With so many cleansing diets and supplements out there, it’s easy to wonder what all the fuss is about. Does the body really need cleansing, and if so, why? To answer this, let’s first take a look at what a cleanse does.

Cleansing generally refers to the digestive tract, but the ultimate intention of a cleanse is to bring health to the whole body. The digestive organs are responsible for filtering toxins and other harmful substances out of the bloodstream. Giving these organs a rest helps them to heal and do their job more effectively. By ceasing to take in chemicals or other toxins, the body has a chance to rid itself of them, and will do a better job of filtering once the cleanse is completed.

The primary organs involved in everyday body detoxification are the colon, liver, and kidneys. In our modern age, these organs are faced with a daily onslaught of chemicals, from pesticides on food and clothing to industrial pollution and food additives (such as preservatives, colors, or artificial flavors). Such foreign substances are often stored, usually in fatty tissue or in the liver, as the body does not know what to do with them. A continual replenishment of the toxins from our daily exposure means that these organs never get any “down” time.

Some health experts believe that the toxins build up in the system, causing a wide range of unpleasant but vague symptoms. Still others note the “mucoid plaque” build-up in the intestines, claiming its presence as a cause for all sorts of disease.

A cleanse gives the body a chance to release these toxins. It frees up the colon, liver and kidneys to filter only pure water or water with lemon juice and some sort of sweetener. Cleanses usually result in some weight loss, so the toxins stored in the fatty tissue are flushed from the body.

Fasting is a component of all cleansing, whether it is targeted toward the kidneys, colon, or liver. Sometimes, supplements are used to augment the cleanse. Psyllium husks and bentonite clay are popular detoxification supplements that act as bulk laxatives, and are said to bind to poisons in the body as they move along the digestive tract. Some people take probiotics while undergoing a cleanse, in order to re-populate the colon with friendly, healthful bacteria that may be lacking due to toxic build-up.

Those who undergo cleanses claim they have renewed energy and focus, and feel healthier.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

You may have heard about cleansing diets or fasts, but if you want to keep your system clean, it comes down to what you eat every day. If you want to keep your body at its best, here are some tips toward maintaining optimal nutrition.

Eat Organic, Whole Foods

This is rather basic, but very important. Whole foods are those that have undergone the least processing, but they do not have to be eaten exclusively raw. Examples include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed and free-range meats that are not processed into preserved meat products, and natural sweeteners. Your system will not be clean if you continually pump it full of unhealthy foods. This does not mean you can never indulge, but it does mean that your diet should consist of at least 80 percent whole, organic foods. That way, when you do choose to indulge, your body can handle it and eliminate the toxins on its own.

Replace White with Brown

This is a basic nutritional rule of thumb for optimal nutrition. Replace all refined or “white” foods with whole or “brown” foods. It’s not the color of the food (white popcorn, for example, is very nutritious); it’s the level of refinement.

For example:

• White flour/Whole wheat flour
• White sugar/Raw, unfiltered honey, blackstrap molasses, or Sucanat
• White rice/Brown rice
• Pasta made from refined flour/Whole grain pasta

Probiotics

These friendly bacteria are important for helping the body keep itself cleansed. Sources include yogurt, miso (a fermented soybean paste), and supplements.

Choose Nutrient-Dense Foods

These are foods that provide the most nutrient value for their caloric value. In other words, they are the opposite of “empty calorie” foods like candy or fried potato chips that are full of calories but lacking nutrients. Nutrient-dense foods are not necessarily low-calorie (although they can be) – avocados and nuts are examples – but for their calories they deliver large amounts of nutrients.

Fiber

High-fiber diets are essential to keeping the system clean. Fiber bulks up bowel movements, taking toxins along with it as it moves along the intestinal tract. Healthy choices for high fiber are whole grains, including air-popped or stove-top popcorn (not microwave popcorn, as it may contain some dubious chemicals), fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes.

Don’t Be Afraid to Supplement

The supplement debate is likely never to be resolved, but supplements are worth looking into in today’s often nutrient-deficient culture. If you are not getting enough vitamins, minerals, fiber, or probiotics from your diet – and such dietary goals can be difficult to reach – consider supplementing with a natural multi-vitamin, minerals, probiotics, or fiber source (such as psyllium husks).

You Are What You Drink

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Add a few generous squeezes of lemon juice to your first glass of water in the morning for a liver-cleansing tonic.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

It can feel a bit intimidating to hear about other people’s detoxification efforts. Perhaps you know of people who have paid large sums of money and spent weeks in detox “camps” where their diets are strictly regulated. Maybe you know of people who have received enemas, have felt terribly ill, or otherwise have had to take large amounts of time out of their lives to detox.

Most of us can’t just stop our lives in order to do a hard-core detox. If you want to detoxify while still getting on with your life, here are some gentle but effective methods.

Raw Vegetables and Fruits. In this kind of detox, you simply eat only raw fruits and vegetables for 2 or 3 days, and drink only water, herbal teas, or diluted fruit juice. All foods consumed in this detox diet need to be organic. Much of the principle behind detoxification is to reduce the intake of toxins as well as flushing them from the system.

Meditation. Many proponents of detoxing claim that meditation helps cleanse the mind and body. Because meditation relaxes the body and brings focus, it makes sense that it would be a healthy means of personal cleansing. Some practitioners of meditation use visualization and energy channeling to move toxins out of the body. Meditation can be worked into a “real person’s” schedule, performed every day or just a couple of times a week.

Smoothie Detox. This can be a very tasty, creative detox! As long as the ingredients are fresh and organic and based on fruits and vegetables, you can mix all sorts of smoothies for your daily meals. Some foods to consider in your smoothies are: kale, broccoli, spinach, apples (unpeeled), berries, citrus fruits, pears, peaches, etc. Another advantage of the smoothie detox is that you can add any supplements you want to take, such as probiotics or fiber, to the smoothie ingredients before whizzing them in the blender.

Overall Lifestyle. Instead of a temporary detox diet, you can simply make lifestyle changes to detoxify your body and keep it that way.

Some ways to do that are:

• Switch to organic, whole, fresh foods rather than conventionally grown, processed or prepackaged foods.
• Exercise regularly – it keeps things moving in the body, and induces sweating, another form of detox your body naturally employs.
• Use only natural, toxin-free cleaners to clean your home.
• Use only natural, toxin-free soaps, shampoos, deodorants, and styling products.
• Eat meat only a couple of times a week, and switch to organic, grass-fed, free-range meats.
• Cut back on dairy products and eat only organic products.
• Reduce your refined sugar intake and, when you do need a sweetener, consider raw, unfiltered honey, maple syrup, or the calorie-free herb stevia.
• Drink plenty of water.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

A thorough detoxification program needs to include exercise. Exercise that causes you to sweat aids detoxification as sweat helps remove poisons from your body. Exercise also promotes healthy circulation and overall fitness. No matter what method you are using for bodily cleansing, exercise can augment it. Here are some good exercises for cleansing and detoxification.

Walking. This is a basic, gentle exercise that is good for those doing a cleanse for the first time, or just undergoing an overall change toward a healthier diet. Walking works most of the major muscle groups, and increases heart rate and circulation.

Stretching. Stretching is so good for muscle health. It helps prevent the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles. You know that sore feeling your muscles can get the day after a workout? That is from lactic acid accumulation. Stretching gently opens up the muscle fibers and allows toxins to move out.

Yoga and Pilates. More than just stretching, yoga involves specific stretches that promote relaxation and balance. Pilates is based on cat movements, and helps relax and rejuvenate muscles while toning as well. Both exercises help reduce stress, which is important in body cleansing – constant stress can cause toxins to accumulate in the body.

Here’s a great resource for more about yoga: Yoga Body

Martial Arts. Like yoga, martial arts include the movement of body energy as part of the exercise program. From slow, smooth, stretching types of martial arts like tai chi to more active arts like tae kwon do, martial arts include meditation and bodily discipline with the benefits of exercise.

Swimming. Swimming is easy on the joints, and is a wonderful way to get a full-body workout without jarring joints or feet. See if you can swim in a pool that uses ozone rather than chlorine to clean the water.

Bicycling. Going for a bike ride exercises more than just the legs; the core muscles in the trunk also get strengthening. If you are outdoors (rather than on a stationary bike), breathing fresh air helps cleanse the body. Like swimming, bicycling is easier on the joints than walking or jogging.

Bouncing on a trampoline. Did you know something so fun could aid cleansing and build healthy body tissues? The secret is in the force – when you come down onto the trampoline, the gravitational force your body experiences increases. The higher you bounce, the more force when you come down. The body responds to this increased gravitational force by building stronger tissues and cells. All organs and muscles could benefit from being strengthened.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

Part of the colon’s job is to eliminate toxins from the body. That’s why you go to the bathroom! Therefore, anything indigestible or otherwise classified as “waste” by the body is eliminated via the colon. Of course, other organs, such as the liver and kidneys, play a significant role in detoxifying the body. But the colon sometimes needs special attention, as experts note how wastes and undigested food matter can accumulate in that organ to an alarming degree.

Some  natural health practitioners and nutritionists claim that the natural mucus lining of the colon can harden and putrefy, creating a host of health problems.

So How Do You Cleanse the Colon?

There are a couple of ways to do this, either separately or combined.

Supplements/Pills. You can purchase a colon cleansing “kit” at most health food stores and some drug stores and pharmacies, and just follow the directions. These kits are comprised of various supplements designed to eliminate toxins from the colon. You can take the pills and continue with your diet as usual, but some who have tried this say they don’t feel really “cleaned out.”

Special Diets or Fasts. There are a host of special colon-cleansing diets out there, from the famous “Master Cleanse” or lemonade diet – during which you drink only lemon juice mixed with water and maple syrup for several days – to smoothies. There are also juice cleanses and raw vegetable and fruit cleanses. Sometimes, people simply adopt a healthier diet that includes more whole, unrefined foods and fiber. These dietary changes can be done on their own or, sometimes, in addition to supplementation.

But Is It Safe?

Some medical experts warn that colon cleansing can be dangerous due to possible electrolyte imbalances. If practiced excessively, some experts warn that colon cleanses can stress the kidneys and heart. The key is to undergo a cleanse with medical supervision and knowledge. Here are some things to keep in mind to make cleansing safer.

• Tell your doctor that you want to undergo a colon cleanse, and he or she can work with you with regard to your state of health and what, if any, method you should use. Your doctor can inform you of the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance or other possible problems so that, if these begin to occur, you can stop the cleanse immediately.
• If enemas are part of your colon cleansing regimen, make sure they are done by a professional who uses sterile equipment.
• Try gentle methods first, such as a one-day juice fast.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

Have you ever applied all sorts of expensive creams or cleansers and wondered why your skin continued to look unhealthy? That’s because healthy skin comes from the inside out. Remember, your skin is an organ, and like all organs, it benefits from a healthful, toxin-free diet. Here are some steps you can take toward a skin-cleansing diet.

Stay hydrated. You have probably heard about the importance of drinking water to stay healthy and cleanse the system, and that includes your skin. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, at least six 8oz. glasses a day. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to cleanse your liver – in traditional Chinese medicine, poor skin indicates an unhealthy liver.

Bring on the fats. For your skin to remain plump and supple, rubbing on moisturizers can help, but taking healthy fats into your system will have a deeper, healthier effect on your skin. Flax, olive and fish oils, as well as expeller-pressed cooking oils like safflower or canola, should be incorporated into the diet. Eat fatty, cold-water fish such as salmon at least once a week, but make sure it is from a reputable source so that you are not adding to your body’s toxic overload by eating fish that have lived in toxic waters.

Fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition to hydrating the body, fresh veggies and fruits provide vital skin-healthy nutrients, such as vitamins A, C and E and toxin-absorbing fiber. Many vegetables, such as tomatoes, contain antioxidants. Lightly steamed or raw are the ideal ways to consume these foods.

Nuts and seeds. These little gems include important blood-building nutrients like iron, and healthy circulation and blood are key to good skin health. Nuts and seeds also contain healthy fats, which, as noted above, keep the skin smooth and glowing.

Go organic. If you have not already, switch to organic foods. Your body needs to be as free from toxins as possible for your skin to be healthy, and organic food is not contaminated with synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers. These substances can also cause hormonal imbalances, which are strongly implicated in acne and other skin problems. This goes for produce as well as meats and dairy products. Speaking of dairy products…

Limit dairy products. Except for plain yogurt, you should sharply limit your dairy intake for healthier skin. Our modern dairy products are likely to contain hormones or antibiotics, and they contain animal fat which does not promote healthy skin.

Limit junk and fast foods. These “foods” are full of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and unhealthy fats. Cleanse your skin from the inside by eating whole, fresh foods instead.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

Cleansing the body is a popular topic these days, and for good reason. We do, in fact, live in an environment where our bodies are bombarded with toxic substances on a daily basis. Exercise, supplement programs, fasts, meditation, yoga, etc. are employed to varying degrees in order to bring cleansing to the body. But the important role that food plays in cleansing – simply what we eat – can not be ignored.

Americans have a tendency to want quick fixes to problems and symptoms. We love our pills. We can swallow a capsule or tablet and go on about our business, no lifestyle changes necessary. But the problem with this approach is that it completely eliminates the connection between food and health that is so vital. Pills may mask symptoms, but the underlying problem of a poor diet will not be addressed. In other words, toxins are still building while the symptoms are being alleviated.

Sometimes, we look at food as our enemy – we think the less we eat, the healthier and thinner we will be. But what you do eat is very important. Let your food be your medicine and your medicine your food, said Hippocrates (from whom doctors get the “Hippocratic Oath”). Let’s look briefly at some of the constituents in whole foods and their various cleansing benefits.

Fiber. This is a big one. Fiber is one of the primary ways to eliminate waste from the colon. Without it, bowel movements lack bulk and toxins can build up in the colon. Fiber absorbs poisons and waste matter as it moves along the intestinal tract, picking it up moving it out. High-fiber diets are also associated with a decreased risk of heart disease.

Vitamins and Minerals. Healthful, whole food contains these vital nutrients. These substances have more roles in the body’s health than can be discussed here, but some particular vitamins, such as C and E, have specifically antioxidant effects. Iron builds the blood; other vitamins and minerals build bone and tissue; still others play an active role in cell regeneration. Without vitamins and minerals, the body can not repair and rebuild itself from a cleanse.

Antioxidants. Many foods have these bodily scavengers. Green tea, berries, tomatoes, and other foods have antioxidant properties. Cranberries promote bladder and kidney health, which are important organs involved in bodily cleansing.

Essential Fatty Acids. We are just beginning to understand the importance of good fats in the diet. It turns out they are crucial, and, among other things, help support liver health. The liver is a major cleansing organ.

Phytonutrients. These are simply the nutrients found in plant foods, and they tend to have anti-cancer and antioxidant benefits.

What you do choose to eat has a significant role in the cleansing of your body. So, of course, does what you avoid eating. Refined sugar, white flour, and processed foods full of artificial preservatives, colors and flavors will have the opposite effect, building toxic waste in your tissues.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

As your body undergoes the daily grind, it has mechanisms in place for ridding itself of toxins. When you use the bathroom, exhale, and sweat, your body is excreting substances for which it has no use or that might cause harm. The organs involved in these processes sometimes get overwhelmed and need a break. Like any system that works 24 hours a day, the human body sometimes just needs some “down time.”

In some cultures and religions, fasting is part of religious observance. A “detox” is a sort of variation on the fasting theme, designed to purify and cleanse. A detox, like a fast, is always to be regarded as a temporary dietary adjustment, not a permanent one. Most detoxes last anywhere from 1 to 5 days, with most lasting 3. Do not ever attempt a detox if you are pregnant or nursing.

There are several different types of detoxes, or cleanses, that are prevalent today. Among them are:

Juice. This is probably the most common and popular kind of detox. “Green” juices made from raw cabbage, kale, or other leafy greens are allowed, as well as some fruit juices. Some nutritionists recommend preparing for the juice detox a day or two before by eating only raw fruits and vegetables. When coming off the juice detox, eat only raw fruits and vegetables for another 2 days, then gradually introduce small meals back into the diet.

The Lemonade Diet, where the participant drinks only maple-syrup sweetened lemon juice mixed with water for several days, is one of the best-known juice-based detoxes.

Fruit and Veggie. This detox is said to be good for anyone wishing to relieve the body of the stresses caused by digesting dairy and meat products. On this detox diet, the fruits and vegetables can be raw or cooked.

Water Only. While this is a fairly popular form of detox, some experts strongly advise against it. Drinking water only can upset your electrolyte balance, and it also tends to result in a too-rapid release of toxins into the bloodstream for elimination. If you do choose to do a water only detox, make it for just 1 day.

Detox diets are often supplemented by herbs and/or fiber supplements as well.

Detoxification is purported to cleanse the blood and lymphatic systems, cleanse the colon of impurities, and give the kidneys and liver – the main blood filtering organs – a rest. As the intake of toxins is curtailed in a detox, the body has a chance to release stored toxins. Interestingly, most agricultural chemicals, especially pesticides, are fat-soluble. This means they tend to accumulate in fatty tissue in the body, and are found in higher concentrations in high-fat foods. As you undergo a detox, you begin to lose some fat, and as the fat gets “loosened up,” the toxins get released from it.

Detox diets are also touted as a means by which ill people can correct their illness. Ulcers, cancer, depression, and general inflammation have all been relieved by detox diets.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com

There are several very effective herbs you can take to affect a cleanse. The colon, liver and kidneys are organs targeted by cleansing, and there are herbs specific to each bodily system.

For cleansing the colon, try the following herbs.

Prune juice. Okay, so prunes are not generally considered herbs per se – but, like all medicinal herbs, they are the fruits (plums) of a plant (the plum tree), and their cleansing ability is very good. Drinking prune juice and/or eating prunes relieves constipation and can be very cleansing to the colon.

Flax seeds. A tablespoon of flax seed three times a day, ground or whole, will cleanse the colon. If you’ve ever mixed flax seeds with hot water, you know how this works – the water in which flax seeds are steeped becomes a thick, mucilagenous mass. If you tend to have intestinal irritation, use ground flax seed. Note, though, that you must drink a lot of water for this to work – flax is so effective at creating bulk in the intestines that it can create a blockage without proper water intake.

Psyllium. Like flax seeds, psyllium seeds need a lot of water to work. Those wishing to benefit from psyllium may take 3-10 tablespoons of the tiny seeds each day. Psyllium also creates bulk in the intestine, moving toxins and waste out.

Senna. The leaves and seedpods of senna are used for internal cleansing. A popular remedy for constipation, be aware that senna can be unpleasantly powerful in its effects. Senna contains anthraquinones, a very effective laxative. Other herbs with anthraquinones are aloe, cascara sagrada, and buckthorn (to name a few).

Rhubarb. Once again crossing the herb-food line is this laxative plant. Rhubarb has fiber, and it also contains a laxative chemical similar to anthraquinones.

Liver. Milk thistle is an excellent liver cleansing herb. The best way to use milk thistle is by taking capsules, since the most effective part of the plant are the seeds. Milk thistle helps protect the liver from damaging toxins, and also helps the liver to remove toxins from the body.

Kidneys. Dandelion root and leaves are very effective diuretics, thus helping to flush out the kidneys and the system in general. Try cooking young dandelion leaves as a potherb or taking capsules of the dried root. Dandelion root that has been roasted and ground can be drunk as a cleansing coffee substitute.

Cranberry is a well-known bladder infection fighter. Because it prevents bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder, it has a cleansing effect (the bacteria get flushed out). Blueberries work well for cleansing, too.

I look forward to healing with you.

Cheryl Y. Price, Ph.D.

www.anewwaytoheal.com

cheryl@anewwaytoheal.com