Many start the new year with body detox programs

Canadian Press
Calagary (CP) - Over-indulge on holiday sweets and spirits?

Many naturopaths, nutritionalists, and herbalists encourage regular body cleansing because muscles, organs and fat tissues act like sponges in soaking up toxins.

Toxins accumulated from processed, artificial foods and pollution should be purged.

For decades, it was popular to cleanse by drinking lemon-water concoction or fresh vegetable juice for several days, depriving the body of basic food and losing lots of weight.

Detoxification is a very gradual process. The most important thing is to have lifestyle modifications.

An engineer, says he was skeptical when his wife coaxed him to try a detox plan but after a grueling 12 days of no beer, burgers, pop or fries, he feels far better.

"For the first few days, I had a headache and was really tired. but after I got over that, I had a lot of energy and it was easy to focus on things."

The most difficult part forbidden was most favorite foods: flour, some dairy, yeast, alcohol, sugar, coffee, peanuts, oranges, grapes and all processed foods.

A physiotherapist, felt slightly more energetic after doing a seven-day herbal detox system and was pleased to have shed more than four pounds off the 130-pound frame.

You have to start off slowly, incorporate diets with more fruits and vegetables, get rid of most processed foods and drink lots of water.

Common signs that a body needs cleansing are fatigue, indigestion, bad breath, allergies, poor bowel function, anxiety, depression, insomnia and recurring colds or infections.

Suggestions for minimizing toxin exposure:

Avoid artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and sweeteners in food.

Eat low on the food chain; the closer a food chain is to its natural state, the less risk of consuming toxins.

Filter tap water.