Many natural health practitioners recognise the concept of body toxicity; a build-up of potentially poisonous substances in the system that may spawn problems such as fatigue, headache, spots and bad breath. The dietary excesses common over Christmas and New Year tend to be particularly toxin-inducing, and many see this time as a good opportunity to purge themselves of bodily impurities amassed over the festive season. As a rule, detoxification regimes have a rather austere image – one of a diet based on organic brown rice and vegetables, and devoid of supposed nutritional no-nos such as red meat, cheese, alcohol and caffeine. However, for those not thrilled by the thought of such a Spartan existence, user-friendly alternatives for the removal of internal effluent do exist. Experience shows internal cleanliness can usually be attained without the need to live a life of nutritional purity.

One dietary item that is well known for its ability to poison the system is alcohol. While alcohol is generally placed on the completely verboten list in most detoxification plans, it doesn’t have to be this way. Sticking to drinks that are low in pollutant substances known as congeners helps to reduce the toxic load alcoholic drinks have on the system. Probably the cleanest form of alcohol in this respect is vodka. Bloody Marys and Sea Breezes are good options for those keen to ensure the odd drink or even a good night out does not lead to a complete trashing of a detox regime.

In natural medicine, the liver is seen as central to the process of detoxification. This organ is chiefly responsible for neutralising toxic chemicals and packaging them prior to removal from the body. Taking steps to support the liver in its efforts to process internal pollutants can help the body keep itself free of toxins. One simple approach to boosting liver function is to take a preparation of the Milk thistle. Studies show that Milk thistle benefit has the capacity to benefit the liver in a variety of ways. Experience in practice suggests that taking Milk thistle for two or three months is often a very useful adjunct any detox regime.

Another natural agent that can help reduce toxicity in the system is linseeds. These small golden seeds give the large bowel to grip on to, and help ensure the timely elimination of waste matter from the body. The less time faecal material spends in the colon, the less chance there is of the toxins it contains being absorbed through the gut wall to poison the system. Take 1 - 2 dessertspoonfuls of linseeds each day will generally assist the detox process. Plenty of water is important too – without it, faeces can tend to get dry and stuck, a bit like cork in the neck of a wine bottle. About 2 litres of filtered or still mineral water should help keep bowel waste on the move.

One of the ways the body attempts to shift toxins from the system is through the sweat. Exercise is one obvious way to encourage sweating and certainly assists in the cleansing process. However, if this all seems like a bit too much hard work, then steam baths or saunas are a less strenuous alternative? Regular heat treatments, along with the other measures outlined here, can take the sweat out restoring vitality through a spring clean of the system.

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