The new year is the ideal time to give your body a much needed spring-clean, writes Susan Calnan
The seasonal overload of rich foods and too many nights out can inevitably take their toll on the body at Christmas, which is why the new year is an ideal time for embarking on a detox programme, to rid the body of unfavourable toxins and to re-energise the vital organs.
Although the body naturally detoxifies itself through the organs - the liver, kidneys, bowel, lungs and skin - cumulative exposure to environmental toxins, combined with dietary excesses and bad lifestyle habits, means that the body's natural detoxification process is often slowed down or impaired and, as a result, it becomes overloaded with too many toxins and can find it difficult to cope.
"It's important therefore to give the body a rest from all those heavy refined foods, from time to time, as well as reducing our exposure to environmental toxins," explains John Russell, a holistic dietician.
"Detoxing is a great way of helping the body eliminate excess toxins and of kick-starting an internal spring-clean."
Although detoxing is a ubiquitous term used today, the practice itself is an ancient one, the origins of which lie in the Indian Ayurvedic (meaning "science of life") system, which aims to correct imbalances in the body and to cleanse the four main organs that eliminate waste from the body - the liver, the bowel, the kidneys and the lungs.
"The ultimate role of detoxification, according to the Ayurvedic approach, is to shift ama from the system," explains Mary Daly, a Dublin-based Maharishi ayurvedic consultant. "Ama is a white, sticky substance that can be seen, for example, on the tongue. It can also lodge itself all over the body in the tissues and the channels."
Common symptoms of ama, Daly outlines, include stiffness in the joints, sluggishness and lethargy, mood swings and digestion problems. Ama is also associated with the disease process and is understood to be implicated in every disorder: according to the Ayurvedic system, some 80 per cent of modern diseases are caused by toxins.
"When ama is cleared, a substance called ojas flows. Ojas cannot be seen, but give rise to an experience of lightness, flexibility, radiance and happiness," she says.
Although there are many different types of detox diets available today, a commonsense approach to diet and lifestyle can help re-energise and detoxify the body.
"People can start by replacing processed foods with more fresh fruit, steamed organic vegetables and fresh salads. Raw vegetables are packed with useful enzymes, so try incorporating them more into your diet," recommends Russell.
"Try cutting out junk food totally for at least a few weeks. Eliminate things like coffee, which places a stress on the adrenal system and depletes calcium from the body. Smoking is definitely out as it depletes the body of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant."
People also need to be more circumspect about the type of personal care products they use, Russell adds. The skin, the largest organ in the body, is among the most important eliminative organs of the body: heavy metals, for example, are actually released through the skin's pores when we sweat.
Conversely, toxic chemicals can also be absorbed through the skin and can place an extra stress on the body and the liver. Using natural personal care products, free from harmful ingredients, cleansing the skin, and aiding detoxification, for example, using steam rooms or skin brushing, are all good ways of helping the skin eliminate or prevent the intake of harmful toxins.
Although a good detox at least once a year is recommended, it is not advisable for people with diabetes, low blood sugar levels or eating disorders to go on detox diets. Also, it is important that detox measures are gradually introduced to avoid withdrawal symptoms, sometimes referred to as the "herxheimer reaction". This occurs when the body detoxifies too rapidly, and toxins are released faster than the body can eliminate them, resulting in symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting and weakness.
According to Ayurvedic medicine, an individualised approach to detoxification is important. As Daly points out, just as no two people are the same, a detox regime may not work for everybody and it is important to take into account people's medical history and general health.
Nevertheless, she does administer some general advice. A strong digestive system is among the most important detoxifiers of all, thus aiding rather than overloading the digestive process is important. The Ayurvedic system recommends that people eat when they are hungry and not out of boredom. Eating the main meal in the middle of the day is also advised as this is when the digestive system is strongest; people should eat lighter foods in the morning and evening. Sipping hot water first thing in the morning and during the day is also useful for enhancing digestion.
It is also important to rid ourselves of "mental toxins", Daly highlights, as the mind and body are interconnected. Noise and air pollution, stress at work and in people's personal relationships can all contribute to mental clutter. Therefore, take time out to unwind at Christmas and find ways to de-stress, for example, through regular exercise and relaxation techniques, all of which can be incorporated into an annual detox action plan.
Mary Daly, a Maharishi Ayuveda consultant, will give a How to Feel Good All Day seminar on Saturday, January 14th, 2006. Booking is essential. Telephone 01-4960762.