Why Detox? The effects of a ‘detox’ go far beyond being just a physical cleanse or a good way to lose excess weight; it is a powerful way to make changes on every level of your being. When you make a change in your physical body you will see that change joyfully expressed in your mental, emotional and spiritual life too.
Your body can accumulate toxins for many years without complaining, but eventually when your organs and vital systems can no longer cope, the body starts to rebel. And it is at this point of personal OVERLOAD that you will experience disease. This is when you cannot ignore the warning signs any longer. What starts out as frequent coughs and colds or regular headaches, if paid no attention, can progress to a louder, more serious complaint – and perhaps now you have developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis or diabetes.
There are so many ways our bodies can become over loaded; toxins can accumulate through what we eat and drink, the air we breathe, what we put on our skin; and even by the way we think! Although the human body is designed to eliminate toxins, it can quickly become clogged up, leading to toxins becoming stored in the cells and joints. Ultimately this reduces the body’s ability to function properly and to heal itself.
The process of a well managed fasting and detoxification programme helps to release and eliminate unwanted toxins in a safe way. Detox supports and allows the body to heal itself, fasting is nature’s medicine; cleansing and repairing at deep cellular level with the result that seemingly unrelated health problems often disappear for good.
Weight Loss and Detox
People come on our retreats for a variety of different reasons, for some weight loss or overcoming obesity, for others it’s an added bonus.
It’s not always easy to lose weight, or to break a life time of bad eating habits or heal the core reason for over eating. Obesity is often misunderstood as greed and lack of self control, but it is a much more complex thing than that. Overcoming serous weight issues needs the same holistic approach as any other health issue and the success of sustained weight loss depends on treating the triggers for overeating which in our experience are always emotional. On the retreat we help you to release any emotional issues you have regarding food, coupled with supportive therapies and the detox process itself all work together to help you. Perhaps there is something in your past you just can’t get over or feel ashamed about. Without the ‘eating’ triggers also being addressed, the cycle of weight loss and subsequent weight gain continues for years.
Doing a week long juice fast is like pressing the launch button for change – it helps to change your taste buds so that you seek more nutritious foods, it re-balances you chemically which again helps you make better food choices, you lose weight for certain which is in instant boost to your confidence and inspiration to continue with a healthier regime when you get home; but most of all you find your sense of self again and desire to move forward in your life and make it what you want it to be.
Juice fasting speeds up the weight loss process not just because you stop eating your normal diet for a week, but for many other reasons too, including the following:
The BENEFITS for YOU of a Detox
The media headline-grabbing rewards of detox are nearly always focused on weight loss and anti-aging, but there are so many other health benefits too, often beyond all of your expectations.
Here are just a few of them:
Greater vitality and more consistent energy
Improved digestion and absorption of nutrients
Better elimination and bowel health
Improvement in fertility (men and women)
Relief from chronic health problems e.g. skin conditions (including eczema, psoriasis and acne), IBS (constipation and diarrhoea), migraines and more
Improved hormonal balance – helping to alleviate PMS, blood sugar imbalances and mood swings
Weight loss and enhanced metabolic function
Strengthened immune system
Greater emotional / mental well-being and happiness
A sense of spiritual connection
A healthy colon ~ the key to a healthy body
If your colon is not eliminating properly it can lead to something called auto-intoxication. This is when toxins which are not fully eliminated are re-absorbed back into the body, putting a huge stress on your other organs of detoxification e.g. the liver, kidneys, lungs and skin. This is why skin problems, for example, usually have their roots in colon health. On top of this, the increased toxic load puts a great strain on your immune system, which increases your susceptibility to illness and disease.
More on colon cleansing – click here
“I have so much more energy now… thanks for giving me my life back – I feel great!” Theresa
Due to the effects of fasting, a fast can help you heal with greater speed; cleanse your liver, kidneys and colon; purify your blood; help you lose excess weight and water; flush out toxins; clear the eyes and tongue; and cleanse the breath. (James F. Balch, M.D.)
Can anyone detox?
There are some conditions such as Diabetes Type 1, or if you have recently had chemotherapy, that may mean that a full detox juice fasting programme isn’t the right thing for you at this stage, but we can work with you nutritionally and get your body ready for a full detox at a later date. More info about who should not detox?
