Jump Start Your New Year with a Cleanse

Every January we look ahead, with hopefulness, to a new year filled with health and happiness. We make resolutions to exercise, eat better, sleep more and live a less stressful life. With the inevitable overindulgence of the holiday season behind us, there really is no better time to truly reverse the trend and go for a complete cleanse of the body.

Toxins can harm and weaken the performance of the body’s key organs. They are found in the air we breathe as well as the food and water we drink. While the body is capable of removing many toxins, some remain in the digestive system and need to be removed through the cleansing process. We recommend to cleanse twice a year to rid the body of these toxins.

When the digestive or elimination system is not functioning at its best, the build-up of toxins affects other functions of the body about which we don’t often think. Detoxification can assist with weight loss, spur healthy sleeping patterns, decrease aches and pains associated with arthritis, and generally lead to an overall sense of feeling better.

There are many ways to approach a cleanse. Some choose colonic irrigation, a treatment in which warm water is used to wash out the colon. This hydrotherapy session typically lasts less than an hour. Others choose to use herbal teas and to fast for a period of time.

We recommend a more comprehensive, all-in-one approach: A “detox kit” that includes supplements for stimulating the toxin-clearing flow of bile; fiber capsules, which prevent the reabsorption of toxins in the body; and a laxative to complete the process. These cleanses should be accompanied by appropriate water consumption (half your body weight in ounces of water) and a daily probiotic.

A cleanse is also the ideal time to re-evaluate your diet and reduce the intake of things that are bad for digestion, such as white flour, refined sugar, processed foods (including cured meats) and fried foods.

Taking seriously our diet, rest and exercise can lead to better health in the long term. Cleansing the inside of the body is a good way to take a fresh approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle – and making our health a top priority in the new year.

Click here if you are interested in attending a free lecture at Johnson Compounding & Wellness on detoxification.

Steve Bernardi is a registered compounding pharmacist and co-owner of Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham (www.naturalcompounder.com). Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can email steve@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.