|
.
Body
Pollution
How to maintain your health and vitality
through internal cleansing
 By
Dr. Lynn Hardy, N.D., C.N.C.
director of the Global College
of Natural Medicine
Each
year the average American consumes 150 lbs of sugar and 566 cans
of soft drinks (“liquid candy”)(1). According to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, that is equal to “52
teaspoonfuls of added sugars per person per day.”(2)
Can you imagine yourself sitting at the kitchen table gobbling
down 52 teaspoons of white sugar – every single day? Well,
that’s exactly what most of us are doing without even realizing
it!
Why is every other
American chronically ill?
Junk food
consumption has increased drastically in the last few decades.
Compared to 1981, in 2001 the average American consumed in one
year: 45 large bags of potato
chips - up 78%; 120 orders of
French fries - up 130%; 190
candy bars - up 80%; 120
pastries or desserts - up 95%;
150 slices of pizza - up 143%(3)
What
long-term effects may we expect from such progressive dietary
degeneration? A new movie called Super Size Me documents
precisely what physical and psychological changes take place
when one consumes too much junk food. Last February, filmmaker
Morgan Spurlock decided to become a human guinea pig by eating
three meals a day for 30 days at McDonald’s. The film centers
around the impact this had on his health and life. As reported
by the
New York Post on January
22, 2004.:
 |
“Scores of cheeseburgers, hundreds of fries and dozens
of chocolate shakes later, the formerly strapping
6-foot-2 New Yorker - who started out at a healthy 185
pounds - had packed on 25 pounds. But his supersized
shape was the least of his problems. Within a few days
of beginning his drive-through diet, Spurlock, 33, was
vomiting out the window of his car, and doctors who
examined him were shocked at how rapidly Spurlock's
entire body deteriorated. |
‘It was
really crazy - my body basically fell apart over the course of
30 days,’ Spurlock told The Post. His liver became toxic, his
cholesterol shot up from a low 165 to 230, his libido flagged
and he suffered headaches and depression.” (4)
Toxins “stimulate
neurons to death”
Junk foods and
soft drinks contain dangerous additives, chemicals, and many are
laced with excitotoxins “found in such ingredients as monosodium
glutamate [MSG], aspartame (NutraSweet®), cysteine,
hydrolyzed protein, and aspartic acid”. Excitotoxins are
“substances added to foods and beverages that literally
stimulate neurons to death, causing brain damage of varying
degrees.”(5)
No one’s put it
better than nutritionist, Carol Simontacchi, in her best-selling
book The Crazy Makers: “Food industries wantonly
destroy our bodies and our brains, all in the name of profit.”
|
Our health has become a victim
of someone else’s profit margin |
No wonder
nearly
half of the U.S. population
has at least one chronic condition, and 60 million have more
than one.
How to maintain
health and vitality?
Understanding
that our quality of life is determined by our daily choices, we
have the power to improve our health and well-being quickly and
dramatically. Optimum nutrition is a key factor, but our health
depends not only on what nutrients we eat, but how much of those
nutrients are absorbed and how well and regularly the body’s
waste products are eliminated.
“Through my 25 years in medical practice and
health care…I have come to believe that the
cleansing/detoxification process is the missing link in Western
nutrition and one of the keys to real healing. I have seen
hundreds of patients over the years transform regular or
persistent illness into health and greatly improved vitality.”
– Elson M. Haas, M.D. founder and medical director of the
Preventive Medical Center of Marin and author of several popular
health books
With the proper
use of cleansing and detoxification we can maintain health and
vitality, even as we age.
Where to start?
|
Any
cleansing program should begin in the colon, the last
portion of the digestive system. The colon’s job is to
compact the chime, absorb water, and receive B-vitamins that
are produced by healthy intestinal bacteria. One of the most
renowned nutrition experts in the world, Dr. Bernard Jensen,
D.C., Ph.D., author of many popular health books, states:
|
click to enlarge |
“In the 50 years I’ve spent helping people to overcome illness,
disability and disease, it has become crystal clear that poor
bowel management lies at the root of most people’s health
problems. In treating over 300,000 patients, it is the bowel
that invariably has to be cared for first before any effective
healing can take place.”(6)
We could
actually compare the function of the colon in our bodies to a
sewer system in a large city. Just imagine for a second what
would happen if the sewers in our area became clogged by some
debris. Undoubtedly, within a short time the whole neighborhood
would be filled with filth and an unbearable stench. This is the
same process that occurs in our bodies when the elimination
system is not functioning properly. When the colon is clean and
healthy, we experience an overall well-being. When it is
congested with stagnant waste, poisons back up into the system
and pollute the inner environment. This is called
autointoxication or self-poisoning.
Signs of
self-poisoning
In her
best-selling book,
Internal Cleansing,
Dr. Linda Berry, a chiropractor and clinical nutritionist,
summarizes the symptoms of self-poisoning.
“If you
experience any of the following symptoms, you may be
experiencing autointoxication (a process whereby you are
poisoned by substances produced by your own body as a result of
inadequate digestion and elimination), and therefore you might
want to consider some type of internal cleansing program:
-
Allergy
or intolerance to certain foods
-
Bad
breath and foul-smelling gas and stools
-
Constipation, diarrhea, sluggish elimination, irregular bowel
movements
-
Frequent
congestion, colds, viruses
-
Flatulence or gas and frequent intestinal disorders
-
Frequent headaches for no apparent reason
-
General
aches and pains that migrate from one place to another
-
Intolerance to fatty foods
-
Low
energy; loss of vitality for no apparent reason
-
Lower back pain
-
Lowered resistance to infections
-
Needing to sleep a long time
-
Pain in your liver or gall bladder
-
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast soreness, vaginal infections
-
Skin
problems, rashes, boils, pimples, acne
If you have
severe symptoms or any serious disorders, seek the attention of
a competent health care provider. The above list is only meant
to indicate some of the symptoms of autointoxication. Anyone who
has been on a Standard American Diet for more than two years
would benefit from periodic cleansing, especially if you live in
an urban area.”(7)
Every cell of
our body is affected by self-poisoning. When the toxins
accumulate in the nervous system, we feel irritable and
depressed. We feel weak if they back up into the heart, bloated
if they reach the stomach and our breath is foul if they reach
the lungs. If the poisons try to escape through our skin, rashes
and blotches develop, or we look pale and our skin appears
wrinkly. If the toxins make it to the glands, we feel fatigued,
lethargic, our sex drive may cease and we appear to look much
older than our actual age.
Constipation –
common sign of a toxic colon
|
The most common sign of a toxic colon is chronic constipation.
Constipation is commonly defined as a condition where the
fecal matter is so tightly packed together that bowel
movements are infrequent and incomplete, causing much
difficulty and straining, and producing dry, hardened feces.
The accumulation of this old, hardened feces sticks to the
walls of the colon, inhibiting its proper function of
absorbing the remaining nutrients. Instead it is forced to
absorb the toxins from the build-up and fight the parasites
that make this debris their breeding ground. The passage
through which the feces are forced to travel is also greatly
reduced in diameter so the stools become much narrower, even
as thin as a pencil sometimes. In our society, bowel
movements of the chronically constipated may be looked upon
as normal. But going to the bathroom once every few days,
sitting there straining for half an hour and passing black,
hard pebbles that drop to the bottom is not only abnormal,
it is also serious trouble waiting to happen. |
click to enlarge |
Diverticulosis and
Diverticulitis
|
click to enlarge |
Many
people have small pouches in their colons that bulge
outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that
pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is
called a diverticulum while the condition diverticulosis.
About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have
diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as
people age. About half of all people over the age of 60
have diverticulosis.
When the
pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is
called diverticulitis(8)
The main cause of diverticular disease is a
low-fiber diet. |
The role of fiber
|
Our
widespread colon problems begin with our unhealthy Western
diet that is deficient in plant fibers. Fiber is
indispensable in maintaining a healthy colon. A person with
a healthy colon should in fact have two to three bowel
movements per day. With the help of fiber, elimination
should be complete, fast and easy. (See
transit time graph.)
Dietary
fiber plays a crucial role in the proper function and
maintenance of the colon.
“Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet may reduce
symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as
diverticulitis. Fiber keeps stool soft and lowers pressure
inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through
easily. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to
35 grams of fiber each day.” (9)
|
click to enlarge |
|
For colon
cleansing it is best to use a fiber supplement designed
specifically for this purpose. Good-quality supplements
contain both soluble and insoluble fiber and are formulated
to loosen the stool, absorb and sweep away fat and toxins,
reduce transit time, and make elimination effortless and
complete. |
What to expect during cleansing
When we start
using an effective fiber supplement, we can expect some
startling occurrences within a few days. The fiber goes to work
immediately by loosening the hardened feces on the walls of the
large intestine and gradually sweeping it out of the body. If we
are not repulsed to look at what’s leaving our body, we’ll be
surprised to see a lot of mucus and all the different colors of
debris. It’s hard to believe that all these things could
actually be lurking inside us. What’s even more shocking is that
among the different colors and shapes people often notice
various forms of parasites.
Are you carrying
parasites around in your body?
This is
unfortunately a lot more frequent than most would like to
believe. According to United Nations data:
“Overall, about 1.5 billion people have
roundworms, making it the third most common human infection in
the world. Whipworm infects 1 billion people… More than 1.3
billion people carry hookworm in their gut, and 265 million
people are infected with schistosomes.”(10)
It is true that
most of these infections occur in developing countries, but the
rate of parasitic-related disorders in North America is
skyrocketing. An astounding number of people would test positive
for parasites. This is from the Parasitology Department of the
University of Cambridge, England: “Pinworm. An extremely common
nematode infection, particularly in temperate areas such as
Western Europe and North America… It has been estimated that the
annual incidence of infection is over 200 million, this probably
being a conservative figure. Samples of caucasian children in
the USA and Canada have shown incidences of infection of 30% to
80%, with similar levels in
Europe.”
|
Humans can
actually play host to more than a hundred different types of
parasites, ranging from microscopic ones to tapeworms that
are several feet long. Contrary to popular belief,
parasites are not restricted to our colon
alone, but can be found
in any other part of the body - in the lungs, the
liver, in the muscles and joints, in the
esophagus, the brain, the blood,
the skin and even in the eyes! |
click to enlarge |
“Parasites are the missing diagnosis in the genesis of many
chronic health problems, including diseases of the
gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system. Most individuals
would be truly amazed if they knew the extraordinarily high
number of Americans who are unknowingly infected by parasites…” – Dr. Hermann R. Bueno, Fellow of Royal Society of Tropical
Medicine and Hygiene of London
It is extremely easy to come in contact with
parasites. Contaminated water, undercooked meats, improperly
washed fruits and vegetables, are just some of the common
sources of infections. Transmission from pets or other infected
persons is also quite common. Overuse of antibiotics further
adds to this problem as this can interfere with normal
intestinal flora and lower the body’s resistance.
Fiber
supplements help to get rid of parasites, but they are not
enough. We need to use specific herbal formulas to deal with
this issue. Some of the most potent herbs for parasite cleansing
include Black Walnut hulls, Wormwood, Pau D’Arco, Garlic, Yellow
Dock, Pumpkin seed, Male Fern root, False Unicorn, Fenugreek,
Grapefruit Seed extract and Prickley Ash bark.
Personal
experiences
To better
explain what one might expect during an internal cleanse, I will
share some personal experiences of others who have already been
through it. Cleansing and detoxification played a fundamental
role in my studies to become a Naturopathic Doctor. It is also
something that I have been actively engaged in for many years.
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, “I’ll never forget my first
colon cleanse”. (To read my personal story please click
here.)
Once I
completed my first cleanse, which consisted of a fiber
supplement, anti-parasite capsules and a detoxifying
tea, I managed to convince my husband to also give it a
try. He ended up continuing the program for three months
and throughout this period not a day went by without
something rather “unusual” leaving his body. His stools
contained a lot of mucus, chunks of debris that
resembled cooked liver, long black twisted rope-like
pieces, and the things he was most ashamed of –
parasites.
My husband’s
childhood friend was also on the
program for a couple of
weeks when interesting things started happening. He was beside
himself when he called us late one evening:
|
click to enlarge |
“I’ve been standing over the toilet for an hour. I can’t imagine
where these things could possibly be coming from! One is about
25 inches long, the other looks to be about 15 inches. I don’t
know what they are, but I do know that I’ve never eaten anything
that resembles these!” |
He was only 33
years old at the time and for three weeks straight he kept
passing the strangest and grossest things one could imagine. If
this happens to such a young person, what “surprises” could
someone much older be harboring?
The Lochness
Monster
I’ve received
letters and emails from a great number of people who have
completed the same
cleansing program.
One of the most typical letters came from Eva Reichert of
London, Ontario, whose entire family started detoxifying at the
same time. She wrote the following:
“The first week was a little difficult. We have never drunk so
much water before. We kept asking one another about the results
but there wasn’t much to report during the first week. Then
various forms of ‘creatures’ began appearing in the toilet. We
are now on the 30th day and so far each day brought on a new
surprise – sometimes smaller and other times quite large ones.
One
family member reported the other day, ‘This is very strange! I’m
sure I’ve never eaten anything resembling this my whole life.
The things I did eat, I always chewed really well. And still,
something the size of my hand resembling a rubber glove came out
of me.’
Another observation from a different family member, ‘At first I
saw only tiny little creatures and then a few days later the
Lochness Monster arrived!’
We
are all thrilled to have completed this program… The final
results have surpassed all our expectations. In my personal
opinion, if these creatures suck away all the vitamins from us
than they must be nice and fat from all the vitamins we’ve
taken. (One of us was taking six different supplements a day,
which he stopped for the duration of the cleanse.) I’m pretty
sure that we all need to continue our detoxification since after
30 days we still see plenty of ‘surprises’. Please accept our
gratitude for this priceless program!”
More energy – better state of mind
Lack
of energy is among the most common complaints today. While
fatigue can be caused by many different factors, it can also be
a key symptom of inner toxicity. Even if you’re eating a fairly
healthy diet, a toxic build-up may prevent your body from
converting the essential nutrients you consume into the energy
you require. Almost everyone who’s completed
this program boasts about having increased energy and a
better state of mind. Dr. Persanyi of
Ottawa, Canada writes:
“My
disposition is much better, I feel rejuvenated both physically
and mentally. The cleanse was surprisingly comfortable. I didn’t
experience any unpleasant side effects. I was able to continue
on with my work and didn’t have any sudden urges to run to the
bathroom… I am very grateful to you for writing this article
about the toxins and parasites that lurk inside our bodies. This
was the first time I’ve heard of such things, which prompted me
to try the program right away.”
Here’s what Mr. Takacs of Norwalk, Ohio experienced:
“I ordered my first pack of the internal cleansing program in
May 1997. I must say that the results were very surprising! I
had a lot of build-up in my bowels and I had clumps of mucus the
size of my hand leaving my body… My body has changed completely.
I feel rejuvenated, healthy and youthful. Despite being 82 years
old, I ride my bike, swim and maintain a beautiful garden. I
would not have been able to do all this without your help.”
Despite the
sometimes shocking effects of this program, all of us who’ve
tried it have become big fans of internal cleansing and would
not let a year go by without repeating it. Only when we see with
our own eyes the many years of built-up debris, not to mention
the parasites, do we realize the possible serious consequences
of not eliminating these toxins. This also helps remove any
doubt that detoxifying our colon on a regular basis is an
indispensable part of maintaining our good health.
Weight Loss Is
Almost Guaranteed with Internal Cleansing
There’s an
important added benefit to internal cleansing that most people
experience: weight loss. With a sluggish, toxic digestive
system, metabolism slows down, the energy level drops and we’re
simply not strong enough to start burning off stored fat through
exercise or other means. An internal cleansing program can help
restore balance in the body and increase the metabolism,
reactivating the body’s fat-burning mechanism. Plus, after a
thorough detoxification program, you’ll find yourself much more
inclined to make healthier dietary and lifestyle choices.
Through a detoxified system, improved digestion, balanced
metabolism and a healthier diet you will have no trouble
maintaining a healthy weight.
Other Benefits
High energy and
weight loss are just some of the many benefits you can achieve
through a comprehensive cleansing program. In her excellent
book,
The Detox Solution -
The Missing Link to
Radiant Health, Abundant Energy, Ideal Weight, and Peace of
Mind,
nutritionist Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald lists the following added
benefits of an effective detoxification program:
-
The Prevention of Illness
-
An Improvement in Physical Appearance
-
A Boost in Emotional Well-Being
-
A Sharpening of Mental Capabilities
-
An Enhancement in Digestion
-
The Elimination of Unhealthy Food Addictions & Allergies
-
The Attainment of Ideal Weight
-
A Minimizing of the Effects of Aging
-
Spiritual Renewal (11)
“The secret to
great health”
In my opinion,
we are not going to change the catastrophic situation where
every second person is chronically ill until we place as much
emphasis on internal cleansing as we do on external hygiene,
such as brushing our teeth or washing our hands. If you are
middle-aged, you’ve taken about 15,000 showers in your lifetime,
and you’ve brushed your teeth close to 30,000 times. Still, you
won’t stop doing that just because you’ve done it so many times.
Here’s an interesting question: If you have to keep cleansing
your skin and teeth daily, then wouldn't you think it makes
equal sense to clean the inside of your body at least
periodically?
Of course
detoxification should not be limited to the colon. It is just as
important to detoxify the liver, kidneys, arteries, and in
general, every cell in the body. But internal cleansing must
start with the colon, because if this region is kept unclean, it
will contaminate every other part of the system.
The importance
of internal cleansing can best be summed up in the words of Dr.
Paul Bragg, one of the “fathers” of natural medicine in the U.S.
and the author of dozens of highly successful health books:
“The secret to great health can be described in three words:
Cleanse Your Body! Engrave these three words permanently in your
memory.”
[If you’d like
to read more about the specific cleansing program used by Dr.
Hardy,
click here.]
Copyright ©
2003. All Rights Reserved.
Dr. Hardy is a Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Nutritional
Consultant. She is the Director of the
Global College of Natural Medicine
and a member of the American Naturopathic Medical
Association and the American Association of Nutritional
Consultants.
REFERENCES:
(1)
Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH: Soft Drink “Pouring Rights”: Marketing
Empty Calories
(2) United States Department of Agriculture: Agriculture Fact
Book 2001-2002
(3) Dr. Robert Osgoodby: Food For
Thought
(4) New York Post: Arch Enemy,
01/22/2004
(5) Russel L. Blaylock, M.D.: Excitotoxins, The Taste that
Kills; Health Press 1997
(6) Bernard Jensen, D.C., Ph.D.: Tissue Cleansing Through
Bowel Management,
ISBN 0960836071
(7) Linda Berry: Internal Cleansing; Prima Publishing
1997
(8) National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse,
part of the National Institutes of Health
(9) National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse,
part of the National Institutes of Health
(10) UNICEF: The State of the World’s Children 1998
(11) Dr.
Patricia Fitzgerald: The Detox Solution, Illumination
Press, 2001
|
Click here
to find out more
|
Nutritional Consultant
(N.C.)
Home-Study
Program
Find out how
Holistic Nutrition can change your life, health, and
career options forever. Food can be medicine or a death
sentence. The choices we make now will affect our
wellbeing for many years to come. As a Nutritional
Consultant you'll have the important task of educating
others about nourishing their bodies for optimal
health.
|
|
Click here
to find out more
|
Holistic
Health Practitioner
(H.H.P.)
Home-Study Program
Holistic
healing will be the medicine of the future! As a
Holistic Health Practitioner, you'll be trained in many
aspects of natural medicine, including Nutrition, Herbs,
and various Mind/Body therapies. Learn how to nourish
the body, pamper the soul and utilize the gifts of
nature.
|
|
Click here
to find out more |
Master Herbalist
(M.H.)
Home-Study
Program
With the
increasing popularity of herbs and herbal medicine, the
demand is also growing for qualified Herbalists. It's
the perfect time to learn more about this exciting and
rewarding field, not only to help others but also to
enhance your own life and the lives of those around you.
|
|
