Detox For a Healthy New You this New Year!

How did the New Year get here so fast? It amazes me that time can go by so quickly – Where does it all go? If you’re like me, you probably set some goals for this new year – a.k.a. a New Year’s Resolution. And if you’re also like me, you know that staying on track with succeeding in those goals is not easy, especially the ones that involve being healthy. I have to tell you the truth though: These health goals should be among the most important goals for the new year. Your success in health is just as important as your goals in your relationships, family affairs, and finances. Doing what it takes to succeed in these areas isn't always easy. We are all faced with obstacles, and often have to take new directions to get where we want to go.

Most people want to lose weight & feel better.

If you’re the typical American you are looking to drop a few pounds and get healthier. Sure, this is on almost everyone’s resolution list. And if you’re also like most Americans you are one of these common body types: Fat-All-Over, Inflamed and Bloated-Middle. But did you ever stop to think how you got that way in the first place?

Inflammation, intestinal permeability & dysbiosis

Poor food choices can lead to higher toxic loads[/caption] The American Diet is not good. It used to be that we ate food that came from farms, free of harsh chemicals and pesticides, with no added chemicals, and we cooked it at home. Now a days with factory farming and the rampant use of dangerous chemicals on our foods like pesticides and hormones, we have seen not only a change in our foods, but in ourselves.

There is no doubt about it, we do not live a pristine world. In fact, we live in an environment unlike any in history. In today's world we are exposed to processed foods and environmental pollution, toxic substances are everywhere.

According to the FDA, over 35% of the food tested in 1998 contained pesticide residues. Fifty-three pesticides classified as “carcinogens” are presently registered for use on major crops, including apples, tomatoes, and potatoes. Additionally, more than 10,000 additives are added to our food supply. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 1,000,000 Americans drink water laced with pesticides.

Toxic load and the tipping point in our health.

All of these toxins build up in the body. They are processed by the liver, an organ that not only detoxes our body, but also makes many of the essential building blocks on life. Like any other filtering system, when it is overloaded it starts to be less effective. This causes a decrease in hormone production (the liver makes cholesterol, the basis for all the body’s hormones), and inhibits digestion. Next, we see our digestive system begin to literally breakdown.

Inflammation, and leaky gut.

When we put toxic food into our body we cause inflammation in our gastrointestinal, or GI tract. Our intestines being the area where we absorb the nutrients from our food have Essentially, leaky gut syndrome (“intestinal hyperpermeability”) is condition that happens as a consequence of inflammation. This causes the tight junctions, the opening that allow food to enter the bloodstream, to become larger allowing for things like toxins, foreign proteins and undigested food to enter the system. But having leaky gut is essentially like having the gates broken from your intestines to your blood stream so many of these particles that should never have been able to enter have now gotten through.  When this happens it causes inflammation throughout your body leading to a variety of diseases. It is often referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome.

“Death begins in the colon” - Hippocrates

 Leaky gut, or intestinal hyperpermeability, is linked leaky gut to a number of “seemingly unrelated” health concerns and chronic diseases according the growing body of research. As more Americans are affected by poor diet choices, chronic stress, toxic overload and bacterial imbalance it appears that the prevalence of leaky gut has reached epidemic proportions. The medical profession is just now agreeing this condition even exists. This last point is especially shocking to me because “intestinal permeability” has been discussed in the medical literature for over 100 years.

Intestinal Dysbiosis Imbalance is the cause of poor health.

It is estimated that over 30 million people in the U.S, predominantly women, suffer from the multiple effects of an imbalance in the gastrointestinal system. Approximately 500 species of helpful bacteria, yeast and other organisms  live in the human gastrointestinal tract and make up the “gut flora.” These “friendly” bacteria are vital for good digestion and the health of the intestines in general, and mostly have names beginning with “Lactobacillus” or “Bifidobacteria,” which denotes the class of bacteria they belong to. They are in a way an army that help you defend against nastier organisms. The trouble is when chronic gut inflammation and high toxic load lead to a decrease of in these helpful organisms. When we decrease the number of troops we open ourselves up to invasion. This is when bad bacteria and yeast invade the body it leads to things like abdominal pain, asthma, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle pain, confusion, fuzzy or foggy thinking, gas, indigestion, mood swings, nervousness, poor immunity, recurrent vaginal infections, skin rashes, diarrhea, bed-wetting, recurrent bladder infections, poor memory, shortness of breath, constipation, bloating, aggressive behavior, anxiety, poor libido, fatigue, and just feeling “toxic”.

4-Step Detox Program

The good news is there's a solution to healing leaky gut. There is a four step process that includes:

1. REMOVE foods and factors that cause inflammation and damage
2. REPLACE with healing foods and the digestive enzymes
3. REPAIR with specific supplements
4. REPOPULATE with pre- and probiotics to increase the defense

The top foods to avoid that cause leaky gut are sugar, grains, conventionally raised meat, conventional dairy and GMO foods. If you are interested in learning more about a doctor-guided detox program click HERE.