It’s Detox Time!

The world slows down just a bit on these hot, end-of-Summer afternoons. The rain no longer breaks the heat and steam reluctantly moves off the sidewalk in a sluggish breeze. By this point in summer, some days are starting to feel stagnant.

Our bodies are moving sluggishly, too, so now is an important time to amp up our internal detox systems. Clear out unhealthy toxins, absorb more nutrients, and increase energy by completing a Fall detox!

Noah's has the key components in making your detox effective but also fun:

Choose a selection of fresh vegetable juices – the greener, the better, and look for those with the least amount of sugar. Live Organic Cleanse Liquid Plumber green juice blend is low-sugar and contains more than 6 servings of vegetables per bottle (pssst … did you catch that it’s also organic!!?)

Next, grab some high-potency Epsom salts to add to your bathwater, and a beeswax candle to purify the air you breathe.

Then over to the vitamins department and speak to a knowledgeable staff member about the different detox options available – you will be able to choose from a variety of options. Some questions to consider:

• How long am I willing to stay with a detox program?
• Effective, short detox kits exist are readily available but you can also customize your own cleanse, using different herbal tinctures. A simple, effective blend is to use a combination of milk thistle, artichoke, and stinging nettle tinctures. Be sure to add in extra fibre and LOTS of extra water, daily.
• Are there concerns I want to specifically address?
• Maybe your skin has been breaking out more than usual – consider adding extra liver support to your cleanse. Maybe you haven’t been going as regularly as you know you should – consider taking a mild herbal laxative and increasing fibre for the duration of your cleanse. Don’t forget about probiotics either! Choose a multi-strain product, like Natural Factors Ultimate Multi Probiotic, and take daily.
• How far am I willing to go?

Detoxes vary in terms of duration and complexity. You can try Renew Life's First Cleanse, which is a 15-day program or their CleanseSmart, which is a 30-day program. Don’t be shy and find a knowledgeable staff member at your local health food store to walk you through your options.

One last tip: Don’t neglect your diet! Avoid anything that will place a burden on your liver, gallbladder or digestive system. This includes fried or heavy fatty foods, red meat (consume only very infrequently), alcohol and caffeine (if at all possible), added sugar, and, ideally, dairy, as well.

Start Fall with the renewed energy and sense of purpose a clean body brings!

This blog post brought to you by Julia Reiss, CNP.

Julia practices nutritional and wellness counselling in the city of Toronto. You can visit her website to arrange an appointment at www.authenticwellness.ca.