By Susan M. Keenan ©2007
Cutting down on toxin consumption is a vital part of maintaining optimum health. Today, more than ever, our consumption of toxins is relatively high due to the inordinate presence of processed foods, pesticides, and artificial additives in our diet. If you want to modify your diet to exclude these toxins for life, incorporate gradual changes that will be easier to maintain over the long haul. Additionally, a gradual change is easier on your digestive and lymphatic systems.
The body tends to store toxins, making it essential to incorporate detoxing into our health routines. Avoiding toxins and eliminating them from our menu will increase the benefits of detoxing. Additionally, our bodies should respond in a positive manner to healthier eating habits.
How can we cut down on toxins? Plenty of foods on the supermarket shelves have toxins added to them. Avoid them by including as many natural foods as possible in your diet. In particular, select organic foods whenever you can. This eliminates many of the residues left by common pesticides and preservatives.
Whenever you can’t purchase organic fruits and vegetables, always wash and peel them before eating them. This eliminates the majority of the toxins on the produce.
Unfortunately, despite the benefits of drinking water throughout our day, unfiltered tap water can and often does contain contaminants or toxins. Place a filter on your tap at home to enhance the quality of the water you drink. Avoid unfiltered tap water whenever possible, unless it’s a better option than your other choices.
Cut back on your consumption of processed and packaged foods. Although it’s easier to grab a package of pre-packaged and ready-to-cook food, it is also less healthy. Instead of lamenting on the lack of time that you have to prepare a meal on weeknights, find recipes that you can prepare in the morning before you go to work. Alternatively, put together the meal the night before and store it in the refrigerator for easy access the next day.
Sweet, fatty, and salty foods offer little by way of nutrition for the body. However, their toxic effect can result in unhealthy conditions. Eliminate as many of the foods that contain a high percentage of sugar, salt, or fat from your diet. Just because it tastes good, doesn’t mean it is.
You’ve heard the saying that soda contains a lot of empty calories. Well, it’s true. Even diet soda isn’t that healthy for you. It might cut back on the sugar, but it really doesn’t provide anything of nutritional value for your body’s needs. Drinking filtered water is more beneficial.
Additionally, avoid beverages high in caffeine such as coffee and tea. Your body doesn’t need the caffeine. If you need an extra little boost during your day, get up and do a few jumping jacks or take a walk around the office building.
Always read the list of ingredients included on the labels of the foods and beverages that you ingest. Stay away from artificial sweeteners since the only benefit they offer is fewer calories. What good is a thinner body if it isn’t also healthy? Furthermore, avoid food products that contain genetically modified ingredients.
Eating natural food products is one of the best ways to avoid toxins. Plus, fresh produce and vegetables offer your body lots of nutrition. Once you begin to detox and manage to avoid many of the toxins that exist in our food supply, your energy level should go up. Feeling healthy doesn’t just happen; you need to make it happen.
