This is an article that I found today at choosingraw.com. I've been interested in an all raw food diet. I haven't talked myself into it yet, but I'm interested in it. Gena, in this article discusses "toxins". I believe she puts it in proper perspective, so I wanted to share it with you. You can see her other great info at www.choosingraw.com.
Digestion
People love to talk about “detox” and “cleansing,” often without a real sense of what the words mean. Here’s what I can tell you, based upon experience and observation:
What is detoxification/cleansing?
Detox/cleansing is the process by which our cells, organs, tissues, and digestive system begin to release the waste and toxins we’ve accumulated from our environment and consumption.
We accumulate toxins constantly. They build up from exposure to chemicals, pollution, carcinogens in our environment, and most of all, from improperly digested and unhealthy foods. Even the simple processes of digestion and metabolism release toxic byproducts. Our bodies are naturally equipped to deal with these toxins, of course: the human body is magnificently smart, and it’s designed to clean up its own mess. But here’s the thing: because we’re all exposed to hundreds of toxins nowadays in addition to the toxins we create ourselves, our clean up systems are often overtaxed.
The good news is that we can help our livers and other organs in the detoxification process by eatnig whole, unprocessed, alkaline foods, by lessening our drinking, smoking, and drug use, and by treating our bodies with care (i.e., lots of sleep, less stress).
Many people find that, when they start to eat more raw food, they feel unwell. Raw foodists claim that this is the body’s release of toxicity: I think there’s some truth to this claim, but that it’s often confused with other things, and that more research is necessary. Whatever the case, if you do feel unwell as you start to eat more raw, make sure you’re getting proper dietary balance.
If you are, and still feel so-so, you may want to consider colon hydrotherapy from a good processional. Cassie Karopkin is, in my opinion, the best specialist to see in New York City; you can get in touch by emailing her at cassieruth@prodigy.net. Otherwise, search for a specialist in your area. All colonics are not created equal: pressurized colonics (closed system) can be great if they’re administered by an awesome hydrotherapist, but keep in mind that they’re powered by a machine, and that the water pressure during the treatments can be too intense for badly impacted systems, pushing waste further into the colon walls or leaving you with unreleased fluid and bloating after the treatment.
Gravity colonics (open system), on the other hand, are powered only by the force of gravity: water flows downward from a tank of water that’s suspended above the colonic table, and a hydrotherapist massages and controls the inward and outward flow of water the whole time.
No matter what, it’s the quality and experience of your hydrotherapist that matters most, so work to find someone whom you trust!
And don’t be scared. People have a hard time coming to terms with the idea of a colonic, but guess what? 90% of things that women will do to experience better health–from bogus and nutritionally void “master cleanse” regimes to powdered “liver flush” regimens to militaristic and overpriced boot camp classes–strike me as way weirder than using a gentle flow of water to heal an system that’s impacted and out of balance from chronic constipation and poor diet.
Digestive Health
Part of maintaining a happy and healthy plant-based lifestyle is to be vigilant about your digestive health. I hope to discuss digestive health much more extensively on the blog, but below you’ll find my basic tips for keeping your system humming. Lots of these tips will contradict what you’ve heard in fitness magazines and mainstream sources. I had IBS for twelve years, and found myself constantly confounded by the uselessness of mainstream prescriptive advice–and, sadly, the advice of numerous allopathic GIs. I’m not a medical doctor, but I have worked with many men and women who experience digestive distress, and the following tips are what I’ve gleaned from experience:
Densest Meal at a Restful Time
In general, it’s wise to eat your densest meal at night. This won’t work for everyone–especially not those of you who have heavy duty morning workout routines–but it’s good advice for most people. Likewise, within meals, try to eat heavier and denser foods after raw, light ones; again, no need to get obsessive, but eating salad before nutloaf is probably a good call.
Food combining: A Primer
If you’ve explored the raw foods movement a little, you’ll probably have heard some talk about food combining and its benefits. While there’s little scientific evidence to prove its efficacy, many people that find that food combining encourages them to eat more simply, which in turn can be therapeutic for digestive distress. Read more about ithere! Other Tips for Optimal Digestion
•Try not to drink a lot of water thirty minutes before and after a meal. I know, it sounds weird, but water dilutes the enzymes in your stomach, making it harder to digest. Drink between meals.
•Definitely eat as much as you wish, but do stop when you’re full. And eat slowly, so that you can feel fullness when it comes naturally.
•Chew your food. Sounds like advice for a toddler, right? Well, lots of us don’t chew our food enough. I know I tend not to when I’m racing through a meal or trying to eat and work at my desk. But chewing food properly means it will digest faster and easier. So, put your molars to work!
Get the idea? A few simple tweaks will do a world of good in helping you to digest more efficiently. Efficient digestion means lack of bloating, weight retention, and even bad moods: new science is proving that we have a glut of neurotransmitters in our gut, and that the neurotransmitters located in our gut are actually responsible for seratonin production. Is it any shock that many individuals with depression–even autism–also have acute digestive disorders? Work harder to keep your GI system balanced, stable, and healthy, and you’ll be thankful in ways that extend well beyond your sudden capacity to throw away the Pepto and Tums.
