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Our body is being attacked by toxins all the time as we ingest new chemicals, new drugs, eat sugary and junk foods and abuse the body with stimulants, sedatives, alcohol, etc. These clog our bodies, getting in to the bloodstream and damaging bodily functions. And there is no way to curb their entry but we can combat them. Need for detoxification
Everyone needs to detoxify. If you feel bloated after heavy meals or suffer from indigestion, mood swings, bad breath, a coated tongue, memory loss your liver needs cleansing. These are signs of mild liver dysfunction and may occur even though all liver function tests may be normal. If you have high cholesterol, triglycerides, low HDL and high LDL, or if you get frequent headaches, suffer from fluid retention, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, excessive body heat, constipation, flatulence, inability to tolerate fried and fatty foods, reduced tolerance to alcohol, hypo-glycemia, excessive hunger, frequent colds, reduced immunity, increased allergies — then it's time to cleans one of your most vital organs, the liver. The liver plays a crucial role in keeping the body and the blood stream free of all toxins. There are many commonly available foods that can help to detoxify the liver. These include deeply coloured vegetables like carrots and beets. These are extremely beneficial, as they contain antioxidants, bio-flavinoids and carotenoids, which have a healing and cleansing effect on the liver. Wheat grass juice and alfalfa seeds contain chlorophyll, which acts as a liver tonic. A glass of limejuice in warm water, first thing in the morning also assists in liver cleansing. Wheatgrass juice Packed with many vital nutrients, wheatgrass juice has tremendous benefits. It can help fight a host of medical conditions like chromic fatigue, anaemia, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, allergies, wrinkles, dull skin, liver problems, colds, asthma, sinusitis, etc. This juice is especially effective in the treatment of anaemia. Wheatgrass can be taken
in the juice form, or by chewing its leaves. About 100 gm of
wheatgrass yields 100ml of juice. This juice should be taken empty
stomach early morning or three hours after a meal. If you are
suffering from low immunity, headaches, frequent colds, etc you can
begin by taking 50ml of wheatgrass juice daily and increase it to
100ml daily. But if you are suffering from diabetes, heart disease,
asthma, cancer, etc begin by taking 25ml of wheat grass juice daily
and slowly increase it to 200-250ml daily.
Extract the juice by placing 100gm of wheat grass in a mixer. Add water and blend, strain and drink immediately. If left for sometime, the chlorophyll in it becomes less active and its other vital nutrients begin to get oxidised, which makes the therapy less effective. Detoxification by fasting It is an effective method of helping the body to cleanse itself of the toxins. During a fast the energy used for ingestion is now available for repair, growth, elimination and improving immunity. Fasting also improves mental alertness, reduces influx of new toxins, promotes toxin excretion and reduces total body toxicity. Ideally one should fast for three days in a month. A guide to understand the fasting regime Eat only raw fruits and vegetables for the first two days. Drink eight to 10 glasses of boiled water. Fresh lime in warm water works wonders. On the third day, extract juices from fruits and vegetables and drink as much as you want. Or grind half a bunch of coriander leaves with lime, blend with water, strain and add a dash of lime and drink. If you suffer from any medical conditions, consult your physician before starting a fast. Amla and turmeric juice: Fresh amla and fresh turmeric have many therapeutic benefits. Amla is the richest source of vitamin C. It helps increase immunity, aids detoxification and promotes health and longevity. One-fourth cup of amla and turmeric juice mixed with a teaspoon of honey can be taken regularly in the morning. It would help to revitalise the immune system. Tulsi juice: The
juice of tulsi leaves is an excellent, remedy for asthmas, bronchitis,
cold cough, sinus problems, acidity, constipation and fever. The
leaves of black tulsi have more medicinal properties than green tulsi.
Crush about 25 leaves at a time into a paste, add water, lime and salt
and drink it twice a day to get its health benefits.
Carrot juice: This is a miracle juice. Rich in calcium, vitamin A, sodium, potassium, magnesium, it contains trace amounts of vitamins B, C, D, E and K. Calcium needs many other minerals for its absorption. Carrot juice provides the correct mix of nutrients to increase the bioavailability of calcium. Use six to seven large carrots to make a glass of juice and drink it twice a day to derive its health benefits. Push the carrots into the juicer to extract its juice. Those of you, who have given up on drinking milk, carrot juice can prove to be a good alternative. It helps fight tumours, increases vigour and vitality. It helps improve the functioning of the nervous system, improves skin, hair, and nails and purifies the blood. You can also take carrot juice along with spinach juice. Blend about 50gm of spinach leaves after washing them thoroughly in a vinegar solution. Add this paste to the extracted carrot juice. Squeeze lemon juice, add seasonings, if required, and take it two-three months. It strengthens immunity, prevents constipation, bleeding gums, anaemia, indigestion, colds and coughs. A three-day fast every month will help your body detoxify itself regularly. However, when normal life begins, the toxins will be back in action until the time you repeat the cleansing program. By fasting regularly, you will not only give all your organs a rest but also reverse the aging process and live a longer and healthier life. — The writer is a nutritionist. She treats obesity and related health disorders online . She can be reached at ask@health-total.com / www.health-total.com
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