Page 38 - Tropic Magazine Issue 16

INDUSTRY • HEALTH

to keep it away from your organs. These excretes toxins by sweating. In order to
strategies happen on a cellular level all detox, we need the blood as a transport
the time and require a lot of different medium, the liver and the kidneys as
nutrients and minerals for each cell to filters plus good elimination channels
do its job. Before you start a detox, it is such as urine (kidneys), poo (bowel) and
therefore extremely important to make sweat (skin). We need all these organs
sure you are not suffering from any working together to effectively eliminate
nutritional deficiencies. In particular, toxins from the body. There’s no point
Let’s talk about detox check your levels of iron, Vitamin B12 working really hard to mobilise stored
toxins from organ tissue if the liver is
and magnesium.
ADVICE already collapsing under its normal
workload. So, depending on your
In our new regular column, Dr individual situation, you might need to
Alex Bernhardi outlines some pay attention to these areas first before
simple strategies for detoxing. you can go one level deeper.

WHAT IS DETOXING? BACK TO BASICS
“To detox” literally means to get rid When starting a detox, identify any
of toxins. Technically, a toxin is a habits that are overburdening your body
poisonous substance produced within right now. Alcohol? Sweets? Cigarettes?
living cells or organisms. In our ORGANS Fast food? For a detox to work you’ll
everyday language, however, a toxin can The organ that first comes to mind when need to stop these habits. There’s just
be any substance that interferes with thinking about detoxing is probably the no point trying to help your liver while
the optimal function of your organs, liver. The liver filters and eliminates all drowning it in alcohol or greasy oils.
including natural waste products your fat-soluble toxins and sends them into Secondly, you need to map out a healthy
body produces as well as dietary and the bowel for excretion. But it’s not the diet that works for you. It might mean
environmental toxins such as alcohol, only organ in our system involved in toxin drinking lots of water or eating easily
artificial food additives, heavy metals removal. The remaining water-soluble digestible whole foods, such as soups
and other environmental contaminants. toxins in your blood go through the from root vegetables. However, you
Your body has natural strategies to kidneys and get excreted through urine. should not feel hungry during a detox
remove toxins from your blood and tries The skin is also an important organ that as this places stress on your body. The

38 • Tropic • Issue 15