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The longer you live the more chances you will accumulate toxins
in the body. It is not uncommon to accumulate toxins from the
environment you live in. A yearly cleanse is something
everybody should consider to help keep the body’s functioning
properly and healthy.
Our bodies consistently detoxify itself every day and the
primary organs that do this detox are the liver and kidneys.
The body’s own natural functions can cause toxins while trying
to detox itself and these toxins can impair the body’s ability
to function efficiently, which can lead to debilitating disease
and physical problems if left unchecked.
If you think you may have a toxic buildup in the body, there
are some ways to know if the body needs to be detoxified. Some
signs of toxic overload are fatigue, illness, constipation, gas,
skin problems, nausea, PMS, depression, and poor circulation.
There are ways to rid the body of toxins naturally such as a
cleansing or detox diet. Detoxification involves changes in
diet along with an increase in fluid consumption specifically
clean water. With a good dietary change, herbs can be used to
help the detox process along.
We will first look at the liver. The liver is extremely
important in ridding the body of toxins. The liver cleanses the
blood and helps aid in digestion of the foods we eat.
Everything we eat, breath, and absorb through the skin is
processed by the liver; over time the liver can become over
worked. When the liver becomes over worked it can not process
and detox all the toxins entering the body, so the body will
store these toxins and after years and years of storage, these
toxins will cause disease.
The liver uses enzymes to break down toxins into water and fat
soluble substances so that the kidneys and colon can eliminate
them. The liver manufactures these enzymes upon demand. The
more demand there is in the body, the more the liver is stressed
and over time, damage can occur. There is hope from herbs like
milk thistle, turmeric, licorice, and schizandra.
Milk thistle has a compound called Silymarin, shown in many
studies to protect the liver. Milk thistle contains silybin,
amines, thyramine, and histamine, known to fight toxins and help
stimulate the production and flow of bile. Studies have shown
that milk thistle can benefit severe liver disorders such as
hepatitis and cirrhosis, as well as a general liver restoration
and strengthening herb.
Turmeric is a spice used in Asian dishes but recent studies
have found it to also be liver protective. Turmeric has similar
properties to glycyrrhizin found in licorice. Turmeric is a
powerful antioxidant and studies have shown turmeric to increase
enzymes in the liver that prevents inflammation. Like milk
thistle, turmeric can increase the bile output in the liver.
Turmeric can also breakdown carcinogens and toxins so that these
harmful chemicals can be eliminated from the body without doing
the body any harm.
As mentioned above, licorice contains glycyrrhizin and
glycyrrhetinic acid which stimulates interferon production in
the body. Interferons protect the immune system. Licorice
contains liver protective properties preventing damage due to
toxic exposure. Studies have shown that glycyrrhizin can help
prevent cellular damage in the liver. Glycyrrhizin has been
used to treat hepatitis B and has been shown to improve liver
function as well as reduce the enzyme levels used to measure
liver damage.
Schizandra in some studies have shown to protect the liver from
toxic build up. This herb can also boost the immune system by
helping the liver eliminate the toxins that have been building
up in the body. Excess amounts of toxins in the body can lead
to immune system disorders. Schizandra has also shown in
studies to protect against the effects of alcohol in mice and
other studies have shown this herb to have regenerative
properties in the liver. The Chinese have used Schizandra for
infectious hepatitis and also as a liver protecting herb it can
encourage liver regeneration after injury or disease. Other
herbs that are considered beneficial for the liver are
dandelion, burdock, and barberry.
The kidneys are the second most important organ next to the
liver for cleansing the body. All the blood in your body will
pass through the kidneys many times each day. Your kidneys will
filter out toxins into urine and help maintain a healthy
electrolyte balance as well as manufacture regulatory hormones
for blood pressure. The kidneys control the rate calcium is
metabolized and aids in the production of red blood cells.
Keeping the kidneys healthy is very important; there are some
herbs available that can help stimulate kidney function such as,
parsley, yarrow, dandelion, and kelp.
For many years, herbalists have known about parley and its
properties. Parsley is a powerful diuretic often recommended for
those with kidney problems. This herb has been shown to inhibit
the re-absorption of salt into the body tissues which increases
the herbs activity as a diuretic. Parsley helps to improve and
increase urination allowing toxins to be eliminated more readily
by the kidneys. One component found in parsley seed has been
used in drugs to treat urinary and bladder infections.
Yarrow has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
The active ingredient that gives yarrow this ability is called
azulene. With urinary problem comes inflammation and herbs that
can relieve inflammation can improve urination and alleviate and
ease urination problems. Yarrow can also help regulate liver
function.
Dandelion found in almost every yard in America is a great
diuretic similar to parsley. Dandelion is high in potassium,
when you are on diuretics potassium is eliminated from the body
and needs to be replenished. Dandelion can be used to relieve
water retention as well as help increase urine flow without
causing an imbalance in potassium or the electrolytes in the
body. Dandelion is a wonderful herb, in human studies have
shown to increase bile flow which is beneficial to the liver,
gallstones, jaundice, and the bile ducts. Dandelion is
considered a bitter herb and its bitter properties have been
shown to improve the release of toxins from the body.
The longer we live the more toxins our body will store, kelp is
a wonderful herb found in the sea. Kelp has been shown to
protect the body from absorption of toxic chemicals. One active
component in kelp called sodium alginate which has been found to
protect the body from radiation exposure and help the body
remove heavy metals.
If you have never detoxified the body before, it is never too
late to start today. Whether you choose to change your diet or
purchase herbs for detox, cleansing the body will help fight
disease, help your organs work better, and boost over all
health. Herbs to detox the liver and kidneys can be found at
your friendly online vitamin store.
About The Author: Please visit VitaNet Health Foods at
http://vitanetonline.com/ VitaNet sells herbal blends to detox
the body and improve health. Please link to this site when using
this article.
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