of health benefits. Often copper levels can be too high with magnesium levels too low. Auto immune function, inflammation and oxidative stress are affected when these are out of balance.
7) Flavanoids – these are phytonutrients found in almost all fruits and vegetables. There are over 6000 types. Flavanoids have anti-inflammatory, immune system and antioxidant benefits. Keep your plate colourful to get maximum exposure.
Keeping your diet fresh and colourful with a wide variety of tasty fruits and vegetables alongside wild caught or free range protein is so vital to promote health and aid our detoxification processes.
By eating vegetables and protein at at least 2 meals per day can dramatically improve our health and vitality levels. A key to making great choices…”If it didn’t exist 300 years ago…don’t eat it today”. Aim to buy as much of your food not in packaging as possible.
This subject is vast and we could go in to infinite detail. The past 2 articles are simply meant to be a brief overview, or an introduction to an often very over-complicated and misrepresented area of nutrition.
Before reaching for the vitamin capsules…ask yourself “Am I eating as well as I could be”. Vitamins can help but only as part of a nutritionally balanced daily regime.
If we can be of any further help…drop us a line.
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