Friday, May 16, 2008

Cleansing Is the Key!

Many of us indulge in the typical American diet of sweet, salty, fried, refined foods on a daily basis. We have never been exposed to more environmental toxins. When you add that to prescription/over-the-counter medications, vaccinations, personal care products, and cleaning supplies in our homes, you get toxic overload in the body.

Our bodies now have to work even harder to eliminate the excess pollutants. Our livers, kidneys, colons, and lymphatic systems get clogged and the body becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, candida, parasites, and a myriad of ailments. We become sick. We develop sugar cravings. We get fat. We look old. We develop aches and pains. Our energy levels drop. Sleep patterns are interrupted. Hormones shift into imbalance. Our thoughts are cloudy and our moods swing. We stop having regular bowel movements...Think about that--if it isn't coming out, then it must be staying in while it rots and poisons the body!

Imagine the human body as a brand new highway system. Over time, traffic increases. Rush hour traffic moves in and then it happens: an 18-wheeler flips over and everything comes to a screeching halt. Cars are sitting still generating exhaust fumes. Each driver is inhaling them while their stress and anxiety levels increase. Some vehicles are overheating. Everyone will be late and some will choose alternate routes to their destinations. Some won't get there at all. Eating poorly eventually clogs your cardiovascular, digestive, eliminative, nervous, immune, and hormonal systems. Without cleansing your systems, vital nutrients from the good things that you do eat will never be able to heal the body. Think over that. Can you imagine?

OK, so how do we fix it? See your doctor for a full evaluation. The numbers don't lie. Based on your overall health condition, your doctor will make recommendations about diet and exercise. Here are some simple tips to get started:

1) Increase your water intake: drink half of your body weight in ounces.
2) Increase your fiber intake from fresh fruits and vegetables.
3) Start eliminating processed and refined foods from your diet: this includes most foods that are labeled with an enormous list of ingredients that you can neither recognize nor pronounce. (Have you ever known of an apple picked straight from the tree that had a label on it?)
4) Walk everyday for at least 20 minutes.
5) Start drinking fresh juices for quick and easy absorption: combine green leafy vegetables with apples, berries, carrots, celery, and lemons. You'll give your digestive systems a break and get a great energy boost.

Try this plan for 30 days and see if you don't look and feel a bit better. You'll probably drop a few pounds in the process (smile)! More next time!