De-tox your Life

I believe one of the biggest health issues today is toxicity.  The increased consumption of processed (basically unnatural) foods, genetically modified foods, prescription and recreational drugs, and alcohol, coupled with less exercise and increased stress means that people are developing and retaining more and more toxins.  Whilst our body is generally very good at purging toxins, once it gets overloaded you may notice conditions like weight gain and skin breakouts right through to diseases like cancer.

The main saviours of a toxic system are organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen and our skin.  This high-performing team will do the job if you let it and detoxify your body.  The trick is, this can only happen if your body is purging toxins faster than you take them in, that is, a net loss of toxins on a daily basis.  Ideally we would all be better off toxin-free but one would imagine this scenario to be virtually impossible.  So how do we do it?

The net toxic loss I mention essentially then means two steps – stop putting toxins in and purging the old toxins out.  As I said, your body is good at getting rid of this waste but is assisted greatly by eating real organic foods, drinking plenty of water (daily at least 1.5 litres) and exercising regularly.  I also recommend being more aware of your portions not just from a weight control perspective, but to simply go easier on your digestive organs giving them the space to do their thing.  Similarly with the timing and speed of meals.  Eating late and ramming food down your throat must be tougher on your digestive system.  It may also be worth considering a specific liver/kidney cleansing diet(s) like the type espoused by Dr Sandra Cabot.

This leaves us with simply putting less toxins in.  Essentially, toxins can come in through what we ingest, through our skin, and through our bodily orifices.  It’s not enough to eat well some of the time if you consume a lot of processed food.  A fantastic naturopath I used to see called it “caveman food”.  If a caveman could access it, then it’s okay for all of us.  We have become so far removed from what real food is we should be ashamed.  For example, I have been informed that the “apparently” beautiful salmon that is farmed in my home state of Tasmania (which has such a clean/green image) has a naturally white flesh.  Yet, when you buy it at the supermarket it is a pink colour which I’m told is due to a food dye!  Why do intelligent beings mess with such an amazing food in the name of aesthetics?  I just don’t get it.  We must return to caveman food.

The even more hidden danger is over other parts of our body.  I have seen children in parts of Asia swim or bath in water that most of us  wouldn’t put our dog in.  They may not have another option, but many of us do.  We need to be aware that water carrying all types of germs can enter through our eyes, ears, mouth, nose, genitals and anus.  Some pathogens can penetrate our skin as well.  Have you ever bleached your hair, washed with shampoo, used deodorant, etc.?  chances are you have fed your body heavy metals, carcinogens and a host of other molecules that it doesn’t recognise, or know how to process.  That’s the issue, our de-tox team only knows how to deal with naturally occurring molecules.  Anything foreign typically gets stored in the liver and in fat cells away from our organs so they are protected.

Be the caveman, not just with your diet but with what you put on your skin and hair.  Be aware of what you immerse yourself in.  Ask your healthcare professional what’s in any prescriptions you are given and ask for alternatives where you can that are more natural.  Avoid radiation where possible also.  Drink fresh water and investigate chelates (bind and remove heavy metals).  EXERCISE!  This is not just for your heart and weight control.  Exercise draws toxins away from your core where your organs are and transports them out to your extremities.  From there, the magic of sweat helps take them out of your body whilst doubling as a cooling aid.  It’s a brilliant machine your body, just give it the best environment you can!

Weight Control Overview

There are so many aspects to weight loss and weight control that you really almost need a post-graduate degree to have any chance of success. So if you are one of the masses who has ever struggled or continues to struggle with your weight please give yourself some respite because I’m guessing for most of you this is not your area of expertise.

I have the philosophy of always looking at myself as a work-in-progress. At heart I am a perfectionist and strive for the best outcome in everything I do, but sometimes the sculpture you are creating takes more time, more education and some hiccups along the way. However, you are worth it and the results are worth it.

Two years ago I was 106 kg and back in 2003 I was out to 112 kg with all kinds of fluctuations and diets in between. I woke every morning with a headache, had high cholesterol levels and slightly elevated blood pressure, skin problems, back problems, and so on. Now I weigh 85 kgs, with no headaches, my back is fine and my skin is still improving. I haven’t had my cholesterol checked again yet but I’m betting there is marked improvement.

I believe body weight is affected by the following:
1. Diet (all consumption including food, drinks, medications and supplements;
2. Exercise – You can live without it for a while but the fact is we are designed to move.
3. Current Metabolic Set Point – I call it this, but other terms are regularly used.
4. Hormones – There are more than people realise that affect our weight – insulin, leptin, grehlin to name a few.
5. Mindset.

The critical thing to note is that we need an wholistic approach that ensures we have a strategy across all five of the above areas because in this complex system that is the human body they all interact. There’s no point on working on any less than the whole five points listed otherwise you are literally doomed to fail which is why so many diets and exercise regimes don’t work.

In coming posts I will go into each of these in more detail. For now however, even though I was being honestly supportive with the earlier work-in-progress comments, it’s time to give up certain excuses that may be holding you back. We’ve all heard (and maybe said) things like:
“It’s just the way I’m built”
“It’s genetic, look at my (father, mother…)”
“I’ve simply got big bones” (possibly my all-time favourite)
“I can’t exercise, I’ve got bad (knees, ankles, hip…)”
“I just don’t have time”
“My hormones are all stuffed up, it’s impossible for me”
“I can’t diet, I hate/can’t eat/am allergic to…”

Sound familiar? Let’s go on a journey of discovery and improve our education, motivation, self-esteem, and life a much healthier life. Watch this space!

Benefits of a Cold Shower

In many cultures the proverbial “cold shower” is something you have, or maybe are told to have, when you are getting a bit frisky or aroused. But are there health benefits as well? Could there be more to the saying than we are led to believe? Some people swear by the virtues of a cold shower so let’s investigate why.

Firstly, it’s hard to find negatives at all with the exception of existing or unmasked cardio-vascular issues such as heart disease, high cholesterol, angina, etc. If you are, or think you might be susceptible to conditions like this or similar (particularly with age), please see your healthcare professional before jumping into a cold shower. Studies show that most heart attacks occur in the morning, particularly in the shower or at the breakfast table. (Arif, Dr Imran http://phys.org/news142791169.html October 9, 2008)

Beyond that it all seems to be upside. In my own experience I have a full shower at a moderate temperature and simply give it an 8-10 second cold blast at the end at which time I rotate to give myself maximum exposure and to share the “cold load”. This exercise certainly leaves me feeling very alert, yet relaxed. Within seconds of finishing, my skin becomes flushed with blood giving me a warm glow all over. I leave the shower feeling really vibrant and ready to take on the day. What happens also from this short blast is that gradually the rest of my showers are subsequently getting cooler and cooler as I adapt and no longer feel comfortable with a hot shower. When it’s too hot now I notice how sluggish I am, with a corresponding sluggish attitude.

Other reported benefits of proponents of cold showers claim greater clarity of mind, increased alertness and fearlessness among other things. Obviously, there is the potential side benefit of saving money on your electricity bills. Some people claim increased immunity, improved metabolism, improved circulation, improved temperature regulation, increased testosterone (men), increased fertility, increased energy, improved lymphatic movement, better sleep, improved stress tolerance, improved breathing, decreased inflammation, relief from depression and better skin and hair. What a list!

So next time you are after a cheap and easy general health tonic, with proper guidance try a cold shower or cold shower blast. It’s no wonder elite athletes have their ice baths, and this treatment is open to everyone.