ASKDOCTORANCA» Nutrition

the Top 10 Foods to Eat Organic

Anca Martalog — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:57:04 +0000

You’ve heard me many times stressing the importance of keeping your
body as “clean”(de-toxified) as possible-it is of paramount importance
for cancer prevention, increased focusing and concentrating ability
and decreasing degeneration which results in speeding up aging and
disease. One sure way to do all this is by avoiding Pesticides in
Your Produce-at least as much as you can…
…so, here are the Top 10 Foods to Eat Organic:
Much of the food that we consume on a daily basis contains pesticide
residues. While the FDA has regulations over the safe amount of
pesticide content in any food, the levels are particularly worrisome
in certain produce. While the consumption of these foods has been
shown to have no adverse affects in the short term, it has been shown
that high levels of these toxins found in the body over time can cause
all sorts of illness and disease.
While striving to eat organic is always something important, it is
often difficult, inconvenient; and can become quite costly. Because
not everyone can afford to go the 100% organic route every time they
shop, there are certain foods that experts say are more important to
eat organic than others. This is because they have high levels of
pesticide residues even after being washed and readied for
consumption. In fact, their toxin content is so high that nutrition
experts recommend only eating these foods when and if they can be
purchased organic.
Below is a list of the top 10 offenders, some of the nasty toxins they
contain, and ideal alternatives when organic can’t be found.
Strawberries
Main Nutrient: Vitamin C
Pesticide Residues These Often Contain: Strawberries have high levels
of fungicides, some of which are classified by the EPA as probable
human carcinogens. They are also frequently contaminated with
endosulfan, a chemical that interferes with normal hormone function by
imitating the hormone estrogen.
Healthy Alternatives: oranges, grapefruit, kiwifruit, watermelon
Spinach
Main Nutrient: Iron, Vitamins A and C
Pesticide Residues These Often Contain: Because spinach is often grown
in mediocre growing conditions, the crops are more susceptible to
insect damage and mildew. To prevent these problems from ruining their
harvests farmers use high amounts of pesticides and fungicides. As a
result spinach is exceptionally high in DDT, permethrin, chlorthalonil
and other cancer causing pesticides.
Healthy Alternatives: kale, swiss chard, broccoli, brussels sprouts,
asparagus
Peaches
Main Nutrient: Vitamins A and C
Pesticide Residues These Often Contain: This fruit has a heavy dose of
the cancer causing fungicides captan and iprodione, and the neurotoxic
pesticide methyl parathion, which are used to combat insects.
Healthy Alternatives: nectarines, watermelon, tangerines, oranges,
grapefruit
Apples
Main Nutrient: Vitamin C
Pesticide Residues These Often Contain: To keep apples so pretty and
shiny as we have come to see them in the grocery store, it takes a lot
of pesticides, fungicides and petroleum oil. Common pesticide residues
found on apples, are Chlorpyrifos, Diphenylamine, Captan, Carbendazim
and Thiabendazole.
Healthy Alternatives: watermelon, nectarines, bananas, tangerines
Pears
Main Nutrient: Vitamin A, Potassium
Pesticide Residues These Often Contain: Similar to apples, in order to
have aesthetically pleasing pears great deals of insecticides need to
be used. Common pesticides found on your average pear include:
Carbendazim, Chlormequat, Dithiocarbamates, Tolylfluanid, Captan.
Healthy Alternatives: canned pears, canned peaches, oranges
Celery
Main Nutrient: Carotenoids
Pesticide Residues These Often Contain: As celery is primarily made up
of water, it is no wonder that it absorbs anything and everything
around it; this includes toxins and water found in the soil around it.
As a result it is a major source of exposure to neurotoxic pesticides
and the probable human carcinogen, chlorthalonil.
Healthy Alternatives: carrots, broccoli, radishes, romaine lettuce

How the cancer process becomes life-threatening

Anca Martalog — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:03:19 +0000

Many, if not most, cancer deaths come as a result of
infection by bacteria, viruses, and fungi- microbes that
normally would be destroyed by the immune system.

In the case of cancer, the immune system becomes severely
suppressed, partly because of the systemic weakening brought
on by the cancer process and partly because of the negative,
toxic effects of conventional cancer treatment – essentially
chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
A tumour can directly interfere with the functioning of a
vital organ, such as the lungs, liver, pancreas, brain, or
kidneys, in effect, strangulating it. When a cancerous mass
becomes too large, it steals nourishment from the organ,
secreting toxins into it, or causing some form of physical
obstruction that effectively shuts the organ down.
Severe malnutrition or emaciation, which is a condition of
cellular starvation called cachexia (pronounced cah-
CHECK-see-yah) may affect up to 90% of all advanced cancer
patients and account for 50% of all cancer deaths. The
cancer process effectively starves cancer patients, using up
their energy reserves. These effects primarily result from
the body’s shifting to an inefficient use of fuel sources,
as well as the person’s loss of appetite.
Protein-calorie malnutrition is not uncommon among
hospitalized patients in general, and can lead to overall
weakness, apathy, increases in mortality and surgical
failure, a reduction in immunity, and poor responsiveness to
treatment. Some cancer patients die from hemorrhage
(uncontrolled blood loss from a failure of the blood to
clot), which is a frequent cause of death in leukemia, but
can also occur when a tumour grows into a large blood
vessel. Cancer can impair the blood’s ability to form clots
and internal bleeding can occur readily and persistently.
Cancer can also cause excessive clotting and the formation
of thrombi (plural of thrombus, which is a blood clot
attached to the interior wall of a vein or artery), cutting
off the blood supply to a vital organ.

To learn more about my “Top 10 strategies to conquer

cancer naturally”, register to this FREE TeleClass.

Biomarker Studies are proving the need for Personalized Cancer Medicine

Anca Martalog — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:57:32 +0000

When President Richard Nixon launched the war on cancer in his
January 1971 State of the Union, he called for “the same kind of
concentrated effort that split the atom and took man to the moon.”
Yet nearly 40 years and $100 billion in federally funded cancer
research later, it seems the lunar landing was a much less daunting
task.
Although much has been learned about the biology of cancer, the
overall survival rate among people who have it has improved only
slightly, according to a commentary published April 21 in Science
Translational Medicine. The authors of the commentary argue that
developing strategies to match new and existing drugs with the tumour
characteristics of individual patients is a crucial step toward
greater success in cancer treatment—an effort known as personalized
medicine. “We have reached a juncture where talking about personalized
cancer medicine and the importance of incorporating these goals into
clinical trials is no longer sufficient,” they wrote….sounds to me
that we are slowly starting to prove that a Naturopathic, holistic
approach is the only way to look at treating the cancer patient, but
because of the engrained allopathic paradigm used for so long, we’re
trying to apply holistic principles to drug treatment; oh,
well…it’s a start!
If you’d like to learn about my Top 10 strategies to conquer cancer
naturally-all holistically-based, register to my upcoming Free
teleseminar with the same name by visiting www.thriveafterchemo.com

Do Serious Diseases Begin Before Birth?

Anca Martalog — Tue, 11 May 2010 01:20:51 +0000

Researchers have come up with yet more causes of obesity,
diabetes and heart disease — poor nutrition of the fetus in
the womb that puts the metabolism off- kilter. A blossoming
field of medical research called fetal origins of adult
disease (FOAD) highlights just how important a healthy
environment in the womb is for both the development of the
fetus and its health as an adult.
“Babies who weigh less than five pounds at birth have a
three-fold increased risk in heart disease, but at about
eight pounds they are risk neutral,” says Dr. Mark Walker, a
high risk obstetrician in Ottawa and founder of the
Obstetrics Maternal Newborn Investigation (OMNI) group.
Larger babies are at risk, too. Studies show that babies
over nine pounds have a 10 per cent increased risk of dying
from heart disease in adulthood.
Why are heavier and lighter babies at greater risk?
Scientists are beginning to think that it’s because their
metabolism is off-balance.
When a fetus is underfed, it adapts by changing its
metabolism to become superefficient. “To survive in utero,
it changes its whole metabolic system. It extracts every
calorie it can from every bit of nutrient it gets. It
changes all the things that are involved in the metabolism
of glucose in its own metabolic system,” says Walker.
The baby’s metabolism does not get reset at birth. She goes
on to become at increased risk for heart problems later in
life.
Babies can be undernourished in the womb for a number of
reasons. For example, the pregnant mother may be living in
an area facing famine, she could be dieting or she could
have some physical abnormality that results in nutrients not
reaching the fetus.
Infants who are above average weight at birth — say 10 or 11
pounds — also have an abnormal metabolism, but it has been
altered in a different way. These heavy babies also have an
increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease as
adults, but researchers don’t yet know exactly why. “A big
area of research right now is maternal overnutrition and its
association with obese children,” says Walker.
Scientists are learning more about this altered metabolism
theory. A study called the Ottawa Birth Cohort is following
fetuses from shortly after conception to birth. Researchers
hope to follow the children as they grow to see what
diseases they develop and how these relate to their
pre-birth environment. It’s intended to be a “from the womb
to tomb study,” says Walker.
There’s much speculation about what factors in utero may
lead to adult diseases. Researchers point fingers at
everything from medication use in pregnancy to the type of
nutrition pregnant women consume and the stress that mothers
face.

The Smart, Delicious Alternative

Anca Martalog — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:29:42 +0000

Reducing saturated fat is the single most important dietary change you
can make to cut blood cholesterol. Used as a replacement for meat and
cheese, soy foods help your heart by slashing the amount of saturated
fat that you eat

Not familiar with soy foods?

Eat some today
The basics include tofu, soy nuts, soy flour, and enriched soymilk.
Great-tasting, protein-rich meat alternatives include soy sausage, and
breaded cutlets and nuggets that taste like chicken. Crumbled soy – an
alternative to ground meat – works well in chilli, burritos, lasagna,
soups, and casseroles. Add tofu to chilli, eggs, or casseroles. It
absorbs the flavor of whatever you’re cooking. You’ll find many soy
products in the produce section of the supermarket.
What about soy supplements? Research shows that isoflavone supplements
alone don’t work. To lower cholesterol, you need the whole soybean
with its unique protein, phytates, and isoflavones, which may all act
together.
Get This Much
The FDA recommends getting at least 25 grams of soy protein each day.
Consuming 25 grams of soy protein daily lowers high cholesterol.
The High Fiber Solution
Except for your morning wheat bran, no food is more fiber-rich than
beans. And beans are especially high in cholesterol-lowering soluble
fiber. Eating a cup of any type of beans a day – particularly kidney,
navy, pinto, black, chickpea, or butter beans – can lower cholesterol
by as much as 10 percent in 6 weeks.
Soluble fiber forms a gel in water that helps bind acids and
cholesterol in the intestinal tract, preventing their re-absorption
into the body. This may be why soluble fibre helps to lower
cholesterol levels (and decreases the risk of heart disease). Soluble
fibre is also found in oats and oat bran, barley, brown rice, beans,
apples, carrots, and most other fruits and vegetables.

Eat Some Today
Keep your cupboards stocked with canned beans of all kinds: black,
white, kidney, fat- free refined, etc. (as well as instant bean
soups). You’ll always have the makings of a delicious, healthful
dinner on hand. Beans and protein and fibre to any dish and can be
uses in salads, stuffed baked potatoes, veggie chilli, or pureed for
sandwich spreads. And since they come in cans, beans are handy to use.
But remember to rinse canned beans first – they’re packed in a high-
sodium liquid.
Get This Much
Eat beans five or mor times a week. For the greatest health benefits,
both the FDA and the National Cancer Institute recommend that adults
get 25 to 30 g. of fiber each day.
To learn more about Cancer-preventive Foods and other Natural Therapies fo Cancer, join my ongoing “From surviving to thriving despite CANCER” Tele-Course.

12 Ways to be More Positive

Anca Martalog — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:48:26 +0000

It’s a tough world out there; once in awhile, we all need a
little reminder about the good things in life…
12 Ways to be More Positive
Read two easy to be more positive and then share these with
your partner. Together, you should know four ways.
1. You can choose to be optimistic. You’ve probably heard a
pessimist described as someone who sees a glass of water as
half empty while an optimist sees it as half full. The
pessimist focuses on the negative (the missing water), while
the optimist sees the positive (the water that’s there). Who
has a better outlook? Who’s likely to be happier; more
confident and sure?
2. You can choose to accept things as they are. This doesn’t
mean that you wilt and give up. It means that you don’t
struggle, whine, and bang your head against a brick wall
when things don’t go right—behaviours that make you a
helpless victim. (It’s what eats you that puts the pounds of
weight on your spirit.) Instead, you get on with your life.
You move forward.
“You accept things as they are, not as you
wish they were in this moment … The
past is history; the future is a mystery; and
this moment is a gift. That is why this
moment is called the present.”
3. You can choose to be resilient. Have you ever watched a
tree swaying in a storm? A tree that stands rigidly will
never win a battle against the wind. Trees that bend with
the wind are those that survive. Like a tree, you can bend
and sway as life batters and blasts you—then bounce back
again, supported by your strong, deep roots. When you’re
resilient, you can survive almost anything—being hurt,
frustrated, or let down; losing friends, making mistakes,
and much more. Remember the image of a tree in the storm.
You can learn a lot from nature.
Developing positive attitudes doesn’t mean that you’ll never
experience pain, suffering, or disappointment. You will.1
But having good attitudes will help you to turn your
problems into teachers so you can learn from them and grow.
Developing positive attitudes doesn’t mean you should ignore
problems. If someone steals your bike, you won’t say “So
what?” Instead, you’ll contact the police and report your
stolen bike. You’ll do everything you can to get it back.
But if you can’t get it back, you’ll accept the fact that
it’s gone. And you won’t let that drag you down.
Flip a coin in the air. What do you get? Either heads or
tails. Problems always have a flip side, too. If you fail a
test, you can flip the coin and learn to study harder or
find a tutor. If you lose a friend, you can flip the coin,
repair the friendship, or find a new friend. If you don’t
like your looks, you can flip the coin and develop a
fantastic personality
4. You can choose to be cheerful. Have you spent time around
cheerful people? If you have, then you know that they
energize you. They’re like human battery chargers. You can
be one, too. Start by refusing to say gloomy things. Bite
your tongue. Count to 10. Pull up the corners of your mouth.
When you send out positive words, thoughts, and feelings,
positive people (and things) are attracted to you.
5. YOU can choose to be enthusiastic. Greet each new day
with excitement. Approach tasks and chores with zest.
Enthusiasm is catching! The more upbeat you are, the more
people around you will feel and act the same.
6. You can choose to be more alert. If you’re more alert to
potential problems, you can be better prepared for them and
even dodge some. Exam p le: A friend invites you to a party
at her house on Saturday. But you remember overhearing her
tell someone else that her parents are going out of town for
the weekend. Parties without parents can spell trouble. You
say “No, thanks!”
Of course, you can also be alert to positive experiences.
You hear an announcement about a team tryout or new club.
You write down the time and place and plan to go.
7. You can choose to have a sense of humour: When you do
something silly (everyone does), don’t miss the opportunity
to laugh at yourself. It’s one of life’s great joys. I’ve
done lots of loony things, and I’ve provided myself (and
others) with many happy hours of entertainment. Once I was
invited to give a talk to some senior citizens at a rest
home. Without checking the address carefully, I mistakenly
charged into the Board of Realtors and announced to their
startled faces that I was there to teach them a lesson on
honesty!
If you laugh a lot, you’ll be healthier. Laughter releases
good chemicals in your body that stimulate you and can help
you to grow.
8. You can choose to be a good sport. This attitude can win
you friends even if you don’t win the game or competition.
Being a good sport means losing gracefully—smiling, shaking
hands with the winner, not blaming other people or
circumstances for your loss. As 16-year-old Alissa Harman
explained, “I ran in the race even though I knew I wouldn’t
win.” Being a good sport also means not pounding your chest
Tarzan-style or gloating when you’re victorious. In other
words…
9. You can choose to be humble. People who toot their own
horns seldom attract an audience. If you’re genuinely
interested in others, they’ll see your good qualities even
if you don’t advertise them. They won’t feel that you’re
trying to one-up them. They can relax around you and be
themselves.
10. You can choose to be grateful. Think about it: You
probably have a lot to be grateful for. Gratitude puts a
smile on your face. It makes you feel good about your life.
And other people feel good about being around you.
11. You can choose to have faith. For some people, this
means believing in God or another Higher Being/Higher Power.
Others put their faith in their country in other people, in
things, or in themselves. Having faith means believing that
things will work out for you—and that you can work things
out for yourself. If you expect to fail, you probably will.
If you expect to achieve, you’re much more likely to reach
your goal.
“When the legends die, the dreams
die. When the dreams die, there is
no greatness.”
12. You can choose to have hope. Without hope, life ‘has no
meaning or point We expect nothing, plan
and don’t set goals for ourselves (why bother?). Hope may be
your most important positive attitude – the basis for all
the others. What do you hope for? What are your dreams? What
are your ambitions? Your purpose in life? If you’re willing
to consider these questions, you’re already a hopeful
person.
“’Hope’ is the thing with feathers –
That perches on the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all—“
Emily Dickenson

The Path to Vibrant Health

Anca Martalog — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:27:13 +0000

Achieving sustainable digestive health and prevention of
dysfunction
In the mirror, the body appears solid and it’s hard to
imagine the dynamic changes that go on inside it. Under a
protective layer of skin, functions are interconnected and
the body continuously adapts to create a balanced, healthy
internal environment. The state of digestion has local and
far reaching impacts, from immune to neurological health.
Every day, the average person ingests between three to four
pounds of food that journey through a 30-foot digestive
tract. Through mechanical and chemical processes, this
ecosystem allows us to digest food, absorb nutrients and
create the energy we need to live.
GOOD GUT GOODIES
Berries and broccoli, rich in phytonutrients and fibre, help
improve regularity and may prevent colorectal cancer. Nuts
are powerful snacks, loaded with protein and good fats.
Spices such as turmeric and ginger have powerful
anti-inflammatory effects.

25-40% of individuals will experience dysfunction or
conditions of the digestive tract, often significantly
impacting quality of life.
Digestive complaints are a leading reason for health care
visits.
Lifestyle choices
With chronic disease on the rise and a trend towards
decreasing quality of life, maintaining and improving health
is quickly becoming the focus. Research supports that
lifestyle habits, healthy eating, regular physical activity
and stress reduction can sustain digestive health and the
overall prevention of dysfunction and disease tomorrow.
Digestive dysfunction
Symptoms: gas, bloating, cramping, abdominal pain, chronic
diarrhea or constipation.
Complex disorders: gastro-esophageal reflux, ulcers,
gastritis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),
inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer.
Digestive concerns may appear to be localised to the
abdominal region, but can be the root of other health
concerns, like eczema, headaches and joint pain.
Vital food action
Hippocrates stated, “Let your food be your medicine, and
your medicine be your food.” Nutrient dense foods digest
slowly; they have a cascade effect which aids digestion,
improving nutrient absorption to help create energy at the
cellular level. High calorie, nutrient empty foods create a
deficient response, leaving one unsatisfied or fatigued.
Choose high vitality functional foods such as berries that
contain phytonutrients or omega 3 rich fish.
Digestive aids
Digestive enzyme supplementation enhances food breakdown,
assisting to digest, absorb and utilise nutrients.
Probiotics, ‘friendly’ bacteria, stabilise the digestive
tract and help prevent discomfort due to gas. Other
botanical medicines, such as artichoke leaf, stimulate bile
release to help digest fats.
Eliminate reactive foods
Reactive foods, allergies, sensitivities and intolerances
contribute to symptoms ranging from skin problems to
migraines, celiac disease, indigestion, gas, IBS,
malabsorption, nausea, vomiting, constipation and chronic
diarrhea. If you experience any of these symptoms, your
health care provider can use an ‘elimination diet’ and blood
testing to help identify the source of food reactions.
By about age 40, the production of digestive enzymes
decreases by 20-30%.
Stay regular
Regular daily bowel movements and consistent transit times
ensure sufficient time to absorb nutrients and less time to
absorb unwanted substances. Hydration, eating enough fibre
and responding to your body’s signals (don’t delay the urge)
are essential for regularity. Insoluble fibre or ‘roughage’
is found in whole grain products, nuts, berries, apple and
pear peels; adds bulk to the stool, helps food pass and
regulates bowel movements.
Butterfly management
Butterflies before a speech reflects the relationship
between the digestive tract and stress, the emotional to
physical distress connection. When our body’s stress
mechanism is alerted, adrenaline and other stress hormones
released into the blood stream divert blood away from
digestion. Distress can aggravate constipation, diarrhea or
IBS. Positive coping mechanisms like massage, breathing and
relaxation techniques are valuable for maintaining digestive
health.
Effective sustainability
Introducing new, positive habits into your daily routine
results in noticeable changes and increases long-term
vibrant health. Gradual change is key in implementing
lasting, new habits. Master one healthy habit, then adopt
another to support your health goals.

GET PHYSICAL:

Make an activity date with a friend instead of eating out
Walk to work, take the stairs or park a few blocks from your destination
Use a pedometer to track your steps. The goal is 10,000-12,000 steps daily
Sign up for a 5 km charity walk or run to support your favourite charity.
The added purpose can be motivating.

FIBRE BASICS:

A minimum of 30 grams of fibre is recommended daily for adults
Add fibre slowly. Too much too fast may cause cramping and bloating
Increase water intake when increasing your fibre intake to prevent constipation
Choose raw fruits and vegetables over juice
Eat cereals with five or more grams of fibre
Eat brown rice (rather than white) and choose whole grain pastas.

Out of Energy? Need a Solution?

Anca Martalog — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:41:17 +0000

First step towards better health is cleansing It’s true.
Cleansing helps rid the body of harmful toxins that we
absorb through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the
water we drink. This ‘toxic overload’ has a negative impact
on your health and is the underlying cause of many
degenerative health conditions and decreasing energy levels.
Cleansing 2-3 times per year will have a profound impact on
your health and increase your energy, vitality, and overall
well-being. First Time Cleansing? – The cleanse I recommend is for
you! First Cleanse is a gentle, yet effective, cleansing
program formulated specifically for the ‘first time’ or
‘sensitive’ cleanser. It is strong enough to be effective,
but gentle enough to avoid the slight headache and nausea
that may occur at the beginning of an advanced cleanse.

I have Diabetes. Can I Still Cleanse?

Anca Martalog — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:46:02 +0000

If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, then there are a few
things of which you should be aware if deciding to use the
Cleansing and Fat Burning System.
Type 1 diabetes

It’s common to have lower levels of glucose while on the
products. Be careful with your use of insulin. I recommend
to my patients that they cut their insulin in half while
they do this program and adjust it accordingly. I also
recommend my patients use short-acting insulin. Please
consult your doctor before adjusting medication. You cannot
expect to get off of insulin, of course, but you can expect
to feel better and lower the levels of insulin required.

During the Shake Days you may find that the glucose levels
increase. This is expected, but if the rise is too high then
you can consider switching to diluting the shake with our
unflavored whey protein, IsaPro, or having ½ a shake 4 times
a day or ½ a shake 2 times day. Watch your glucose levels to
guide you.

Type 2 diabetes

Monitor your glucose levels closely since it’s easy to have
low levels while on the program. I personally recommend to
my diabetics that they cut their medications in half if they
are going to start on the 9-Day Program and if they are
using insulin to only use the shorter-acting insulins.
Please consult your doctor before adjusting medication.

A temporary glucose rise would be OK since it’s better than
you falling into a hypoglycemic state, which is more
dangerous than a hyperglycemic state. What we generally see
is a reduction of both medication and glucose levels with
this program. The Shake Days may very well show an increase
in the glucose levels but as your weight goes down this
generally is self-correcting. If this rise is too great for
you then you can switch to just the IsaPro or you can use ½
a shake 4 times a day or reduce the amount to just ½ a shake
2 times a day.

I have also seen my patients no longer require any type of
medication for diabetes, but individual differences doesn’t
make this the case for everyone.* At the very least you
should see a reduction in your weight and a reduction in the
amount of medication that you are using.

Dennis Harper, DO
Isagenix Scientific Advisory Board Chair

This information on this Web site is designed to support,
not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient
and her or his physician or other health-care professional.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration. This product is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Who Is Best Suited for Detoxification?

Anca Martalog — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:25:23 +0000

Almost everyone needs to detox, cleanse themselves, and rest their body functions at times. Cleansing or detoxification is one part of the trilogy of nutritional action, the others being building, or toning, and balance, or maintenance. With a regular, balanced diet, devoid of excesses, we will need less intensive detoxification. Our body has a daily elimination cycle, mostly carried out at night and in the early morning, up until breakfast. However, when we eat a congesting diet higher in fats, meats, dairy products, refined foods, and chemicals, detoxification becomes more necessary. Who needs to detoxify and when is based in part on individual lifestyle and needs.

More common toxicity symptoms include headache, fatigue, mucus problems, aches and pains, digestive problems, “allergy” symptoms, and sensitivity to environmental agents such as chemicals, perfumes, and synthetics. People who experience these and others on the list may benefit from diet changes or avoidance of the drug or agent that may be influencing the symptom. It may be important to differentiate allergic symptoms from those of toxicity to determine the appropriate medical care. The diet and detox program here is fairly similar to the Allergy plan discussed earlier and is often helpful in reducing allergic symptoms. Fasting can be extremely beneficial for people with allergies. Of course, there may be subtle characteristics of toxicity that differentiate it from other health concerns.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TOXICITY

Headaches	Backaches	Runny nose	Fatigue
Joint pains	Itchy nose	Nervousness	Skin rashes
Cough	Frequent colds	Sleepiness	Hives
Wheezing	Irritated eyes	Insomnia	Nausea
Sore throat	Immune weakness	Dizziness	Indigestion
Tight or stiff neck	Environmental sensitivity	Mood changes	Anorexia
Angina pectoris	Sinus congestion	Anxiety	Bad breath
Circulatory deficits	Fever	Depression	Constipation
High blood fats

o learn more about detoxification ana TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH, check out Dr.Anca’s “Detox for Life” Tele-Course.