Healthy Life

If you're hearing more about body detox these days, it's no accident. Detox ain't just for drugs or
alcohol. It's for all of us. We live in a world of air pollution, water pollution, and bad habits. The
chemical revolution is still going on, and chemicals, both healthy and not, surround us
everywhere.

The US Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control,
performs a survey called NHanes that assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and
children in the United States through interviews and direct physical examinations. They found
that, in 2003-2004, two-thirds of adults in the U.S. were overweight or obese. Almost 20% of
teenagers were found to be overweight or obese.

In today's busy life, we bombard our bodies with fast food, processed food, and a mountain of
preservatives and additives every day. And now, we hear about genetically altered "designer"
foods whose impact on our bodies is still largely unknown.

Despite the popular focus on health and lifestyle choices, most of us are walking a very thin line
when it comes to our diet. The current obesity epidemic is clear evidence that our diets and our
lifestyle are out of control. Given this bleak picture, the good news is that people are becoming
more aware of the foods they eat.

When we talk about "detoxification," we're talking about the process of removing toxins from our
bodies. For our purposes in this article, body detox refers to the use of diets, herbs, and other
processes to remove toxins and achieve better health.
If you're concerned about your health and the amount of toxins you may be carrying around with you, it may be time to consider body detox. It's a healthy choice in an otherwise unhealthy
world. But don't be fooled. Body detox means a change in lifestyle. It means eating a more
balanced combination of healthy, natural foods. It means drinking more water and less coffee
and soda. It means regular exercise. It means avoiding fast food, junk food, and processed
prepared meals (including frozen dinners and canned goods). These changes will not be easy,
and you probably won't want to take it all on at once. But you can begin today to change the
way you approach food.

Changing your lifestyle and undertaking body detox also means more and more regular
exercise. You don't have to join a gym and buy a bunch of new exercise clothes. You just need
to get up and move more! Take brisk walks, go bowling, walk when you want to ride, carry your
own groceries to the car. There are a million ways to get more exercise without even noticing it.
If you're more serious about detoxing your body, you may want to investigate a detox diet. It will reduce the toxins in your body, relieve aches and pains, reduce the discomfort of allergies,
improve digestive problems, and increase your energy level. You can find many body detox
recipes on the internet. A trip to your local health food store is also a good way to learn about
body detox foods and recipes.

When you're committed to body detox, eat as many fresh fruits as you can. Favor nuts, beans,
rice, and grains over fried foods and gravy. And try to avoid sugary desserts, caffeine, alcohol,
yeast-rich dishes, and processed foods that contain many questionable preservatives and
additives.

A one- or two-day fast is a good way to transition in and out of your body detox effort. Be sure to
get plenty of liquids, especially water, during your fast. And don't push it. If hunger becomes an
obsession, have a piece of fruit or a few carrots or celery sticks. You don't have to punish
yourself during your body detox.

There are many other ways to detox and to change your lifestyle to one that promotes personal
health and happiness. Re-acquaint yourself with nature. Go outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.
Take a long walk at the beach or in your neighborhood park or nature preserve. Incorporate "me
time" into your daily schedule, and make it a family affair too. Keep active and interested in the
world around you. Get involved.

For a real body detox treat, go to the spa. Have a relaxing massage or deep-cleaning facial.
When you shower, use a brush to accelerate the detox process. Brushing your skin gently will
improve your circulation and help you shed those layers of toxin-rich dead skin.
Help your body eliminate toxins naturally. Drink at least four quarters (or liters) of water every
day. Eat fiber-rich foods like raspberries, blackberries, broccoli, apples (with the skin), spinach,
almonds or peanuts, and good old stone-ground whole wheat. And when you stop by that health