14 Signs We Need To Detox
February 1, 2016 | by kate | 0 comments
'Everything is poison, there is poison in everything. Only the dose makes a thing not a poison' ~ Paracelsus, 1493 - 1541, 'The Father of Toxicology
'Cheers'! And a collision of pewter mugs that carries enough force to spill alcohol into the mug of the person opposite - holding a concerned gaze...
Hundreds of years ago spilling a drink into someone else's was a sure way of checking if that person was trying to poison you or not!
It was one of the few forms of poisoning they really had to contend with along with poisons originating from plants or animals and even then they generally understood when they were poisonous or when they weren't.
It's a different story today...
In todays world we're likely to have inherited a generous toxic dose from our parents and our bodies are being bombarded daily with toxic chemicals, some we may not be aware of;
- the polluted air we breathe
- the new clothes and furnishings we bring home
- the pots and pans we cook with
- the lotions we put on our skin to 'nourish', protect us and repel bites and stings
- the cleaning products we use to clean... everything
- the medications we've taken or are taking
- the food and drinks we enjoy
- the sprays we protect our home and garden with and so on and so on..
This is just a snippet of what we are exposing ourselves to and need to prevent from clogging up our unsuspecting organs especially our kidneys, livers, brain and skin.
It's a silent and gradual bombardment on our organs, our chemistry and immune systems. And this is without including the dose of heavy metals and other inorganic chemicals we've got tucked away in our cells slowly accumulating and with the potential to wreak havoc.
It's a gloomy intro. I know... and there is good news! Before we get to that though let's recognise these invasions so we CAN and WANT to take action rather than continuing speeding along lifes super highway, expecting our bodies to soldier on, until we ... crash.
Before a crash... here are 14 signs our bodies need help.
Many of us are suffering from ongoing ailments and illnesses we just can't get on top of no matter how well we eat or live our lives. Or, we are functioning well but there are little clues that have quietly snuck into our being;
- allergies we never used to have, such as hay fever or eczema
- food sensitivities
- poor sleep
- regular headaches
- PMS symptoms that have become heavier or more noticeable
- cysts, lumps and growths
- easily irritated and quick to get angry
- joint pain
- fluid retention
- increased belly fat
- skin irritations e.g. itchiness
- thyroid issues
- cravings
- lagging energy at the end of the day or it's harder to get out of bed in the mornings.
If you or your family members suffer from any one of these or even if they don't, it's probably time for 'a gentle cleanse' or detox and to give your systems a reboot and your liver some love.
The body is infinitely clever and with the right tools and fuels it can eliminate toxins effectively on its own as long as our systems' and elimination organs are in good shape and we take time to regularly rest and digest and tend and befriend.
Today our bodies must contend with insidious man made toxins that can be invisible and menacing in their design.
14 simple things we can do.
Here's a reminder and if you're not already doing them just choose one or two;
- Reduce the amount of toxins in the home and take a closer look at the cosmetics and cleaning products you're using and do you need to be using as many as you are? There are many good brands and local brands available now. I generally use Castille Soaps, doTerra, Weleda or Eva Perez makeup.
- Avoid plastics - use glass, ceramic, cast iron or steel food storage and cooking utensils.
- Coconut oil as a moisturiser, sesame or olive oil. Mix it up and check for allergies too.
- Store and freeze in glass.
- Wash new clothes before wearing them, especially baby clothes.
- Leave dry cleaning out for a day or two before storing in your cupboard or better still, perhaps it doesn't need dry cleaning?
- Add more bitter foods into the diet e.g. dark leafy greens, rocket and dandelion greens. Bitters stimulate the flow of bile in the gall bladder and support the liver.
- Eat good fats and whole foods in general.
- Herbs and spices that help to stimulate bile production and support liver health such as dandelion root and milk thistle.
- Increase antioxidants that help balance out damaging free radicals in the body e.g. blueberries, acai berry, prunes, pomegranates and beetroots (note the colour of each of these foods)!
- Mind our minds and reduce stress in an instant. In this post I shared tips on how we can do this.
- Start using essential oils if you're not already. They are potent plant medicine that have been around for thousands of years. They provide an aromatic, gentle, health promoting way to clean, purify and treat our families and homes. My next class is on Monday the 8th of February at 7pm, come along and join us. Book here.
- Breathe. Diaphragmatic breathing instantly initiates our rest and digest response (rather than breathing from the chest which initiates more of a fight and flight response.)
- And this previous post with 17 ways to detoxify naturally.
Or kickstart your health with a guided cleanse with me and join 'A gentle cleanse with Kate'. We kick off on Monday 26th of February. It can be done from the comfort of home, wherever you are in the world, it's gentle, yet incredibly effective.
'I have just weighed in this morning and am amazed at my results. I lost 3cm from my stomach, pretty much 2 cm all over and lost 3.1 kilos. This has also been with no exercise as I am out of training with injuries! Wow! So excited'.
OR if you need more than a kickstart and need deep nourishment PLUS the added bonus of avoiding costly future medical bills, my 1:1 coaching programs might be just what you need. https://www.katebarnes.com.au/one-on-one/
A gentle cleanse with Kate, starting 19th of October, 2020
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