Tag Archives: natural health

Cleansing and Detoxing are often thought of as “fads” and to some unnecessary because our organs are made to filter themselves all the time! But in this era we live in people are constantly taking in toxins and other nasty stuff that our bodies are not used to dealing with. The processed foods, unnatural body care products and pollution we encounter is new to us as a species.

Our bodies are not designed to filter these types of toxins so they accumulate- which is bad news for us and our hormones! Without being able to excrete excess hormones they build up, and that is bad news!

1. Reducing Inflammation Decreases Cortisol Levels

We all know that cortisol is the “stress” hormone and too much can cause the dreaded “belly fat” to accumulate around our middle. Extra fat in this area is a major risk factor for many problems like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, estrogen dominance and infertility. Extra weight in this area is also particularly hard to get rid of!  When we are chronically stressed, cortisol levels get out of whack.

Excess cortisol causes tons of inflammation to build up in our bodies. This causes excess glucose to build up in our blood- increasing the amount of hunger, mood swings and energy dips we experience. With our body constantly battling to reduce this inflammation – hormone production falls to the wayside. Cortisol levels become too low over time and our body’s ability to make estrogen, progesterone and testosterone is impaired. How does cleansing reduce this?

Eating alkaline foods and decreasing potentially allergenic foods such as gluten, dairy and soy for a short period of time allows the body to rebuild. Disease doesn’t like an alkaline environment, so the body’s stressors are reduced. When this happens, we are better able to make and filter the right types and amounts of hormones. This = Happy Body!

2. Reducing Toxic Load Improves Hormone Creation and Filtration

Our livers are so wonderful- they store, create and filter so many different substances in our bodies. When we encounter and consume a lot of toxins over time such as processed foods, unnatural body care products and smog from the air, our livers get overloaded. When they are stuffed full of nonsense they can’t do their job effectively. What does this mean to you? Imbalanced hormones! Our periods are irregular, mood swings and hot flashes abound and we wake up every night around 3am and have trouble getting back to sleep.

Targeted cleansing using liver supportive herbs and nutritionals such as Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root and N-Acetyl-cysteine helps to flush out these toxins and restore the liver to it’s happy workaholic self. It can filter our hormones again so we don’t get too much blood glucose, estrogen and cortisol hanging around, among others.

3.  Decreasing Body Fat Increases Energy and Stabilizes Hormones

When you do a cleanse, you are dumping wastes that have accumulated in your body. Often this leads to accelerated weight loss and easier weight management. When we reduce our body fat into healthy ranges, the toxins we encounter in our daily life have less room to be stored. No toxin storage room = better health, increased energy and a whole host of other amazing benefits.

When you have more energy, you are more likely to stick with the healthy lifestyle choices that make you feel great. Your hormones will be made on time and in the right amounts. Excesses won’t be stored which means no more hot flashes, period cramps, irritability or other nasty symptoms you experience right now! That sounds like a win-win situation to me!!

We all know we should slow down, take in the sights and love ourselves for who we are. We also know we have to take the kids to school, make dinner, do the laundry, call this client back and feel desirable for our Honey. Is it possible to do both? Can we really have our cake and eat it too?

Well, I’ll be the first to tell you that achieving everything you want and remaining health in mind and body is a struggle. For 2 years I struggled with adrenal fatigue, or being ‘really stressed out’ to the point of exhaustion. I did meditation, infrared saunas, yoga, deep breathing and visualizations. I’ve also done negative self-talk, crying, beating myself up and being frustrated with the world.

Since I no longer have to drive an hour each way to Toronto on a daily basis, and my work commitments are changing, I’ve been taking this time to heal myself for good. No more back and forth between doing what I should do and letting the devil on my shoulder take hold.

Now I do yoga 3 times per week, I’ve joined a meditation class, I’m doing mental exercises to change my thought patterns and I’m supporting my body with nutrients. I know it will be a long road, but I’m in for the long haul. I can see benefits already!

Maybe your situation hasn’t changed, you still have little time for yourself and think you can’t do it. Well you can do it! Here’s how:

1. Make it count. By this, I mean find what makes you feel light. Whether it’s yoga, reading a juicy romance novel or talking walks along the beach, find your freedom. Do it as often as you can. Maybe you’re feeling really sleepy but you can be sleepy in a restorative yoga class, or while laying on the couch reading your book.
2. Feed yourself. When you’re under stress your body needs extra nutrition to keep you on an even keel. Load up on green smoothies and cut out the burger and fries. Sticking to a whole foods diet rich in healthy fats, fibre, and vegetables will make your body and mind feel good.
3. Move yourself. While getting off the couch may seem a daunting task when you’re stressed and tired may seem counterintuitive, make yourself. But don’t overdo it. No high impact cardio and heavy weight-lifting here. A 30 minute walk outdoors, a gentle yoga class, a leisurely swim or some deep stretching is just what your body needs. It will thank you for it.Love yourself. Anytime you here the little devil on your shoulder say “I’d be happy if I was 15 pounds thinner”, or “I’ll be happy as soon as I do X”, compassionately recognize that you are happy/beautiful/fulfilled/content NOW and if those things happen, it’s just a bonus. You are perfect right now in this moment. Say it now, over and over all day and you will believe it!
4. Supplement. Sometimes the stress overload can throw our hormones out of whack. And I don’t mean just the ones that give us cramps, mood swings, hot flashes and headaches once a month. Your body has hundreds or hormones and they all take a hit when we are chronically stressed out. Supplementing with nutrients supports the balance of these hormones. Try a B complex, a stress/adrenal formula with adaptogenic herbs, Vitamin C and D and some calming herbal tea.
5. Get help. If this all sounds great and you feel you’ve tried it all on your own but nothing helps, find someone help you on this journey. Whether that is a nutritionist, psychologist, psychiatrist, homeopath, naturopath, osteopath, massage therapist or reiki master, find the person that jives with you and makes you feel comfortable, safe and HEARD.

Now go look in the mirror at your awesomeness and tell yourself you’re perfect and wonderful and everything will be OK! It’ll only get better from here, I promise.