Sick of being sick? We get it. The good news is that the more effective you become at mastering the art of prevention, the more you are able to reduce discomfort, disease, and illness. While you might be accustomed to addressing something only once it’s become an issue, we’re here to help you change that habit and take back control of your health. One health-conscious shift you can make now? The integration of daily cleansing. Daily cleansing gives you the opportunity to deal with the toxic environment in which we live, and take little steps each day to prevent a big health hazard from creeping up on you later. Ready to get started?
The Damage: Whether it’s the BPA plastic water bottle that you drink out of daily, your favorite formaldehyde-laden nail polish, the mercury-rich tuna sashimi go-to lunch, or the can’t-live-without merlot full of pesticides, our exposure to toxins is ubiquitous and, unfortunately, not going anywhere any time soon (we can dream, though!). With that comes a slew of risks on the rise, from cancer, infertility, allergies, and chronic disease to the ever-frustrating, seemingly random aches and pains. Toxins of all kinds, whether chemical or heavy metal, are foreign to the body, and are reaching levels that are becoming increasingly damaging to the body. They have the ability to cause destruction to almost all of our body’s systems and functions, all the while impairing and destroying our very life foundation and blueprint: our cells’ DNA. Ensuring the proper entrapment and elimination of these toxins is imperative – our lives literally depend on it.
The Solution: Luckily, we can nip toxins in the bud with natural cleansing agents. These agents are organic compounds found in plants, earth materials, and organisms that have the capability of binding to toxins for excretion. Just as we have created and synthesized chemicals that cause destruction, Mother Nature has created agents to neutralize them, remedy the damage, and help support the body’s innate ability to detoxify and heal. While many cleansing agents are useful, some agents are more effective at targeting specific toxins than others. Choose a few from the list below and add them into your daily health regime, especially while juice cleansing, to further promoting clearance and elimination of toxins!
Take Chlorella: Chlorella is an algae that has been found to have the ability to detoxify heavy metals, especially mercury. Mercury toxicity is becoming ever more pervasive as our exposure grows from the consumption of fish (particularly larger fish), dental amalgams (filings), and tap water. It is thought that the mucopolysaccharides in chlorella’s cell wall absorb toxic metals, and may block re-uptake of the metals in the gut.
The Form: Make sure to purchase chlorella that has a broken cell wall: this is the key to ensuring that you are receiving a therapeutic form of chlorella. Its detoxing abilities lay within its cellular membrane, but the cell wall of chlorella is actually indigestible to humans and serves as a barrier to the beneficial stuff. Avoid tablets – they are highly heated, destroying the beneficial nutrients, and often are bound with potentially toxic glue. We recommend Chlorella Manna by Healthforce
.
Take Bentonite Clay: Consuming clay (or dirt) is a practice that has been shared by both animals and humans since prehistoric days. Why? Clay has absorptive properties, meaning that clay minerals act as “chemical sponges,” creating a charge that binds to all forms of toxins. Bentonite clay has the ability to trap heavy metals, radiation, mycotoxins, bacteria, antigens, and even pro-inflammatory compounds, making it one of the most effective ways to cleanse daily.
The Form: Not all forms of bentonite clay are created equal; some may bind to beneficial nutrients in the body or may contain harmful compounds such as heavy metals. Looks for a calcium smectite form like Medi-Clay-FX
by Premier Research Labs, which does not bind to any vitamins or minerals in the body, and comes from a clean source with no risk of toxic contamination.
Take Modified Citrus Pectin: Pectin is found in most plants, specifically the peels of apples, citrus fruits and plums. This compound has been modified to form MCP so it can be absorbed more easily by the body. MCP has been clinically proven to safely, effectively remove heavy metals and environmental toxins from the tissues and blood stream without removing essential minerals within the body. MCP is great at binding to pesticides, insecticides and herbicides commonly found on commercial foods, which makes it especially beneficial when it comes to offsetting the consumption of non-organic foods.
The Form: Modified citrus pectin is readily available with relatively comparable forms – just make sure there are no additives listed in the “other ingredients.” An additive-free option we love is PectaSol-C Modified Citrus Pectin by EcoNugenics.
Take Cilantro: Cilantro is an herb commonly used by the health-conscious set to ward off heavy metals within the body. How? It may move metals from deeper, impenetrable body stores into the bloodstream, where other agents such as MCP and bentonite clay can bind to them for expulsion.
The Form: Cilantro can be eaten raw, juiced or taken in supplement form. Slurp up a Pressed Juicery’s Greens 5 or Greens 6 daily, or adding 1/4 cup of cilantro to your salads, soups and smoothies!
