Friday, May 18, 2012

How to Prevent Toxins from Building Up Inside the Body

According to studies, toxins are a major cause of many health problems throughout the western countries. Everyone is exposed to them on a regular basis either from the air, the water or the food that is consumed. The toxins may seem harmless at first, but if allowed to accumulate in the body, they can cause a wide variety of diseases.

It almost seems as though it is impossible to prevent toxins from building up inside the body, however, there are several steps that you can take in order to minimize the risk of toxic exposure.

Avoid Processed Food

Processed foods are the number one cause of a toxic buildup in the body. They are readily available at grocery stores and fast food joints making them convenient for today’s busy lifestyle. In addition, most processed foods are also highly addictive, which means that once you have them, you will most likely keep going back for more.

Learning to cook from scratch and preparing meals in advance can help to avoid the temptations of processed food. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can help to restore nutrients so that the cravings can be reduced as well.

Eat Lots of Fiber

Fiber is to the digestive system like soap and water are to a dirty car. The fiber brushes against the toxic walls of the digestive tract and removes any accumulations from the body. A clean digestive tract in return improves digestion, which then allows for the body to be cleaned at a deeper level.

Fiber is available from all fruits, vegetables and nuts and seeds.

Drink Lots of Water

Water is absolutely crucial for helping to prevent toxins from building up as well. Like fiber, it too helps to wash away harmful toxins throughout the body. The more toxic you are, the more you need to consume, and the amount can range anywhere from 2 to 4 quarts a day.

Exercise Regularly

The importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. Exercise increases the blood circulation in order to remove toxins at a deep cellular level. Another benefit of exercise is that it helps the body to break a sweat in order to release toxins via the skin.

Plenty of Rest

Plenty of rest is also very important in order to prevent a toxic buildup. The reason being is that it takes a lot of energy for the body to clean itself, and during sleep is when most of the cleansing and healing takes place. Therefore, it is vital that you give the body the rest that it needs each night. The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person, but in general it ranges anywhere from six to nine hours.

Periodic Fast

Although the above steps are quite effective at preventing toxins from building up within the body, a periodic water or juice fast can help to cleanse the body at a slightly deeper level. It allows the system to rest and focus on cleaning up any accumulated toxins.