Spring Cleaning Your Body

Opening the windows of your home and allowing fresh air to circulate for the first time in six months is a rewarding ritual of Spring. Shortly after, most people typically experience an uncontrollable desire to scrub, scour, and mop away residual winter dust bunnies and unnecessary clutter. Magically, a dull, winter home is transformed into an orderly and exquisitely refreshing residence. There is a noticeable improvement in the feeling that is experienced just by walking through the door. Why focus only on the space inside your house? How about inside of your body, where you spend every second of every day, even when you are away from home? Your body faces a much larger toxic burden today than ever before. Periodic detoxification is essential to maintain wellness and prevent disease.

Toxins have both external and internal sources. Externally, we are exposed to an increasingly toxic environment that is laden with substances foreign to the body including industrial chemicals, solvents, and pesticides. Internally, our body produces toxins through normal cellular functioning. With increased environmental influence, cellular functions are upregulated and more wastes are produced.

A healthy body has the ability to process and eliminate toxins in manageable amounts. With excessive exposure of offensive substances through poor diet, lifestyle choices, and environmental situations, our system becomes overloaded and unable to effectively eliminate wastes. This leads to cellular inflammation and over time blocks normal organ and system function. Initially, we experience symptoms of toxicity such as headaches, fatigue, joint pain, skin problems, digestive disturbances, and mood disorders. Overtime, the accumulation of toxins results in chronic disease.

Detoxification is quickly becoming a buzz word in the media that can be found anywhere from trendy magazines to health food stores. It’s important to realize that while there are a lot of options calling themselves by the same name, they differ in their actions and intent. This program is a whole health plan that includes diet, restoration of digestive health, and intentional toxin elimination.

Diet is the foundation. This will NOT involve starvation, juice fasting, or vegetarian restrictions. Instead, you will receive a prescription of whole foods, unique to your individual needs, and full of enzymes and antioxidants that promote vibrant health. Be prepared to avoid allergenic foods, processed foods, and other disease promoting components of your diet.

The restoration of digestive health is another component of this detoxification program. This does NOT involve the use of harsh, habit-forming laxatives or allotment for extra restroom time. Instead, you can expect to follow a high fiber diet that may or may not include nutritive herbal formulas and probiotics designed to promote healthy digestion. The goal is to get your digestive system working properly, so the bowels move on their own, the way they were intended to.

Intentional toxin elimination unquestionably involves skin cleansing because skin is the largest eliminative organ in the body. This will NOT require you to purchase expensive spa treatments. Instead, sauna therapies and sweat-producing exercise will be prescribed.

Overall, detoxification requires diligence and a few weeks of lifestyle changes but results in a shift towards wellness in the spectrum of health.





	Spring Cleaning Your Body Dr. Julie Kniess Click here to learn more about the 28 Day Detoxification Program. Opening the windows of your home and allowing fresh air to circulate for the first time in six months is a rewarding ritual of Spring. Shortly after, most people typically experience an uncontrollable desire to scrub, scour, and mop away residual winter dust bunnies and unnecessary clutter. Magically, a dull, winter home is transformed into an orderly and exquisitely refreshing residence. There is a noticeable improvement in the feeling that is experienced just by walking through the door. Why focus only on the space inside your house? How about inside of your body, where you spend every second of every day, even when you are away from home? Your body faces a much larger toxic burden today than ever before. Periodic detoxification is essential to maintain wellness and prevent disease. Where do toxins come from? Toxins have both external and internal sources. Externally, we are exposed to an increasingly toxic environment that is laden with substances foreign to the body including industrial chemicals, solvents, and pesticides. Internally, our body produces toxins through normal cellular functioning. With increased environmental influence, cellular functions are upregulated and more wastes are produced. What is detoxification? Your body has its own built in detoxification system. The liver is the master filter of this system that catches foreign substances and wastes that are carried in the blood stream. The liver metabolizes these toxic compounds into forms that can be safely removed from the body by the organs of elimination, which include: The Lungs – remove wastes as expelled air The Skin – removes wastes as perspiration The Kidneys – remove wastes as urine The Bowels – remove wastes as feces Why do we need to detox? A healthy body has the ability to process and eliminate toxins in manageable amounts. With excessive exposure of offensive substances through poor diet, lifestyle choices, and environmental situations, our system becomes overloaded and unable to effectively eliminate wastes. This leads to cellular inflammation and over time blocks normal organ and system function. Initially, we experience symptoms of toxicity such as headaches, fatigue, joint pain, skin problems, digestive disturbances, and mood disorders. Overtime, the accumulation of toxins results in chronic disease. What does this detoxification program involve? Detoxification is quickly becoming a buzz word in the media that can be found anywhere from trendy magazines to health food stores. It’s important to realize that while there are a lot of options calling themselves by the same name, they differ in their actions and intent. This program is a whole health plan that includes diet, restoration of digestive health, and intentional toxin elimination. Diet is the foundation. This will NOT involve starvation, juice fasting, or vegetarian restrictions. Instead, you will receive a prescription of whole foods, unique to your individual needs, and full of enzymes and antioxidants that promote vibrant health. Be prepared to avoid allergenic foods, processed foods, and other disease promoting components of your diet. The restoration of digestive health is another component of this detoxification program. This does NOT involve the use of harsh, habit-forming laxatives or allotment for extra restroom time. Instead, you can expect to follow a high fiber diet that may or may not include nutritive herbal formulas and probiotics designed to promote healthy digestion. The goal is to get your digestive system working properly, so the bowels move on their own, the way they were intended to. Intentional toxin elimination unquestionably involves skin cleansing because skin is the largest eliminative organ in the body. This will NOT require you to purchase expensive spa treatments. Instead, sauna therapies and sweat-producing exercise will be prescribed. What are the benefits of detoxification? Depending on your initial health goals and commitment to your program, the benefits of detoxification programs can include any or all of the following: Alleviation of nagging health complaints Improvement in physical appearance – weight loss, elimination of water retention, restoration of skin vibrancy Restored sense of emotional balance and wellbeing Mental Clarity Prevention of Illness Overall, detoxification requires diligence and a few weeks of lifestyle changes but results in a shift towards wellness in the spectrum of health. Well·ness (wel'nis) noun - an interactive process of becoming aware of and practicing healthy choices to create a more successful and balanced lifestyle.