Detoxification is a normal, natural bodily process that happens automatically and every day. Our bodies are beautifully designed to self-cleanse and self-regenerate—eliminating and neutralizing toxins for us through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph, and skin. Unfortunately, with today’s unusually high level of external and internal environmental stressors, our bodies just can’t keep up with the toxin overload.

Besieged by pollution, second-hand smoke, impure water, and foods compromised by pesticides, additives, radiation, and GMOs, our bodies are overtaxed by poisons that can cause a variety of problems because they stay in our tissues longer, actually building up in excess fatty deposits and mucous. And during the holiday season, we put our bodies through additional trauma from overindulgence—excessive eating, drinking, lack of exercise, stress, and sleep deprivation.

The types of food we eat also are problematic—excessively salty foods can cause fluid retention and puffiness, foods made of refined sugar compromise nutrition and cause blood sugar spikes, and excessive use of alcohol and caffeine causes dehydration, anxiety, and mood swings. All of these toxins create a kind of “body congestion,” and can lead to weight gain, lethargy, obscure joint aches and pains, and a poor complexion.

    Detoxing simply means to cleanse the body of toxins and neutralize the acid-alkaline balance in our bodies.

It is especially important, then, to pay attention to our lifestyle and eating behaviors over the holidays, as well as to choose foods that have a cleansing and detoxifying effect on our systems. For some, a more intensive post-holiday detox program is needed—a great way to keep our immune response high, help us manage stress better, and ensure regular elimination of waste.

Holiday Detoxification Tips
Easy-to-Do Self-Cleansing Routines

• The best antidote to holiday toxins is to devise an eating strategy: Limit your sweets to one a day; use smaller plates at holiday gatherings to ensure you eat smaller portions; drink lots of water during big holiday meals to fill you up and improve digestion; and resist pressure from family or friends to eat unhealthy foods or overindulge.

• Flush out the body with plenty of water. 8 to 12 eight-ounce glasses a day are good typically. But to truly purify your system after the holidays, water alone may not be sufficient because you need to restore essential vitamins and minerals that were lost due to over-indulgence and the dehydration that results. Vegetable and non-sugar fruit juices, such as lemon or lime, can help restore what was lost. Foods high in water, such as cucumber, celery, lettuce, and kale can also help with hydration, and are particularly nourishing.

• Try a fruit or vegetable juice fast, preferred over a water-only fast as it is less harsh on the body. Low-glycemic juices are also alkaline, so they neutralize uric acid and other organic acids better than water. To facilitate cleansing, also drink 8 to 10 glasses of spring water a day. (See Living Fuel Fast at right.)

• Rebuild the body by eating only organic or “clean” foods. Avoid dairy, fried, or fatty foods.

• Offset negative-impact foods—that slice of pecan pie or that glass of Chardonnay—by first eating high-fiber fruits, healthy fats and vegetables, such as a large dark green salad with olive oil and vinegar, as this helps to slow the pace at which sugar enters the bloodstream. Leading nutritionists recommend at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, as they provide the essential nutrients required for detoxification and, because they are high in fiber, they help eliminate poisons from the body.

• Eat these top 10 antioxidant foods for protection against free radical damage and illness:

1. Small red bean (dried)
2. Pinto bean
3. Blueberry (cultivated)
4. Cranberry
5. Artichoke (cooked)
6. Blackberry
7. Prune
8. Raspberry
9. Strawberry
10. Red Delicious Apple

• Choose foods that have an especially high detoxifying effect. Linda Page, author of the Healthy Healing Library Series and Detoxification, recommends these foods for an effective cleansing and detoxifying program. In addition to restoring energy and improving immunological defense, these foods also slow the aging process and optimize weight:

ü      Certified mercury- and PCB-free salmon and tuna for essential fatty acids, brain food, and protein (see http://www.vitalchoice.com  to learn more);

ü      A wide variety of sea vegetables for minerals, vitamins, EFA's, protein, and antioxidants;

ü      Fresh vegetable salads with tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, celery and plenty of lettuces for minerals, vitamins, fiber, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants and system sweepers;

ü      Apples, pineapples, grapes and oranges for fiber, system cleansing and hydrating;

ü      Steamed vegetables like green beans, broccoli and cauliflower for vitamins and minerals, fiber, anticarcinogens, complex carbohydrates and stable nerves;

ü      Brown rice and couscous for B vitamins, fiber and protein;

ü      Miso soup for immune enhancers and thyroid boosters;

ü      Green tea every morning for antioxidants and detoxifiers;

ü       Plenty of herbs and natural spices for thermogenesis, circulation and immune response.¹

To learn more, see the Four Corners shopping list in Super Health, 7 Golden Keys to Unlock Lifelong Vitality. 

• Choose natural home remedies for detoxification. The body also expels toxins through the skin. To hasten this process, combine in a bath, 1 cup of Epsom salts and 1 to 2 tablespoons of an essential oil, such as lemon, jojaba, rosemary or olive. The stimulating properties of these ingredients actually draw the toxins out.²

• Sweat out the toxins through regular and rigorous exercise. Intensify your workouts a bit during this period, and follow a good cleansing sweat with a beverage that replenishes (non-sugared fruit juice, spring water, a Living Fuel Rx smoothie, chilled herbal tea, etc.)

• Remember, maintaining regular, healthy routines can help offset the negative toxifying effects of the holidays—stick to a predictable schedule of regular sleep (7 to 8.5 hours); make exercise a priority; and continue to practice regular prayer and meditation.

The Living Fuel Fast is a simple detox program that cleanses, yet satisfies. It meets all of your nutritional requirements, while maintaining energy levels and eliminating the hassle of juicing. Ideal for purifying the system, the Living Fuel Rx fast can also achieve cell regeneration, weight and fat loss, and accelerated release from unhealthy cravings. Living Fuel whole meal superfoods will give you everything your body needs over the six weeks of holiday craziness, repairing your damaged metabolism and removing those residual holiday stresses quickly and effectively.

Recent studies indicate that Americans gain far less than the purported average seven pounds over the holidays. Most Americans gain a little more than a pound during the six-week holiday period. But, according to a study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), that small amount of weight gained each year over the holidays is very difficult to lose during the rest of the year. The weight gain becomes cumulative, which is why the average person gains approximately 12 pounds per decade.³

¹ Page, Linda. “Detoxifying for Optimum Wellness, Healthy and Natural.

² Carswell, Diana L. “Detox after the Holidays,” The Washington Post, Sunday, December 26, 2004, Page M03.

³ Weinberg, Jean. “Tackling holiday weight woes: Small gains can be big problem all year,” CNN, Sunday, January 2, 2005 Posted: 9:53 PM EST (0253 GMT)