DETOX DETOX DETOX

Detox! Detox! Detox! As we head towards Spring it’s the word that we hear banded around the world. I have lived and taught in 7 countries in the last four decades and every year the same old DETOX word pops it's head up along with the fresh greens we see as the earth starts warming. This is a topic that can have an enormous impact on your health. Detoxification is the term we describe the process of your body eliminating things that it was not designed to have such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals and as technology advances, these toxins accumulate more and more.

Despite most people’s best intentions, we still live in a very toxic world… we’re surrounded by toxins of all kinds, some worse than others. The good news is — there are many “green” efforts underway around the globe to help us all make better life choices… to cause less impact on the earth.

We are continuously bombarded with toxic influences in our environment. That’s why it’s crucial for us to use environmentally-friendly products that cause less impact on our planet. It is recommended that you commit yourself to eating all-natural unprocessed foods as much as possible. This should help limit your future exposure to environmental toxins. Plus, it’s important for you to start removing as many impurities from your body as possible.

When selecting different options for detoxing, opt for ones more natural and food based as these tend to have not as many side effects. One of my favourites is Daikon/Kombu/Shitake Tea (see recipe below). The proteins from the seaweeds bind to the heavy metals and excrete them from the body.

As a teacher of Oriental medicine and philosophy, and an accomplished vegan chef, the ingredients in this tea are based on the principles of what I teach in Macrobiotics, the medicine of the Far East, it's simply magical. 

TOXINS

Our bodies are automatically detoxing every day. The body has natural physiological detox actions of its own: sweating, urinating and moving bowels for example. But in our modern era of pollutants, heavy metals, computer and mobile telephones radiations, harsh cleaning solvents, industrial sprays, chemical pesticides and so much more, the human body has become immensely overloaded with various toxicities and created many health issues.

TOP DETOX FOODS

Marlene’s Miracle Mineral Teas

Filtered Water

Greens/Raw foods/Sprouts

Wholegrains, Land Vegetables, Sea Vegetables Fruits, Beans, Pulses, Daikon, Shitake Mushrooms

Start Skin Brushing

Dry skin brushing speeds up the rate at which toxins are expelled from the body because it motivates blood cells and lymph tissue, two key physiological detoxification avenues. Skin brushing is not something you do in the bath or shower, but before you wash, you can shower afterwards. It’s fantastic for preventing cellulite, but of course not if you eat a diet loaded with dairy products that reduce the cells uptake of life-giving oxygen.

Breathing – The way you breathe can have a dramatic effect on your health. Please read my notes on breathing and learn just how powerful oxygen is as a detoxifier. Exercise – Taking daily exercise is essential to properly detox the body.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0mk5sVS5Y0&t=143s

You can join me in this short 10-minute video - no equipment required.

Drink Water –Drinking freshly filtered still water is one of the most efficient detoxifying fluids we can give ourselves each day. I recommend 6 glasses of water at room temperature. Avoid chilled water with ice as this chills the kidneys.

Wholefoods Plant-Based Diet – This diet is a food and lifestyle plan that supports the body as it attempts to detox and heal itself. There are no miracle nutrients or natural magical bullets that do it all for you. The first thing you need to do is to make sure your diet and lifestyle are not aggravating your condition. Secondly, make sure your approach to diet offers good sound nutrition.  Our liver, kidneys, intestines and skin are our natural detox functions.  Avoid foods high in sugar that cause swings in your blood sugar.  Eat foods that naturally strengthen your immune system and chew well to aid in digestion and absorption.

A variety of nutraceuticals can help bolster immunity, aid the liver, support adrenal function, and provide solid nutrition. These nutraceuticals may include maitake, shitake and reishi mushrooms, barley grass products, trace minerals found in sea vegetables and various herbs,

Daikon, Shitake and Kombu Drink

This is a great tea for detoxing and relaxing the body and it also helps the liver to open up and discharge smoothly.

1 dried shitake mushroom

Half cup dried daikon

1-inch strip kombu seaweed

3 cups spring water

Place the shitake, dried daikon and kombu in a small bowl, rinse and then cover with water. Leave to soak for about 10 minutes. Discard the water. Slice the shitake and place the ingredients into a pan. Add the water, cover and bring to a boil on a medium flame. Reduce the flame and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Remove and discard the ingredients. Drink the tea whilst hot.

There are over 200 delicious recipes, home remedies and medicinal teas in my book ‘Macrobiotics for all Seasons’ available worldwide on Amazon or as a download from my online store

I wish you all a happy, healthy and enjoyable springtime. 

In good health