What Is Detoxification?

Detoxification

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #24: Detoxification

“Detoxification is the process of eliminating toxins from our bodies. Therapies used for this purpose include diet, supplementation, exercise and spa treatments. Crucial is intake of enough clean drinking water.” (Excerpt from the original article)

Detoxification is an alternative therapeutic approach to free the body from harmful substances that cause ill effects.

Dieting is one approach to achieve this purpose. Often, toxic substances also come from the food we eat like food with too much cholesterol content or trans fat, artificial flavorings, preservatives, etc. The objective of dieting is to remove these harmful substances by not eating any more of those harmful toxins and let the body remove the remaining toxins naturally. Diet may consist of carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, natural juices and herbs and non-fat dairy products or oatmeal.

One example of a detox diet plan is the Gerson Therapy. German physician Max Gerson believes that disease is caused by the accumulation of unspecified toxins, and attempts to treat the disease by having patients consume a predominantly vegetarian diet including hourly glasses of organic juice and various dietary supplements (source: wikipedia).

Fasting is one approach that proponents of detoxification promote. However, while it can be effective to some people, it may not be good for all because it may cause harm instead when overdone.

Taking food supplements also help speed up the detoxification of the body. Spirulina for example, has been found to prevent damage caused by toxins affecting the heart, liver, kidneys, neurons, eyes, ovaries, DNA, and testicles (source: wikipedia).

Trace minerals also supports a healthy, energetic body and wards off diseases. It is good for bones, teeth, soft tissue, muscle, blood & nerve cells, & stimulates muscle response, nerve impulse transmission, digestion, metabolism and hormone production. It also functions as co-enzyme and influences all metabolic processes.

Detox therapy also uses water cure. Detox proponents argue that drinking stomach-full of water can clean the bowel. They say that it has various health benefits although initially, it can cause loose bowel movement due to the increase of water intake. However, intake of water in large amount can lead to a rare but harmful case of water intoxication or water poisoning, which is fatal.

We need to be conscious of our health all the time. We need to watch our diet and keep a healthy lifestyle.

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Cooking Method Affects Diet

Breaded Fish Fillet c/o Dreamstime.Com

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #23: The Cooking Method

“The cooking method you use determines your food’s fat content...” (excerpt from the original article)

Many people say that frying is not a very healthy cooking method. It would still be best to boil steam or grill meat instead of frying it in oil.

According to wiki, frying is a method of cooking that dates back to ancient Egypt, which 2,500 years ago. Up to now, fried food is still the most popular method of cooking. Perhaps, people like frying because it is the easiest method of cooking and admittedly, the most delicious to the taste. Who would resist fried chicken?

In an article I have read, it says that - "New York Times" explains that using clean oil at the right temperature and removing the food at the right time before the hissing and sizzling ceases will prevent excess fat -- and calories -- from adhering to your chicken, fish or even Twinkie. The oil you choose can make a big difference as well. Olive oil does not get as hot as other cooking oils, which means you have to leave the food in longer and will up your fat and calorie count. Peanut oil has the highest flash point of comparable cooking oils and will require the least amount of cooking time. One cup of peanut oil has 1,910 calories. Corn and canola oils, both of which have high flash points as well, have 1,980 calories per cup. A cup of lard has 1,849 calories (http://www.livestrong.com/article/504208-how-many-calories-does-frying-add) 

Diet conscious individuals avoid fried dishes. They would opt for steamed fish or grilled meat. However, steamed dishes are bland so people add mayonnaise usually. So, if one fillet of steamed fish has 157 calories and a tablespoon of mayo has 57 calories, you will consume 214 calories already.

One fillet of grilled fish has 123 calories. Well, that’s 34 calories less than a steamed fish. While a fried battered fish has 267 calories. Consuming one fillet of fried battered fish is like eating two fillets of grilled fish! It could be more ‘cause most often, we would add some gravy to it so if you will consume 3 tablespoons of brown gravy, that would add up to 291 calories.

It seems healthier to prepare grilled food than fried but I guess, if you can balance your diet with an active lifestyle, you need not worry about some excess calorie intake. Just burn them and you will still be fat free.

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Coloring Agents Can Be Hazardous to Health

Pigments

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #22: Coloring Agents

“Coloring agents can make some innocent grocery and toiletry item cancer-causing. It is better to choose cosmetics and preparations which use natural colors”.

According to US-FDA, “A color additive, as defined by regulation, is any dye, pigment, or other substance that can impart color to a food, drug, or cosmetic or to the human body. Color additives are important components of many products, making them attractive, appealing, appetizing, and informative. Added color serves as a kind of code that allows us to identify products on sight, like candy flavors, medicine dosages, and left or right contact lenses. One of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) roles is to assure that color additives are safely and appropriately used.”

The skin is a very sensitive part of the human body. It flaunts the natural physical beauty of an individual. Once our skin gets damaged, our natural beauty goes with it.

Healthy skin is not just about being beautiful, though. It is part of the total wellness of a person. Fatal infections can enter through the skin and cause even more serious harm inside the body. It is very important that we care for our skin and choose cosmetics that use chemical ingredients like color additives properly.

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