Detox! Detox! Detox!

The title is worth repeating three times because it's that important to our health. A toxic body is very sluggish and may show up with a multitude of signs and symptoms. Every function of the body is effected by this overload of unwanted substances. Simply consider a daily exposure to poor air quality, byproducts from improper digestion, chemicals in our work environment (have you ever walked to the door of a nail salon!?), and who really knows what is in our water (bottled or not).

Unfortunately, most of this is out of our direct control. However, we can and must finds ways to rid our body of these harmful toxins.

At minimum, we must drink filtered water in the amount of half your body weight in ounces each day. Add 16 ounces for every caffinated beverage you drink. Please, no soda. The liver and kidneys need water to filter the toxins out of your body.

Drink a detox tea on a daily basis. I prefer this daily approach to waiting for a fast and letting things build up. Also, many companies today have detox powders to address the entire metabolic process which provides a more complete cleansing. Speaking of cleansing, a regular colonic reaches many substances that have been in our bodies for too long.

Every house and office needs an air purifier with a hepa filter. There are just too many chemicals out there to list here.

Circulate the body with exercise!

Last, but not least, take enzymes with every meal to properly digest your food and improve absorption of nutrients.

It's ok if you can't do all these things right away. Just get started somewhere!

Yours in better health,
Dr Rick Stockmaster

3/3/2008 10:05:17 AM

Written by Dr Rick Stockmaster

Owner and clinic director of 11 years for the Newport Wellness Center in Newport Beach, California. I will consider everything to drive my patients into a healthier lifestyle.

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Comments

Yes, your body can detox on a very clean diet which would be a long the lines of a vegan raw food diet or natural hygienist. How many people are willing to do that and for how long? What about heavy metals once stored in the body it is very hard to get them out. Here is a video that is all about how toxic our environment is! <url removed> Here are some statistics as well: Some 70,000 chemicals are being dumped into our environment, 65,000 of which are potentially hazardous to our health. We live in a virtual sea of pollutants, and carry many of these toxins within us. They can be found even in unborn children. A 2004 study by the Environmental Working Group identified 287 industrial chemicals in babies' umbilical-cord blood, including 180 known to cause cancer and 217 that are toxic to the brain and nervous system. " Every Chronic Disease Process is related to One Word: TOXICITY." Dr. Buttar, Vice-Chairman of the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology Autism, Schizophrenia, Heart Disease, Liver Disease,Cancer, Insomnia, Alzheimer's, ADHD/ADD, Asthma, Auto Immune, Epilepsy, Arthritis, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, Infertility, Parkinson's Disease, Thyroid Disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Candida, Multiple Sclerosis, And many more

Posted by Jinny

I drink more than enough water. Plus, I drink green tea which I read is supposed to be good for you. I discovered a company called Isagenix, and they sell cleansing and fat burning systems among other products. I am thinking about trying it. I do get plenty of exercise. I am back to doing Yoga. I can tell the difference in my arms. They are becoming toned. I still use my weights, but the Yoga works better! >Rebecca

Posted by raszz19

Thanks for the response, Dr Rick. Sure, as you say "many great things happen everyday without scientific proof." However, that doesn't mean there are not physical laws behind what's happening. Those laws can be discovered through careful observation. Researchers have carefully observed detox programs and found them to have little to no effect. It doesn't mean they don't work, but it means currently we have no basis for believing that they do work. Regarding your statement: "Research and physics have proven that helicopters should not fly but I see them in the air all the time." I'd like to see this research of which you speak. Can you provide a link? From my understanding research did show that they can fly and that's why there were invented. :-) I wish the research for detoxing were more compelling because I think the concept of detoxing is great. Can you provide any 3rd party research supporting any good detox programs?

Posted by ewilson

I understand your skepticism but many great things happen everyday without scientific proof. Research and physics have proven that helicopters should not fly but I see them in the air all the time. For the record, I never stated that the body doesn't detox naturally or that diets work. I do, however, believe that our body can be aided in this ever increasingly difficult task. Simply eating a well-balanced diet over a fast-food diet has it's advantages even to the most critical skeptics. I can assure you that I am not blindly recommending products to my patients without first reading the provided material. In fact, I take it one step further and try it myself before any of my patients. Also, positive feedback and data received from numerous patients over the years has to count for something. Yours in better health, Dr Rick

Posted by Dr Rick Stockmaster

I agree with jonpaul. Check out the Baloney Detection Kit blog I wrote on this site: click to read it. The body naturally detoxes. That's what the lymphatic system does. Sure, pollution isn't helping, but detox products and diets don't help either. Read this encyclopedia entry to confirm my statements: <url removed>. Science works! If research doesn't support a claim, there is a REASON. :-)

Posted by ewilson

Sorry, but I must profoundly disagree. First, in this highly toxic world we live in, detox is a must not a myth. If you're drinking tap water you are exposing yourself to bacteria, lead, chlorine and host of other harmful chemicals. Don't just believe me, have your water professionally tested. Have you ever looked at a city water report? I have, it's not pretty. And that's only the ones they are allowing us to know about. Water is a big issue and will only get bigger in the near future. As for the diet, it's only one part of the puzzle. Yes, eating well certainly helps our body detox itself but it's not enough if you're looking for optimum function, health and wellness. Just ask an employee who travels in and out of LA if the air quality effects his day. Yours in better health, Dr Rick

Posted by Dr Rick Stockmaster

I thought that "detoxing" was a myth. Our bodies detox all the time. And filtered water? In places with poorly developed infrastructure yes, but in developed counties like USA and UK? Tap water is fine. Cut out the junk for a few days, eat fruits and veges, less meat and dairy, and avoid salts, sugar etc, and your body will detox and purify itself.

Posted by Jon

Your body is definitely on toxic overload. All of your symptoms are traced to the body's natural response to rid itself of these dangerous chemicals. Please don't give up and trust in your body's ability to heal itself. First, minimize additional exposure to toxic build-up by breathing clean air, drinking only filtered water, and stay away from any questionable environments. Next, help the process with natural supplements like detox powders and teas. Also, activated charcol absorbs harmful chemicals and helps push it out of your body. This liberation of toxins from overloaded tissue and organs will cause headaches and the other symptoms you mentioned but that's still much better than allowing them to continually break you down. Stick with it, you will feel a tremendous lift off your body at the other end of the rainbow. Lastly, try not to feel scared in using your support group around you. The alternative is going it alone which is much more difficult to handle. Please feel free to ask more questions. Yours in better health, Dr Rick Stockmaster

Posted by Dr Rick Stockmaster

What about if you have been on very strong pain meds. for over a year? The Doctors finally found what was wrong, then did 2 surgreys and I am no longer in pain. but on the other hand my body is going through a hard time. I shake, sweat, freeze, run fever's throw up and have nightmare head aces. I know I am going through with drawls for coming off of long term meds. but it is driving me crazy. How do I make this process easyer to bair, and how long will this take to get out of my body. Will I ever be back to who I was before all the pain pills? I am worried. i don't want to be week, but this is so hard for me. I just want to have a somewhat normal life and enjoy my children again, but the pills are always on my mind. Please help. I am scared to talk to my doctors about this.

Posted by mometo5

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