Catherine Wilbert

Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph and skin. In fact, internal detoxification is one of our body’s most basic automatic functions. Just as our hearts beat nonstop and our lungs breathe continuously, so our metabolic processes continuously dispose of accumulated toxic matter. But in our world today, body systems and organs that were once capable of cleaning out unwanted substances are now completely overloaded; thus many unwanted substances stay in
our tissues.

Detoxification through special cleansing diets may be the missing link to disease prevention, especially for immune compromised diseases like cancer, arthritis, diabetes and fatigue syndromes like candida albicans. Our chemicalized food
diet, with too much animal protein, too much fat, too much caffeine and alcohol radically alters our internal ecosystems. Even if your diet is good, a cleanse can restore body vitality against environmental toxins that pave the way for disease-bearing bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Do you need to detox?
Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you feel congested from too much food or the wrong kinds of food?
• Do you feel lethargic, like you need a good spring cleaning?
• Do you need to eliminate drug residues? Or normalize after illness or a hospital stay?
• Do you need a jump start for a healing program?
• Do you need a specific detox program for a serious health problem?
• Do you want to streamline your body processes for more energy?
• Do you need to remove toxins causing a health problem?
• Do you want to prevent disease? Or rest and rejuvenate your whole body?
• Do you want to assist weight loss? Do you want to clear up your skin?
• Do you want to slow aging and improve body flexibility?
• Do you want to improve fertility?

Do you have:

• Frequent, unexplained headaches or back or joint pain, or arthritis?
• Chronic respiratory problems, sinus problems or asthma?
• Abnormal body odor, bad breath or coated tongue?
• Food allergies, poor digestion or chronic constipation with intestinal bloating or gas?
• Brittle nails and hair, psoriasis, adult acne, or unexplained weight gain over 10 pounds?
• Unusually poor memory, chronic insomnia, depression, irritability, chronic fatigue?
• Environmental sensitivities, especially to odors?

What benefits can you expect from a good detox?

• Your digestive tract is cleansed of accumulated waste and fermenting bacteria.
• Excess mucous and congestion is cleared from the body.
• Liver, kidney and blood are purified, impossible under ordinary eating patterns.
• Mental clarity is enhanced, impossible under chemical overload.
• Dependency on habit-formers like sugar, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or drugs is less.
• Bad eating habits are often turned around; the stomach has a chance to reduce to normal size for weight control.
• Cleansing also releases hormone secretions that coupled with essential fatty acids (EFAs) from fresh plant sources stimulate and strengthen the immune system.