15 Easy Ways to Detoxify Your Body Today

The following is adapted with permission from The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, ROHP. 

Every now and then I read or hear someone say that the body doesn’t need to detoxify.  This is an appalling statement since the body cannot live without effective and efficient detoxification, which needs to occur in the lungs, liver, skin, intestines, kidneys, lymphatic system, and other areas of the body every minute of every day.  

Our bodies are surprisingly good at detoxification but these processes can easily become overwhelmed due to the volume of toxins to which we’re exposed from our air, water, food, pharmaceutical and over-the-counter drugs, and many other sources.  

These detoxification processes also rely on many critical nutrients (you’ll discover which ones below) to function properly.  Fortunately, there are many easy things you can do to help your body eliminate harmful toxins.  Here are 15 easy ways to detoxify today based on my book, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan:

1. Eat pectin-rich organic apples. Pectin binds to toxins in the intestines to escort them out of the body.
2. Drink a freshly-made veggie juice daily. This can be as easy as throwing a couple of handfuls of leafy greens into a blender with some frozen berries and water.
3. Drink a large glass of purified, alkaline water with the juice of one fresh lemon in the morning.  Lemons have over 20 proven anti-cancer compounds in lemons.
4. Don’t stop after breakfast. Drink plenty of pure, alkaline water throughout the day to help flush toxins from your body. Almost every process in your body depends on proper hydration to function smoothly.
5. Eat blueberries daily. They are rich in anthocyanins that reduce inflammation in the body and brain, as well as help reduce allergies and excess weight. 
6. Remember to breathe. Oxygen kills bacteria, viruses, and helps us to feel more energized.  Breathe deeply as much as possible.
7. Eat at least a half cup of legumes daily. If they cause you gas, build up slowly and add a digestive enzyme with cellulase (breaks down the fiber in beans). Fiber in beans helps keep the bowels eliminating properly.
8. Find the positive in every day. Smile and laugh. A positive attitude reduces the number of stress chemicals in the body. And, as the adage says, “laughter is the best medicine.”
9. Take turmeric daily (a teaspoon in a small glass of water), added to soups or stews, or in capsule form.  It contains the phytonutrient curcumin that is one of the most powerful liver protectors and healers.  The liver is largely responsible for detoxification.
10. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. They contain enzymes that aid digestion and improve nutrient absorption. Many nutrients are needed for efficient detoxification, including:  beta carotene, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B12, pyridoxine, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, copper, germanium, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, sulphur, and zinc, among others.
11. Switch from chemical cleaning products to natural ones. Chemical cleaning products contain toxins like formaldehyde, chlorine, petroleum products, ammonia, perchloroethylene (“perc”), and many other harmful chemicals that research links to cancer, skin conditions, asthma, and other serious health conditions. Baking soda, vinegar, or orange oil work well.  No chemical cleaner removes stains as well as orange oil.
12. Eat at least three of the best detoxifying foods daily. They include: broccoli, garlic, spinach, cabbage, sprouts, blueberries, and ginger. 
13. Help remove toxins in your intestines by using aloe vera juice (about a quarter cup) or drinking a few cups of slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, or rhubarb root tea (about one teaspoon of the dried herb per cup of  water).
14. Take a probiotic supplement with live cultures on an empty stomach daily (morning or evening works well). The beneficial bacteria kill harmful bacteria and yeasts in the intestines, helping to restore many functions of the body.
15. Get at least 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity daily. Sweating is one of the best ways of removing harmful toxins, including heavy metals, from the body.

Re-hydrate and re-mineralize post-workout with Santevia

By Cassandra Hope

The importance of re-hydrating and re-mineralizing the body post workout is just as important as doing the workout itself! Shocking statement? Well, here’s the skinny on what’s going on behind the scenes once you’ve finished working out.

When training, your body is releasing toxins as well as minerals through perspiration. Since our bodies are unable to produce its own supply of minerals, it’s very important to source out a way to get them back.

It’s been very popular and socially acceptable to grab a sugary sport drink that has been marketed as the ideal post workout/game drink, but think of it this way: does your body even know what those man made chemical rich drinks are? Nope! It doesn’t. And it actually ends up causing inflammation and stress on our organs.

Let’s get back to basics — what nature intended. Pure, clean water. Rich in minerals that have been absorbed by the water naturally! If you were to think back to tribal times, we would go to a river and collect fresh water that had been re-mineralized by the earth’s rocks and crustation. Our bodies most definitely know what to do with that! No chemicals, no inflammation. Just happy cells, organs and bodies!

Another thing to consider is that the body produces acidity during and post workout. It is important to consider balancing our pH post workout with non-toxic food and water. Consider this: A slightly more alkaline body can carry out almost 100 times more oxygen to our cells than an acidic one. This means a reduction in free radicals and in turn better immunity and vitality!

Water should be void of BPAs, pollutants, and chlorine. These are commonly found in tap water, and bottled water. Having a great water filtration system such as the products Santevia offer not only filters pollutants, but re-mineralizes AND balances the ph of the water. This, to me, is like finding a little peace of mind in this hectic society filled with disinformation, well marketed products and such.

The four pillars of health include great nutrition, safe and effective training, rest and relaxation, and most definitely pure and clean water. 

Tweet to support World Water Day March 22

On World Water Day, March 22, help support a community water project! For every new follower we receive on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/@Santevia) and/or every new retweet of the message below, Santevia will donate $1* towards a project that supports clean and healthy drinking water.

Tweet:  Today, World Water Day, for every new follower + RT we will donate $1 to provide water to a needy community #Santevia ow.ly/jiuaE

Santevia clean water reservoir in Kibaale, Uganda

As part of the Santevia Gives Back philanthropic program, we have previously supported safe drinking water projects in villages in Africa, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, as well as building a new well, water storage tanks and bathroom facilities at an orphanage in Thailand. In February, Santevia helped establish a school in Bangladesh to educate impoverished mothers.

Visit out webpage at www.santevia.com to learn more.

*Up to a maximum of $10,000.

World Water Day 2013

March 22 is World Water Day. In support of the event to increase people's awareness of the importance of water in regards to everything from personal health to the environment, below is a collection of stories and stats about H20.


Timothy Marshall, CNP, RNCP, ROHP and better known as The Holistic Guy, is a holistic nutritionist living and practicing in Windsor, ON. Here he talks about:

Dihydrogen Monoxide – Deadly Chemical or Unwanted Necessity of Modern Life?

If I asked you if you to join me for a glass of dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO), what would you say?  You may be hesitant at first, but what if I told you it only had ‘minor’ side effects and it is ‘acceptable in moderation’?   In fairness, before you gulp it down, some facts on DHMO:

• It is the major component of acid rain
• May cause severe burns
• Is fatal if inhaled
• Contributes to erosion
• Accelerates corrosion 
• Is found in 100% of tumours of terminally ill cancer patients

After hearing that, would you be more inclined for a sip or two?  If you’re not sure, here’s more good news...

Today DHMO is used in many ways:

1. As an industrial solvent or coolant
2. In nuclear power plants
3. In the production of Styrofoam and plastics
4. In the refinement of oil sands to crude oil
5. In gold and silver mining and refining
6. As a fire retardant
7. In animal research
8. As a major ingredient in pesticides and herbicides
9. A major component of junk foods, specifically carbonated sodas and sugared ‘energy drinks’

  Should you be concerned?  Others have been in the past…

• In 1994 the Coalition to Ban DHMO began – this was 19 years ago, yet the chemical is still readily available!
• In 1997, in a campaign led by Nathan Zohner, Idaho Falls, Idaho voted 86% in favour of banning DHMO
• In 1998, DHMO.org was created with links to information on the Websites of the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health
• In 2001, New Zealand Green Party MP Sue Kedgley’s official position was that she was “absolutely supportive of the campaign to ban this toxic substance”

We should be grateful to have so many people working for us to reduce our exposure to this potentially fatal chemical…or should we?  Have we become dependent on this compound that is so prevalent in our environment?   Shockingly we are no longer able to survive without it!

Here are some of the side effects of limited exposure to DHMO:

• Fatigue and energy loss
• Constipation
• Digestive disorders
• High and low blood pressure
• Gastritis and stomach ulcers
• Respiratory issues
• Acid/alkaline imbalance
• Obesity
• Eczema
• Elevated cholesterol
• Urinary infections
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Premature aging

What has happened to humanity!??!

Okay - I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that all I’m talking about is water – commonly known as H2O, or by its scientific name – dihydrogen monoxide.  If you weren’t aware, fear not – you are not the first person to be caught in a water hoax:  In an effort to deter patrons of the Kentucky Waterfront Park from using a fountain during water shortages, the executive director arranged for signs reading, “DANGER! – WATER CONTAINS HIGH LEVELS OF HYDROGEN – KEEP OUT!”  He was, “counting on a lack of understanding about water’s chemical makeup” in order for his signs to work – and work they did.* 

As funny as some of this information is, it is also disturbing.  Idaho Falls was not the only city tricked by this water hoax; the list is quite extensive.  Imagine the embarrassment of the New Zealand MP Sue Kedgley when she discovered that she was absolutely supportive in banning water.  It’s difficult to get re-elected when your constituents have all died of dehydration.   Have you ever been caught by a Zohnerism²? 

It’s important for us to be careful about the information we believe.  When it comes to your health, you are the only one responsible.  It is wise to question everything you hear, read or see – regardless of the source; myself and other healthcare professionals included.  If you don’t take the time to do your own research you may unwittingly find yourself throwing your weight behind a campaign to ban water.  Now that you are armed with this knowledge, we know that is impossible.

I hope you will take this opportunity to build on my ‘water hoax’ and learn just how incredibly important it is to drink clean, mineralized (alkaline) dihydrogen monoxide every day!

Tim is a Holistic Nutritionist living and practicing in Windsor, Ontario.  Tim’s articles, advice, and opinions are in no way meant to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  Always seek the advice of a healthcare professional before starting any diet or supplement protocols.  Never stop taking any medications without consulting with the prescribing physician.  Tim and his wife Monique drink Santevia water every day.  Tim’s thoughts and comments do not necessarily reflect those of Santevia or any of its partners or distributors.

* Publications of this ‘water hoax’ resulted in the removal of the warnings from the City of Louisville Website.  A simple Internet search of the director’s name – David Karem, provides hundreds of Websites referring to his use of the chemical makeup of water to frighten people.

² Zohnerism – The use of scientific fact for an unrelated false conclusion.

Water facts

The global water crisis:

• Lake Superior is almost two feet below normal levels
• Arizona is officially out of water and must import from neighboring states
• Las Vegas is proposing a pipeline from rural Nevada because they are out of water
• Beijing may have to move because there won’t be enough water to supply the city

“Suddenly it is so clear: the world is running out of fresh water.” -Maude Barlow (Global Water Movement)

While the world's population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources has grown six-fold. Within the next fifty years, the world population will increase by another 40 to 50 %. This population growth - coupled with industrialization and urbanization - will result in an increasing demand for water and will have serious consequences on the environment. -World Water Council 

Minimum drinking water requirement: 5 litres per person per day 

Basic requirements for sanitation: 20 litres per person per day 

Basic water requirements for bathing: 15 litres per person per day 

Basic requirement for food preparation: 10 litres per person per day 

TOTAL = 50 litres (13.2 gallons) per person per day

Bottled water is expensive 

• Americans spent $10.6 billion on bottled water in 2009 
• 1,000 times the cost of tap water 
• Almost half of all bottled water (48.7 percent) came from municipal tap water supplies 
• A growing share of bottled water is now coming from tap water. 

Bottled water is bad for the environment

• Wastes fossil fuels in production and transport
• Used the energy equivalent of 32 and 54 million barrels of oil to produce and transport plastic water bottles in 2007—enough to fuel about 1.5 million cars for a year.
• About 75 percent of the empty plastic bottles end up in our landfills, lakes, streams and oceans, where they may never fully decompose.

Bottled water is not safer

• Tap water in the United States is subject to more stringent federal safety regulations than bottled water
• Federal, state, and local environmental agencies require rigorous testing of tap water safety and make test results available to the public
• Despite the marketing claims of purity, independent testing of 10 different brands of bottled water conducted in 2008 found 38 contaminants

Ward off prostate cancer with pH-balanced diet

With Movember in full swing, the topic on many people's minds is prostate cancer and how we can treat and avoid it. This month, Dr. Rich Snyder — author, physician and kidney health expert, spoke about the link between prostate cancer and maintaining pH balance in the body.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies that affect males over the age of fifty. Approximately one in every seven men can develop cancer of the prostate. Did you know that by simply following a more pH balanced, alkaline based diet you can dramatically decrease your risk of developing this condition? Important risk factors include obesity and eating an animal-based, acidic diet composed of processed meat and high-fat dairy products. Acidosis and chronic inflammation are root causes of not only cancer, but also many chronic illnesses.

One important aspect concerning both the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer includes maintaining an alkaline-based pH. Did you know that an acidic environment can actually increase the malignant potential of tumor cells? The low pH can actually change the signaling and “cross-talk” inside the cells that not only make these cancer cells more aggressive but also difficult to treat. In one laboratory based study in the International Journal of Cancer in 2008, it was demonstrated that acidosis can significantly contribute to resistance of the tumor cells to chemotherapy. The authors concluded that the prevention of acidosis and pH balance decreased the ‘aggressiveness” of these cells but also enhanced their response to treatment.

What does this mean for you? A plant-based alkaline diet, rich in fruit and vegetables and avoidance of inflammation producing foods such as processed meats is vital to promoting vitality and preventing cancer. Abstaining from high fat diets and high fructose corn syrup is a must. Avoid beverages that can lower your pH including colas that are high in phosphoric acid and contain artificial sweeteners. Instead, drink alkalized water to help maintain an alkaline pH and help flush out the toxins from your body! Remember that over 75 percent of your body is water — drinking the right kind of water is essential to health, longevity, vitality. As alkaline water has anti-oxidant activity, it needs to be part of your arsenal in the fight against cancer.

Hearty vegetarian pumpkin soup

It's fall — and that means the leaves are changing, the wind is blowing and the pumpkins are sprouting up in fields everywhere. Looking for a pumpkin soup recipe that allows you to still actually taste the sweet and tender orange meat? Then look no further than this recipe below serving 6 to 8 people with a preparation time of under an hour.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 4 cups pumpkin cut into large chunks
• 1 cup finely chopped sweet onion
• 1 cup sliced celery
• 1/2 cup carrots
• 5 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock  
• 4 cups Santevia ALKALINE water
• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
• 1/3 cup finely grated Romano cheese (optional)

Directions

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Add pumpkin, onion, celery, carrots, sage and bay leaves, sea salt, pepper and garlic and stir until vegetables soften (about 10 to 15 minutes)
3. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pumpkin is tender (about 20 to 25 minutes).
4. Mash some pumpkin chunks in the pot with a wooden spoon to thicken soup.
5. Optional — add 3/4 of the Romano cheese and stir.
6. Serve into bowls and sprinkle with remaining cheese (optional)

ALKALINE Pitcher Giveaway: Tap...Out!

CLEAN, MINERALIZED, ALKALINE — Our brand new Santevia ALKALINE Water Pitchers are now available at select health food stores and online in four colors: black, white, green and blue - for just $59.99 each!

MORE than a standard water pitcher, the portable 2-liter container produces 1,250 glasses (80 gal/300 L) of pH balanced water in the 9 range anytime, anywhere. That's double the glasses of water compared to most pitchers, making it perfect for both individuals and large households. And, like our gravity water systems, it reduces contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals and industrial pollutants while adding back beneficial minerals such as calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals - all this for just pennies a glass. Not to mention you're hydrating the eco-friendly way by eliminating the need for disposable plastic water bottles.

Learn more about the new pitcher on our website. For a list of Santevia retailers in your area, click on 'Store' in the top menu bar.

Do you think the Santevia ALKALINE Water Pitcher would look great in YOUR fridge? This month, one lucky person will win the chance to transform their tap water into pure, ALKALINE water.

“When and why did you stop drinking water straight from the tap?”

Like our facebook page and answer the question above in the giveaway post before Tuesday, August 7 for your chance to win a FREE Santevia ALKALINE Water Pitcher!