The new year is the perfect time to cleanse and “wipe your slate clean” so to speak. It is a great way to start the year off right and make a big step forward in achieving whatever health goals you may have.

There is no doubt our bodies are challenged by a host of chemicals and toxins in our environment, personal care products and food. Our body is naturally designed to process most of these chemicals and eliminate them from the body. However, sometimes the toxic burden on the body is too great and this is when symptoms develop. Demands of life, emotional stress, work stress, medications and poor sleep reduce our body’s ability to eliminate waste and detoxify successfully.

Signs of impaired detoxification include:

• Skin rashes –eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne
• Menstrual irregularities – painful periods, irregular periods, PMS
• Headaches
• Fatigue, low energy
• Food sensitivities
• Difficult weight loss
• Development of chronic illness (thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases)

More about Detoxification and Total Body Burden

Total body burden is a term to describe how much waste has built up in your body. Our body’s cells make waste every day. This is a normal process and our body was designed to rid this waste – the lungs breathe out CO2, the skin releases urea and heat, the kidneys excrete waste via the urine and undigested food is eliminated daily (ideally) through the bowels.

When symptoms of impaired detoxification develop, this may be a sign that your body has too high a burden or that the organs designed to eliminate waste are not doing their job. When your body is overwhelmed with impurities or toxins, they may be released through the skin causing rashes, or irritate to the nervous system causing headaches. When the liver is overwhelmed it has less ability to metabolize your hormones, leading to menstrual complaints and PMS. A high total body burden can also shift the metabolism causing  you to hold on to excess weight  as fat cells are the primary storage place for toxins.

To address total body burden we must focus on a clean diet and support the organs of detoxification – gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin.

Benefits of Cleansing

• Improved energy and overall well-being
• More balanced mood
• Better sleep
• Easier weight loss
• Reduced menstrual complaints and less PMS
• Reduced headaches, body and joint pain
• Improved digestion
• Relief from various skin rashes and acne

For more information see my related blog  “8 Ways to Support Detoxification”

Editor’s Note: The information in this article is intended for your educational use only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health practitioners with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health program.