| Detox - Does it Improve
Our Skin? |
by Wendy Owen
Detox - Does it Improve Our Skin?
The answer is yes, especially if you have problem skin.
The skin is one of the body's main organs and can eliminate
around 10% of all waste from the body. It does this mainly
through sweating, we loose moisture through the skin 24/7
even though we're not aware of it. It's a natural process
and of course your facial skin is included in this.
So what is detoxification (detox)? To put it very simply
it's "getting the garbage (toxins) out of your body
without putting any more in". Toxins can be heavy
metals, pesticides, too much vitamin A or chemical residues
from the polluted air we breathe or the junk food we eat,
which contains sugar salt, artificial colors and flavors.
All these are stored mainly in the fatty tissues of the
body and can play havoc with your health if they build
up to excess or if you have a sensitivity.
If you suffer with acne, or if your skin is dull, rough
or blotchy, a detox could be exactly what you need. Other
symptoms of toxic overload can be lethargy and frequent
headaches or simply feeling below par. Detoxing will not
only help your skin but the other major elimination organ,
the liver. In fact your whole system will benefit!
There are as many detox methods as weight loss diets and
some of them can be quite expensive! But we don't need
to spend a lot of money on detox, it's something we can
do ourselves if we know how. So to that end, I'll give
you a really simple (& cheap!) detox that you can
try.
Detox a la Wendy!
We are aiming here to rid the body of garbage therefore
it's important to make the diet as light and healthy as
possible but to have something you can live with for at
least 2 weeks. It's no good going on a herbal tea and
brown rice diet if you can only do it for two days!
So, to give you some ideas, substitute fish for meat,
cut out alcohol, substitute herbal tea for coffee and
tea, Cut out rich sauces and all fatty foods, eliminate
salt and cut out all foods made with white flour. Yes
it sounds painful but put your imagination to work, there
are a lot of healthy foods you can substitute with.
Keep up the vegies, try serving them sprinkled with herbs
or baking them in a quiche without pastry. Try pumpkin
seeds as a snack, they're lovely sprinkled over cereal.
Go to a health food shop or even the health section of
your supermarket and do some research.
If you have digestive problems, a good detox for you may
be cutting out all dairy and wheat products. Try soy milk
or rice milk and breads made out of other flours such
as rye, rice and soy flours.
Always take in some form of fiber to help elimination.
Psyllium is great as it does not cause any food allergies.
Start with just one teaspoon and if that causes no bloating
or discomfort, increase it gradually.
Think water! It can be spring water, bottled water, filtered
or rain water. If your domestic supply is ok, tap water
is fine too. Herbal teas are great but read the label,
some of them can be quite potent! Fruit and vegetable
juices are fantastic but have them instead of a meal,
not as an extra. Some of them are quite high in kilojoules.
Some people take supplements when they are detoxing, others
don't. I like to take a herb called "milk thistle".
It helps the liver to cleanse and heal.
Rapid detoxification can make you feel quite sick and
can happen if you jump too quickly into detox from a bad
diet loaded with fat sugar and chemical colors and flavors.
Try to eliminate the bad foods first and go onto a healthier
diet before attempting detox. However if you get mild
headaches or experience drowsiness, try to stick with
it. It's a sign that you body is eliminating those toxins.
Skin brushing (or dry brushing) can aid the detox process,
use a loofah or natural bristle brush and starting from
the hands brush the skin gently. Always start from the
extremities and work towards the heart or centre of your
body. Skin brushing will aid your circulation, remove
dead skin cells and make you feel rejuvenated.
Exercise will also help. Exercising will make the body
sweat, speeding up the elimination of toxic wastes. No
need to run a marathon, do what you enjoy but do it regularly.
You may find your skin will get worse before it gets better,
but soon you'll see a clearer more radiant complexion.
Acne will improve, your eyes will look clearer and, as
a bonus, you may find your appetite decreases and sugar
cravings diminish.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor before attempting
detox. Young children or sick people should not radically
alter their diet in any way. Seek medical advice first.
Just as a thought. It's better to be on a healthy diet
most of the time than be on a bad diet and detoxing regularly.
It's what we do every day that counts the most. Try to
use this detox time to re think your eating habits and
lifestyle choices.
About the Author
Like to have better looking skin? http://www.holistic-facial-skin-care.com
will give you detailed information on all facets of skin
care. The author, Wendy Owen has had a lifetime interest
in general and alternative health and skin care. |
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