Cleanse, Replenish, Revitalize: The Three Pillars of Radiant Health
Did you know that science has now determined that there are well over 100 trillion cells in the average human body? And that 1 billion cells are produced in the human body every 60 seconds? Incredible, isn’t it? To be healthy and function properly, every one of those cells needs at least 90 specific building blocks. Of those 90 building blocks, 30 are amino acids, essential fatty acids and vitamins; approximately 60 are minerals.
Maintaining this vast galaxy of cells that is “us” rests upon the synergistic strength of three foundational pillars: a lifestyle that includes nutritional cleansing, replenishing and revitalizing. When we give the body all the essential nutrients it needs to be the miracle that it is, it comes naturally into homeostatic balance: hormonal systems calm down, excess fat is released, mental focus increases, the skin glows, and vexing cravings for excessive salt, sweeteners, sedatives and stimulants vanish without effort.
Nutritional Cleansing
It’s no secret that our world has become hazardous to our health. Over the last 30 years, research from many prestigious universities, health organizations, and even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has demonstrated that it is not a question of if the environment is toxic and the beings on this planet are carrying around toxins, but how toxic is our environment, and how is this toxicity impacting the health of the planet and its inhabitants? Heavy metals, petrochemicals, herbicides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, noxious hydrocarbons, food additives, genetically altered materials, antibiotics, synthetic drugs and hormones are among the substances that have created a life-negating broth in which our cells are simmering on a daily basis.
So who needs to cleanse? In a word: everyone. There are many types of cleanses, which you may have already heard of, or even tried one or two. However, it is wise to learn some background about cleansing before embarking on this healing pathway. Without proper preparation, a detox program can leave a person weaker and more toxic than before.
The healer’s axiom of “First do no harm,” is especially important when it comes to detoxification. Given the proper nutrients, the body is designed to cleanse and detoxify itself, so before starting any cleansing program, it is critical to strengthen the body’s filtration systems. In particular, the liver has two pathways of detoxification. Before being rendered harmless, dangerous toxins are converted into even more toxic forms. If the liver is not enabled to finish its work, these new, more toxic chemicals flood the body.
Love your liver by nurturing it daily with dark leafy green vegetables, dark green herbs (like parsley, cilantro, dandelion), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower), sulfur-rich foods (garlic, eggs, onions), and a spritz of citrus (1 orange, juice of half a lemon or lime). Toss in some good liver-healing foods like artichoke, beets, asparagus, and dandelion root tea, and you’re good to go.
A healthy cleansing is one that is effective, yet gentle enough to let the body cleanse at a pace that is steady and safe. For a gentle, daily cleanse, start your morning with this alkalizing beverage:
- 8 ounces purified water
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 to 2 ounces of aloe vera juice
- An ionic plant source mineral supplement
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey, blue agave nectar or some juice (for sweetness)
For a deeper cleanse, you may want to do a semi-fast day with this beverage and some snacks once or twice a month. Fasting allows the digestive mechanisms to rest while the body is provided with a concentration of nutrients known to strengthen its own systems of cleansing and detoxification. Check in with a healing cleanse professional if you want to make fasting a regular part of your healing regimen until you feel confident in responding to your body’s adjustments during fasting. Other compliments to enhance a cleansing lifestyle include regular meditation, skin brushing, deep breathing exercises and physical movement (especially rebounding and walking).
Nutritional Replenishing
After cleansing, we want to flood the body with high quality total nutrition that will support a well-balanced blood and brain chemistry and that will help to build our immune systems, healthy cells and healthy cell membranes. Such a mixture will also support and enhance the important detoxification pathways in the liver. For this, the body needs a full complement of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, essential fats, enzymes, probiotics, fiber, and organic soil acids. Modern advancements in food technology have made pure, total nutrition available in ways to use that are easy and inexpensive.
Although organically grown whole foods are better for you than loading up on junk food, it has been known since 1936 that modern farming practices in the U.S. were depleting the soils to such an extent that the nation’s health was clearly declining. Most of us know how important vitamins are for our health. Less known is the critical importance of minerals, especially the trace minerals. Minerals activate crucial metabolic processes in the cells. Respected Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Linus Pauling, said, “You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.” Even where savvy farmers have made the effort to re-mineralize their soils with rock-dust, acid rains destroy the organisms that transform the minerals into the organic forms that our hungry cells can absorb and utilize.
To ensure your body is getting its daily dose of vital trace minerals, purchase mineral supplements that have the words “ionic plant source minerals.” These words indicate the minerals are tiny enough to be readily absorbed by our cells. Also be sure to supplement your program with fulvic acid. Known as “the miracle molecule,” fulvic acid literally recharges the cells and increases life force. It maximizes absorption of nutrients while binding and removing heavy metals and other damaging impurities. It is also a powerful antioxidant in its own right.
Your daily replenishing program should contain a high quality multivitamin, an easily absorbed magnesium/calcium supplement and a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber. Healthy cells and healthy cell membranes are built from amino acids and essential fatty acids (the good fats). Essential omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained from flax seeds and purified fish oils. The full spectrum of essential amino acids can be found in whole, un-denatured organic whey protein. This can be combined with a special blend of natural sugars, digestive enzymes, probiotics, vitamins and minerals in absorbable forms to make super food shakes and is an ideal food for replenishing our depleted bodies. Many people who are sensitive to commercial dairy products are able to tolerate pure, un-denatured whey protein remarkably well. There are many grades of whey protein and omega-3 oils on the market today. Do not skimp on quality with these! For a little more money, you will get a much greater nutritional bang for your buck.
Revitalizing the Body
Our 21st century lifestyles expose us to incredible amounts of stressors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since ancient times, Eastern medical practitioners recognized the need for tonification, or revitalization, on a daily basis. Tonics help the body be more resilient to both internally and externally generated stress. They increase the body’s adapt-ability by strengthening the nervous system, the immune system, and the glandular systems. In doing so, they increase our resistance to disease and the adverse effects of trauma.
Tonics are herbs, foods, and other nutrients that may have a certain amount of detoxifying effect in the body, but their most striking property is their ability to restore balance in the body. For example, ginseng is a tonic herb that contains some ingredients that lower blood pressure and some that increase blood pressure. Herbs, like ginseng, that help the body cross correct itself in this way, are called adaptogens. Adaptogens are fantastically effective in helping the body safely balance itself in the areas of sleep, energy, strength, stamina, and immune function. Some of the more useful adaptogens are Ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea, Schizandra, Tribulus Terrestris, and Siberian Ginseng.
A good tonic formulation includes an ample supply of anti-stress, body-balancing herbs, minerals, enzymes and other substances to revitalize and rejuvenate the body. Chinese wolfberry is rich in all of these substances and makes a wonderful base for a daily revitalizing tonic. The wisdom of the body discerns which group of ingredients it needs when a tonic is consumed. Whatever is not needed at the time is eliminated or metabolized.
Better health is not an event, it’s a lifestyle. Begin with something as simple as a glass of fresh lemon water and build from there. Do what you can to take small, manageable steps toward your health goal each day. Consistency is the key. Set your strong foundation and dare to be surprised at how quickly your body will respond to your loving care.
Deborah Yaffee, CH, CN is a nutritionist, nutritional cleanse coach and certified hypnotherapist in good standing with the National Guild of Hypnotists. She enjoys serving clients worldwide via telephone sessions and email support. Visit her at www.cleanseforsuccess.com or contact her at deb@riversidehealing.com or call her at 413-625-2800
