Detox your digestive system
    Detox your digestive system

    Q: How can a detox help us feel better and is it a complicated process?

    A: Dr Jason Mallia replies:

    A detox is not as bad as you think! And it doesn’t have to be difficult. Detoxification has been used for centuries to remove toxic waste from the body. It is a safe and proven way to increase energy levels, fitness and weight loss. It may also help prevent chronic disease and slow the ageing process.

    THE GUT IS THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN HEALTH

    One of the most important organ systems for optimal health is the digestive system. In natural medicine, the gut is considered to be the foundation of human health. If your digestive system is out of balance you may absorb an increased amount of toxins, leaving you feeling flat, tired and run down. The type and amount of bacteria in your digestive system play an important role in keeping you and your gut healthy. An overgrowth of bad bacteria or yeast in your gut can make you more toxic and may also reduce your ability to get rid of toxins.

    Bowel Balance Oct 24

    WEEDING OUT THE BAD FLORA

    It is well documented that antimicrobial herbs such as black walnut, wormwood and barberry, as well as antimicrobial oils such as oregano, cinnamon and thyme, kill off any detrimental bacteria and yeasts that may be upsetting your gut. These herbs can be combined with a colostrum powder to help prevent harmful microbes from adhering to the gut wall. This powerful combination will help to weed out all the bad bugs that may have made themselves at home, helping to restore your digestive function.

    PUTTING THE GOOD FLORA BACK IN

    Part of a good detox plan involves not only killing off any bad bacteria and yeasts but replenishing your digestive system with beneficial bacteria known as probiotics.

    There are various types of probiotics, and while they are all beneficial for digestion, their functions vary slightly. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis are good for restoring general balance and maintaining overall digestive function, while Lactobacillus plantarum is more specific for medically diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome and Lactobacillus rhamnosis is particularly suitable if you are prone to allergies and eczema. There are many different beneficial strains of probiotics available, so you and your doctor will need to choose the most appropriate strain for you, tailoring your detox plan to suit your needs.

    LEAKY GUT AND HEALING

    Stress, toxins, alcohol, junk food and processed food and food that is incompatible with your blood type or genotype can cause damage to the delicate cells of the digestive tract. This may lead to a condition known as ‘leaky gut’, in which undigested food and toxins pass from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, causing digestive upset and inflammation and increasing the risk of food allergies and other diseases. If you have poor digestion and possibly a leaky gut, it would be a good idea to consider using healing nutrients and herbs such as glutamine, aloe vera, liquorice and zinc as part of your detox. These may help reduce the symptoms, improving digestion and health.

    Progast Butyrate Complex

    DETOXING THE LIVER

    Once we have healed the gastro-intestinal system it’s time to clean up the liver! The liver is the body’s main cleansing unit, and to give yourself a good clean out on the inside, you need a healthy liver that is functioning at optimal capacity.

    DIET FOR DETOXIFICATION

    Excessive sugar, alcohol and junk food may upset your digestive balance and can burden your liver, so reducing these will help detox your digestive system and get your liver back into balance. Add freshly made fruit and veggie juices to a healthy diet that will not react with your blood type to improve detoxification.

    It’s also important to make sure you drink lots of pure water while you are detoxing. Correct hydration will ensure that the toxins are flushed out of your body. Try it and see how good you will soon begin to feel and look!

    Detox your digestive system

    Editor's note: 

    Detox with clay

    A clay bath is one of the most effective methods known to help the body eliminate accumulated toxins. It is, however, important to choose carefully when selecting clay for your detox bath and experts suggest that clean, raw, natural bentonite clays are the best.

    Clay acts as a sponge and magnet, assisting in the elimination of toxins and bacteria from our bodies, naturally. Clay baths will stimulate the lymphatic system and deeply purify the body's largest detoxification organ – the skin.

    The various colours of different clays depend on their bio-mineral composition, and they all have their own identity in the benefits which they can offer us, as well as the animal kingdom. The minerals and trace elements inherent in clay regenerate and repair tissue as well as relieving muscular and joint pain.

    Clay is an effective beauty treatment in the form of face masks, bath and spa products due to its deep-cleansing action. It removes dead skin cells and absorbs impurities and excess oils, keeping the skin fresh, radiant and smooth.

    Other must-read detox articles include: Our Environment demands an Annual Detox, Detox Done Right – the purification process and Detox with the Docs

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