Is it Safe?

The short answer to this question is, it depends. With all the information around “detoxing” floating around the internet, there is some good advice but also advice that can be potentially harmful. Things like extremely restrictive diets, juice cleanses that go on for too long, or even supplements that really may not be right for everyone can all pose some very serious risks to health and may do more harm than good. This is where it becomes important to talk to a healthcare professional before starting on any sort of “detox”. Keep in mind that what’s best for one person, may not be best for everyone. Everyone is different and it is important that any approach to improving health reflects that. 

Where do I start?

The best place to start is by reducing exposure to things that you already know put extra stress on your body. This step can actually be quite simple.

Could your house use a clean? Clean it up, open a window, and you’ve just reduced your exposure to air pollutants that could be adding to your toxic load. Home environments can be teeming with hidden toxins like mould, dust, or harmful chemicals. Make this clean-up even better by simply using a vinegar solution to clean instead of a cleaner that may add more harmful chemicals to the environment.

Go to the grocery store (or local farmer’s market), buy some real, whole ingredients (things that don’t come in a box!). Make a home-cooked meal for dinner. Now you’ve just reduced the number of food additives or chemicals that could be adding to your toxic load. To also reduce pesticides that may be contributing to the burden, try buying organic and wash your produce very well.

Get moving! Did you know that exercise can actually improve the function of all of your organs of elimination by increasing circulation? So get moving, even if it’s just a simple walk.

Once you’ve taken the simple steps to reduce your toxic load, you may want to consult a healthcare professional, like one of us here at Awakening Health, about further supporting your body’s natural detoxification process. For example, our Naturopathic Doctor can work with you to assess the health of your organs of elimination and come up with a plan to optimize their function. Our Physiotherapist can help you get moving and address any restrictions that may be altering your mobility. Our Osteopath can also help with releasing any restrictions that may be preventing optimal circulation, especially to the organs of elimination.

As you can see, “detoxing” doesn’t have to be extreme or restrictive, it actually tends to be more effective when it’s not. Our bodies are smart and often quite capable of handling what the world throws at us and sometimes we just need a little extra help, support, and guidance along the way.

What can Awakening Health do to help you?

You probably have some sort of idea of how to lead a healthy lifestyle but sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start or you may have other factors such as pain or lack of energy that prevent you from making healthy lifestyle changes. That’s where we come in.

Our naturopathic doctor will spend time listening carefully to your health story and perform any relevant physical exams or lab work in order to piece together what may be contributing to your high blood pressure. She will then work with you to make any dietary and lifestyle changes that will help lower blood pressure/heart disease risk and are reasonable and attainable. In the meantime, therapies such as herbal medicine, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture will help support you, lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health as you make these changes.

Our physiotherapist will work with you to determine any restrictions or mobility limitations that may be preventing you from leading an active lifestyle. He will also work with you to come up with an exercise program that restores proper biomechanics and decreases your risk for heart disease.

Our osteopathic practitioner will use hands-on manual techniques to address other factors that may be restricting blood flow to help restore optimal circulation throughout the body and improve heart health.

Our massage therapist will help promote relaxation and improve circulation throughout the body.

This article contains health information. It is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide health care advice. For advice specific to your concern, please consult a regulated healthcare provider.