Zero to 1 Hundred January Issue | Page 22

  How  does  the  detoxification  process  work?   Detoxification  programs  have  become  buzz  words  in  terms  of  health.    But  in   actuality,  your  body  goes  through  a  detox  program  on  a  daily  basis.    And  it  happens   primarily  at  night  when  you’re  sleeping.    Detoxification  systems  in  the  body  can  be   summarized  in  3  phases  and  the  process  is  highly  nutrient  driven.    If  at  any  point   during  these  phases,  the  liver  doesn’t  get  the  nutrients  it  needs  to  do  its  job  properly,   these  phases  are  shut  down  and  the  toxic  substances  can  be  reabsorbed  into  the   body.    These  toxins  become  stored  in  tissues  such  as  fat  (and  can  stimulate  the   pr oduction  of  fat  cells),  the  brain  and  nervous  system.     How  do  you  know  if  your  liver  needs  more  support?   When  I  was  in  nutrition  school,  I  read  a  book  by  Michio  Kushi  called,  The  Body   Never  Lies.    I  have  found  through  my  own  personal  experience  and  the  experiences   of  my  clients,  that  this  is  true.    The  body  will  always  tell  you  what  it  needs,  when  it   needs  it!    There  are  blood  tests  that  you  can  take  to  measure  the  level  of  toxins  in   your  blood.    An  easier  way  to  tell  if  your  liver  needs  support  is  to  look  at  your  body   and  notice  any  symptoms  that  your  body  presents.    Common  symptoms  include   headaches,  fatigue,  and  muscular  aches  and  pains.    There  are  also  other  symptoms   to  consider:   • Immunological  toxicity  may  be  a  factor  in  the  development  of  asthma,  allergies,   skin  disorders,  chronic  infections,  and  cancer.       • Neurological  toxicity  affects  cognition,  mood,  and  overall  mental  functioning.       • Endocrine  toxicity  affects  reproduction,  menstruation,  libido,  metabolic  rate,   stress  tolerance,  glucose  regulation,  and  more.       You  can  use  self  assessment  tools  like  this  one  to  see  if  a  nutritional  liver  support   program  would  be  beneficial  to  you:  Toxicity  Self  Test.     What  do  you  need  to  do  to  support  your  liver?   Just  as  there  are  many  factors  that  contribute  to  the  development  of  disease,  there   are  just  as  many  factors  that  go  into  healing.    Supporting  your  liver  so  that  it  works   optimally  is  a  holistic  endeavor.    Here  are  a  few  things  that  you  can  do  to  help   ensure  peak  liver  function:   • Minimize  toxins  in  your  diet:   o Avoid  foods  high  in  fat,  additives  and  preservatives   o Eat  organically  grown  vegetables,  fruits  and  grains