- water dilutes toxins and waste products in the system as well as helping flush them out

-water regulates and maintains body temperature

-water helps transport nutrients and other vital substances throughout the system

- water provides our brain and joints with fluid protection

Simply drinking enough water is one of the easiest ways to detoxify your body.  Doing so will make you feel drastically better within a matter of days.  Some of the benefits felt will be better digestion, more energy, less cravings for certain foods, and clearer skin.

To go a step (or several) further, you can do a water cleanse or even a water fast.  A water cleanse consists of drinking about twice the amount of water recommended every day for 3 or 4 days, helping to quickly flush out toxins.  The dangers from this cleanse involve actually drinking too much water, so it’s important to consult a physician first.

A water fast, however, is much more intense, and I’m not sure I’d personally recommend it to anyone.  Water fasting usually consists of abstaining from all foods and other substances other than water for a period of several days, however, in the cases of extreme difficulty fresh fruits or vegetables can be consumed alternately.  Like other forms of detoxification, it is important to prepare your body both physically and mentally to do this fast.  A pre-cleanse diet should be implemented at least a week beforehand, and meditation on the subject should be practiced as well.  The most important preparation step for this cleanse is knowledge about what steps to take and what to expect.  There are many resources on this subject online; to briefly read up on water fasts, click here.

Organic food is classified as food grown without use of conventional pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides; organic meat is raised free of antibiotics and artificial growth hormones.  Conventional pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, antibiotics and growth hormones stay inside whatever food or soil they’re sprayed on; when consumed, these substances stay within the body and have terrible long term effects.  It has been proven in many unfortunate instances that they contribute to cancer risk and other problems that lead to death.  Short term, these substances are extremely difficult for the body (especially the liver) to process.  Therefore, when trying to detoxify, it is very important to use organic foods and products so as to avoid the “one step forward, two steps back” effect of trying to remove toxic substances from the body while at the same time adding more in.

One myth surrounding organics is that they are too costly to buy on a regular basis.  Organic produce does cost more than conventional, but this is only at the point of sale.  Organic farmers don’t receive federal subsidies like conventional farmers do, and their work is far more labor-intensive although far more environmentally sustainable.  Normally we don’t take into account tax expenses such as environmental cleanups caused by pesticides when buying produce, but if you think about it how much tax money is spent on these causes, buying organic as opposed to conventional probably averages out in cost when these factors are considered.

While there isn’t necessarily solid evidence as of yet that proves organics are more nutrient-dense than conventional, it is argued by gourmet chefs all over the world that organic products taste better.  This fact alone should be motivation enough, especially when cleansing!

• aiding in digestion by allowing the absorption of fats and vitamins like A,D,E and K, and producing bile, a digestive substance
• distributing nutrients found in food
• acting as a filter for the blood, removing toxins from the system like chemical materials and waste products
• producing vital proteins for the blood such as those needed to make blood clot during an injury

Additionally, the liver is responsible for converting carbohydrates into glucose, which the body uses as fuel.  The liver stores it and regulates its release into the bloodstream.  The liver also has a lot to do with the way our hormones are regulated, which has everything to do with how we feel on a daily basis!

Obviously all organs are vital to our bodies, but the liver does more jobs than any other organ.  It becomes taxed quite easily and has to work extra hard every time a toxic substance is ingested- think alcohol, refined sugar, prescription drugs and/ or any kind of drug.  When the liver is taxed, other bodily functions are impaired.  The liver can become so taxed by alcohol and other substances that a condition called cirrhosis sets in.  End-stage liver cirrhosis causes the liver to shut down completely and the body dies soon after.

However, as long as end-stage cirrhosis is not what the body is dealing with (and it takes a lot of abuse to get to that point!), the liver is incredibly resilient, repairing itself remarkably quickly once given a chance.  There are many foods and herbs one can eat/drink in tea to help cleanse the liver, including:

• milk thistle
• dandelion root
• nettle
• parsley
• ginger
• beets
• turmeric
• cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts
• fresh, organic, raw vegetables

Focusing on cutting out toxic foods (the usual suspects: white flour, refined sugar, red meat, dairy, and alcohol) and ingesting the above foods and herbs along with plenty of water is a great way to give the liver a rest and allow it to cleanse itself.  A healthy liver means a far healthier existence.

Click here for a quiz that will help you decide whether it’s time to do a liver cleanse.

As the seasons change and the holidays approach, I’m going to briefly switch my focus and talk a little bit about what one can do to speedily and effectively detoxify the body, for example, the day after going to a holiday party and consuming lots of heavy, sugar-laden treats and alcohol.  We all do this every once in a while, especially around this time of year, and sometimes it can be a little tough to know just how to get back on track.  Nothing can fully take away the next day hangover effects of a night on the town (or too much cake), but there are a few remedies to help the body  repair itself a little quicker and help you feel a little bit better.

The first remedy is instinctive: drink plenty of water!  Because alcohol is a diuretic, the body gets dehydrated as a side effect of consuming it.  Dehydration causes every function of the body to be impaired.  Emptying a packet of a product like Emergen-C will give the body extra electrolytes, thereby rehydrating faster, as well as vitamin C.  While vitamin C hasn’t necessarily been shown to immediately turn around the effects of  excess sugar in the body, it is a powerful antioxidant that stimulates cell renewal and repair; it may help to flush out toxins with the help of the water you’re drinking.  Adding fresh lemon or lime juice to hot water takes rehydrating one step further; the citrus helps to purge the body of toxins from alcohol or sugar by alkalizing the acidic environment in the stomach caused by what’s been consumed.

Exercise is another way to quickly purge the body of toxins, even though it might be the last activity you feel like doing!  Believe it or not, it WILL make you feel better, as sweating is one of the body’s quickest detoxification mechanisms.  Also, as alcohol is a depressant and sugar can have the mental effects of depressants, exercise (even a brisk walk) raises endorphin levels, providing mental clarity and a better mood.

As far as food, staying away from the greasy, sugary foods that taste good the next morning is an important step to any quick detox.  A balanced meal with protein, veggies, and some unrefined carbohydrates; for example, eggs with sauteed spinach and sprouted-grain bread, will provide your body with the fuel it needs to get back on track.

Additionally, after these steps have been followed, a rest or a good night’s sleep is the best gift you can give your body when it’s not feeling its best.  The body does by far the most repair work while sleeping, allowing you to awaken refreshed, revitalized, and sure you won’t party like that again until next year!

Part One: Diet

A candida diet alone, especially supplemented with a juice fast and/or colonic irrigation, is an essential starting point for clearing candida overgrowth from the system.  A candida diet is quite restrictive, especially if you’re used to eating a standard American diet, full of sugar, dairy, processed foods and alcohol.  All these foods must be completely cut out, as they either feed candida or lower the effectiveness of the immune system, making it more difficult to kill candida off.  Additionally, any foods that are fermented or containing gluten or mold must be cut out; this restriction encompasses some surprising foods such as peanuts, vinegar or any food containing vinegar, cheese, coffee and mushrooms.  For a full list of foods to avoid and reasons why, click here.

So what CAN one eat on a candida diet?  Fresh vegetables (excluding the starchy ones: potatoes, corn, carrots), fresh meats, foods containing live and active cultures such as yogurt made from goat’s milk or sauerkraut made without vinegar, non-glutenous grains like brown rice and millet and non-moldy nuts and seeds like almonds.  For a full list of foods to eat, click here.

Natural Remedies

Ingesting any natural remedies for candida too soon can cause some major Herxheimer or die-off reactions.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to stick to the diet for at least a week or two before beginning to take any remedies.  That being said, it’s amazing to learn about what kinds of foods and products contain ingredients that naturally kill of candida.  For example, caprylic acid, found in extra virgin coconut oil, is a natural candida killler, as is bromelain, an enzyme found in tropical fruits like pineapple.  Enzymes found in fresh fish are also very helpful in keeping candida at bay.  This explains why candida is not a problem for people who follow a native diet in tropical, humid places; an environment which would normally encourage candida overgrowth.

There are many natural remedies and products available to help treat Candida.  Read about more of them here.

Repopulate Digestive Flora

Repopulating the digestive tract with friendly flora like acidophilus is something that you should be doing all along; there’s no need to wait.  Taking probiotics to up the amount of friendly flora in the system is a key factor in winning the candida battle, and will additionally help every other system in the body to work better.

The amount of time it takes to get a handle on candidiasis is different for everyone and depends on how long you’ve been dealing with symptoms.  For some, it may take only a month or so to start feeling better, while for others it can take several.   To test whether you have candidiasis and for more resources on the topic, click here.

• Antibiotics and Prescription Drugs

Antibiotics and prescription drugs are common causes of candida.  These days in the U.S., antibiotics are by far one of the most widely prescribed types of medication.  Prescribed for everything from staph infection to pneumonia, there’s no question that they save lives.  However, antibiotics wipe out not only harmful bacteria but beneficial bacteria as well, in turn weakening the immune system and leaving it with far less of the beneficial bacteria that usually keeps candida in balance within the body.  This is why whenever taking an antibiotic (or, for that matter, any prescription drug that can cause gastrointestinal side effects), it is extremely important to take a probiotic, which will help prevent this from occurring.

• Hormonal Imbalances

In women, an imbalance of the two hormones estrogen and progesterone are a common cause of candida (often in the form of vaginal yeast infections).  Synthetic estrogen, the main hormone found in birth control, has been found to cause yeast, and studies have shown that hormones in general can affect intestinal bacteria; any upset in this balance can cause yeast overgrowth.

• Excessive Stress

Stress causes the release of a hormone called cortisol, which raises blood sugar and depresses the immune system.  Sugar feeds yeast cells, therefore allowing them to multiply quickly, so when blood sugar is raised, this is exactly what happens all throughout the body.  Excessive cortisol release also depresses the immune system, so when blood sugar is raised, the body is left defenseless against candida growth.  Additionally, stress can also cause sugar and carbohydrate cravings, which only helps to perpetuate this cycle.

• Diet and Alcohol

Combined with the other causes from above (and others not mentioned here), the Standard American Diet increases the likelihood of candida overgrowth many times over.  What is the most widespread ingredient in most processed foods that Americans consume?  Sugar.  And, as you just read above, sugar feeds candida.  The Standard American diet also includes alcohol, all kinds of which promote candida (again, sugar), but beer is a particularly notable cause.  Beer, because of what it’s made from and the fermentation process it undergoes, contains a lot of maltose, which is an especially potent food for candida.  The gases released as a byproduct of maltose that has undergone digestion by candida gathers in the belly, causing gas, bloating and weight gain.  This is why the term “beer belly” doesn’t  just refer to the weight gain caused by drinking too much!

Just in case anyone wants to try a juice fast for detox purposes, I thought I’d overview this process with some frequently asked questions.

• What is a juice fast?

A juice fast is a type of detox diet that involves a short-term intake of raw vegetable and fruit juice and water only.

• Why are juice fasts considered to be beneficial for detox purposes?

When fresh juice and water are the only foods consumed, the body has a chance to rest and and release toxins that build up as a result of the intake of unhealthy foods and alcohol.  Plus, the concentrated vitamins and antioxidants are absorbed into the body at a faster rate, causing the body to detoxify faster and more completely.

• How long does a juice fast last?

A juice fast itself typically lasts one to three days, but it is usually necessary to practice a preparation diet for about a week beforehand.  A preparation diet consists of eliminating foods that contain toxins or take a long time and a lot of work for the body to digest; these foods include but are not limited to alcohol, dairy, meat and anything refined or processed .  By eliminating these foods, the body can begin to detoxify before the actual detoxification diet starts.  This eliminates many detox or die-off symptoms the person would normally experience without having done a preparation diet.

• What side effects or detox symptoms might a person experience throughout a juice fast?

Symptoms of detoxification present themselves in the form of side effects and include but are not limited to headaches, tiredness, digestive issues, acne or skin rash, increased body odor and bad breath.  Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

• What types of people should not try a juice fast?

Generally, people who are diabetic or hypoglycemic should not do juice fasts.  Pregnant women should not do juice fasts.  People with chronic conditions such as low blood pressure, cancer, or autoimmune disorders should not do juice fasts without strict medical supervision

It wasn’t until I began seeing a nutritionist last year that I started to learn about Candidiasis- the term used (interchangeably with Candida) to define an overgrowth of Candida Albicans- and how it affects the body.  I now believe that Candida is an epidemic in this country.  In this post I’d like to give an uncomplicated overview of what it is.

Candida Albicans (be thankful here that I didn’t insert a grosser photo….there are LOTS) is a naturally occurring form of yeast or fungus that normally lives symbiotically with other bacteria in the body, particularly in the digestive system.  Candida has a function in the body, but certain circumstances can cause it to grow out of control.   When candida becomes out of control, it can affect the body on many different levels.  Superficially (on the skin, in the mouth and in and around genitals), it can appear as thrush, which is another word for a yeast infection.  It can also externally appear as athlete’s foot or  nail fungus.  In the digestive tract overgrowth appears as many uncomfortable symptoms such as overall discomfort, gas, bloating, and weight gain (or inability to lose weight).   Systemically  it can be responsible for fatigue, mental fogginess, and depression.  For a full list of candida symptoms, click here.

In future posts, I will discuss what Candidiasis is caused by and how it can be detoxified from the body.