Why should we detoxify? Toxins are poisonous substances capable of causing disease when introduced into the body, especially when they build up. Ideally, we would prevent this build-up to prevent disease and improve health by detoxifying our bodies regularly.
The main categories of toxins are:
1. Endogenous toxins: toxic substances are continuously being created in your body as metabolism by-products. For example, toxins that are made from ‘bad’ bacteria in your colon can cause depression; harmful estrogen metabolites may cause certain cancers; homocysteine is toxic to the cardiovascular system.
2. Exogenous toxins: range from pharmaceutical drugs in our drinking water, to xenoestrogens in plastic bottles, to heavy metals in personal care products. They damage the body by disrupting hormone function, damaging DNA, destroying enzymes, and oxidation which speeds aging.
3. Mental / emotional toxins: overstimulus, stress, negative thinking and poorly managed emotions, and even certain types of music or noise can be underestimated for their contribution to disease
Detoxification is your body’s natural process of reducing the toxic qualities of a poisonous or toxic substance, and/or clearing them from your body. Your organs of elimination – liver/digestive system, kidneys, lungs and skin – are designed to achieve this for you, but can become sluggish with age and increased toxic burden. You can help stimulate your elimination organs with basic practices that include reducing your intake of toxins such as those from processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine, drinking extra purified water and getting extra fibre by increasing fruits and vegetables. Depending on your specific case, you may need herbs, homeopathics, or specific nutrients that help promote more thorough detoxification.
Benefits of regular detoxification include increased energy, clearer skin, loss of excess body fat, better digestion, improved mood, disease prevention, improved symptoms of PMS, allergies, joint pain, gas and bloating, and chronic degenerative disease.
Every individual has a different degree of toxicity and is affected by this toxicity in unique ways, so there is no one-size-fits-all detox program. A full intake discussing your specific concerns is needed to design the right detox program for you.
Come in for a consultation to see how detoxification can benefit you.
Feel tired from all your holiday planning? Need a quick energy boost? Vitamin B12 injections may be your answer. Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin important many functions including in energy production, immune system function, the function of the brain and nervous system, and in the formation of blood. B12 is found mainly in animal products, putting vegans and vegetarians at risk for deficiency, which can show up as fatigue, weakness, sore tongue, nerve pains, insomnia, depression, canker sores, easy bruising, numbness and tingling in hands or feet and memory problems.
Why inject B12? Getting your nutrients from food seems like the best idea, however oral absorption from foods or supplements decreases in just about everyone as we age due to weakened digestive function, or is decreased in certain disorders such as pernicious anemia. Injection into a muscle ensures 100% absorption of the vitamin directly into the bloodstream.
A few benefits of increasing vitamin B12 levels are:
• It helps folic acid regulate the formation of red blood cells, and helps your body use iron, helping to prevent anemia Read more….
The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped organ that sits on your trachea under your voicebox. This small organ keeps your metabolism burning for energy, keeps your temperature in the proper range, and regulates the use of other hormones in your body.
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid becomes underactive, and is a very common condition especially in women. Constant fatigue and muscle weakness, inability to lose excess weight, sensitivity to cold, depression, dryness of hair, nails and skin, irregular cycles, infertility, constipation, low libido and puffy hands and feet are just a few of many possible symptoms that may combine to produce your unique hypothyroid picture.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a destruction of the thyroid gland by your own immune system, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Early signs of
We’ve all heard that prevention is the best cure, especially when it comes to cold and flu. It’s especially important at this time of year to ensure your immune system is strong and can resist proliferation of invading viruses. Consider implementing the following proven strategies to build strong immune defences:
Proper nutrition: A balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits, sufficient protein and essential fatty acids, plus a high quality multivitamin can prevent nutrient deficiencies that impact your immune system. Your naturopathic doctor can suggest the optimal doses of specific vitamins and minerals that are protective against colds and flu
Water: Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day. Water flushes out immune-weakening toxins, and is needed for infection fighting white blood cells to circulate throughout your body
No refined sugar: Sugar drastically lowers immune function for several hours, even if taken in small amounts
Sufficient Vitamin D3: As winter approaches, it’s no longer possible to get the required amounts of vitamin D that are protective of the immune system. Before
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