Monday, September 27, 2010

Detox Diet Tips – How To Detox Your Body

A healthy detox diet can have a very positive impact on your health, but if you’ve never done a body detox before, you should learn how to detox your body safely and healthily before you begin any kind of liver detox or other detox diets.

Detox is short for detoxification and invovles the removing of toxic substances from your body via the bloodstream. The human body has a natural detox function through the liver, kidneys and lower gastrointestinal tract. Before learning how to detox your body naturally, you need to understand the basics of how your body cleanses itself: The liver attempts to keep the body clean as it denies other toxins from entering the blood stream, however, over time, this body detox process is exposed to so many toxins that this natural fight mechanism can wear down – so learning how to detox your body can bring substantial benefits to your health and well being.

We are constantly exposed to thousands of toxins and chemicals on a da
ily basis at our work locations, in our homes, through the air that we breathe or our food and water supply. In addition, our diets include more processed foods, sugars and

non-healthy fats than ever before. These factors plus other contributors like illness, disease, alcohol, tobacco, illegal/pharmaceutical drugs, even over-eating, can cause your natural body detox process to struggle or become sluggish. This is where doing a liver detox with a healthy detox diet comes into it’s own.

Research has indicated, even without the inevitable breakdown of our body detox functions, the human body is simply not capable of eliminating the variety of toxins and chemicals that are ingested on a daily basis. The toxins will accumulate in our cells (especially fat cells), blood, tissues, organs (colon, liver and brain) and remain stored for an indefinite length of time bringing all kinds of eventual health problems as time goes by.

Learning how to detox is most often achieved through means like the modification of diet, the use of herbs or teas and more radical methods like colon hydrotherapy, body cleansing juice fasting and sweat lodges. These methods are said to jump start the body’s natural detoxification process. In certain cases artificial detox techniques such as dialysis may have to be implemented.

The word detox is also used to describe the initial detoxification step in any drug or alcohol abuse rehabilitation program. Drug detox is the first step in the journey to abstinence and a drug-free life. The process must always be done under medical supervision and care since the patient will likely battle withdrawal symptoms while abstaining from whatever substance they are dependent on. Through learning how to detox your body and abstinence the body is cleansed from the toxins brought on from abusing their bodies. There should be a greater chance of the patient staying clean if counseling and other rehabilitation efforts are continued following detoxification.

More people are aware of detoxification procedures in today’s world due to modern medicine’s link between colon health and overall health. There is a belief that many common complaints like fatigue, gas, bloating, constipation, headaches, indigestion and weight gain are due in large part to a build up of toxin-filled fecal matter that builds in the colon over time.

Compare the functions of the colon in our bodies to a sewer system in a large city. If debris clogged a region’s sewer system it would only be a matter of time before the repercussions would be felt within the area. The neighborhood would be filled with filth, there would be a horrific stench, and the sewage overflow could possibly contaminate the drinking water. It would not be a healthy environment. People would become sick. The same applies to the human body when the detoxification process is not working well. An overall well-being is felt when the colon is clean and healthy. When it becomes congested it’s not difficult to imagine the potential health consequences.

With obesity becoming more and more of a major health concern there has been a renewed focus on the link between the buildup of toxins and weight gain, especially with belly fat and waist size. Therefore, learning how to detox with a healthy detox diet, and getting a good liver detox for a total body detox is a very important part of many weight loss programs.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Detox diets: Do they work?

Detox, or detoxification, diets are popular, but they're not scientifically proven.
Detox diets are touted as a way to remove toxins from the body. Specific detox diets vary — but typically a period of fasting is followed by a strict diet of raw vegetables, fruit and fruit juices, and water. In addition, some detox diets advocate using certain herbs and other supplements along with colon cleansing (enemas) to help empty the intestines. Most detox diets last seven to 10 days.
Some people report feeling more focused and energetic during and after detox diets. However, this may be due to a belief that they're doing something good for their bodies. There's little evidence that detox diets actually remove toxins from the body. Most ingested toxins are efficiently and effectively removed by the kidneys and liver and excreted in urine and stool.
It's also important to consider possible side effects. Among other problems, detox diets can lead to:
  • Dehydration
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
If you're considering a detox diet, get the OK from your doctor first — and remember, the best diet is a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein.

Read more: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/detox-diets/AN01334


Fresh Start for health at Ocean Resort on Vancouver Island

Abundant Life Health Retreats are rebranding as Fresh Start, but will continue to offer health restoration retreats to aid weight loss and wellness at a new location: the eco-friendly Ocean Resort, Vancouver Island’s Spiritual and Wellness Retreat Centre, easily accessible by air, ferry or car.
Oyster Bay, BC, July 26, 2010—Abundant Life Wellness Retreat, formerly of Lavoy, Alberta, gets a Fresh Start at Ocean Resort on Vancouver Island
“We are very excited about this move, both for our clients and for the future of Fresh Start. The Ocean Resort is the perfect healing venue to offer retreats that require a relaxing, private environment, with excellent facilities for spa treatments,” says Ania Kastashchuk, Program Manager for Fresh Start, with the first retreat in the new location to be offered August 31, 2010.
Ania and Vasili Kastashchuk had been hosting the retreats in Alberta since 2005, completing over 125 retreats serving over 650 clients and are making the move to Ocean Resort because of the preferred facility and location.

Read more: http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/fresh-start-health-ocean-resort-vancouver-island
Fresh Start is a health restoration retreat focusing on advanced whole body detoxification, weight loss and rejuvenation, during five, ten and 14-day residential programs.
Catharine Hyldgaard of Beaumont, Alberta recently attended a retreat and said that she experienced profound changes.
“I lost seven and a half pounds while there and another six since then. My asthma, which I have suffered from for 17 years, improved so much that I was able to stop taking medication with my doctor’s approval.”
Hyldgaard says that the whole family is on a healthier track due to the life changing experience of the health retreat.
“My partner Philip has lost weight and my son’s skin has cleared up. We all have more energy and enjoy life more.”
The new Fresh Start team consists of a Naturopathic Doctor for onsite consultations, massage therapy, Reiki, reflexology and other spa services. The Fresh Start team uses the highest quality products available and organic or all-natural ingredients.
Ocean Resort on Oyster Bay
Ocean Resort, located on Vancouver Island’s Oyster Bay, overlooks Desolation Sound and the Coastal Mountain range. The resort, established in 2008, boasts 28 well-appointed rooms and is uniquely positioned to host the Fresh Start wellness experience, with direct flights to the Comox Valley airport with major airlines.
Ocean Resort offers beauty spa treatments room and group facilities in an environment committed to the transformation of the whole being. Guests can enjoy an environment that is both welcoming and supportive. Experience long walks on the beach; watch the resident eagle and other wildlife from the comfort of a beach chair.
“Fresh Start staff is serious about helping to improve well-being. This new setting will inspire wellness to a new level,” says Ania Kastashchuk.
The first Fresh Start retreat at Ocean Resort is offered August 31, 2010.
For Fresh Start Retreat Inquiries or to book a program please visit: Free Consultation or Pre-Register form at www.HealthRetreat.ca
About Fresh Start:
Fresh Start is a health retreat center, consisting of experienced and dedicated wellness professionals. It focuses on alternative health therapies rather than on pampering services using means of advanced whole body detoxification, education and condition specific therapies. Customers come to start getting well and Fresh Start able to help them safely detoxify, majorly improve their health and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Fresh start strives to give a healthy living environment. Our body cleanse detox programs are designed in a way that it helps in complete cleansing of your body. It improves health and provides a better lifestyle. A whole set of juices, drinks, raw food and few exercises are included within the programs. It results in removing all impurities from digestive tract, lymphatic systems, blood, gall bladder, liver and kidneys. It supports weight loss processes as well, by optimizing body metabolism. In every way, we provide vibrant health, strength and self-knowledge through effective purification of your body.We maintain your fitness which, in turn, retains your social and emotional well being.

New genetic links to ovarian cancer risk discovered

Scientists have apparently discovered new genetic variants in five regions of the genome that affect the risk of ovarian cancer in the general population.
The consortium, including scientists from the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia, based the new work on their earlier research comparing 10,283 women with ovarian cancer to 13,185 women without the disease.

That effort had found a stretch of DNA on chromosome 9 containing single DNA letter variations (SNPs) associated with ovarian cancer risk.

The researchers have now found additional stretches of DNA on chromosomes 2, 3, 8, 17 and 19 after grouping patients according to the type of ovarian cancer they had developed.

Four out of five of the new DNA variations were more common in women who had developed the most common and aggressive form of disease, known as serous ovarian cancer.

Andrew Berchuck of the Duke University Medical Center and head of the steering committee of the international Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC), said the associations of these genetic variants with ovarian cancer were discovered using genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

"Since the critical validation of these findings was performed by a large consortium of investigators from around the world, we see this research as a triumph of science without borders for the benefit of women everywhere," Nature quoted Berchuck as saying.

"These latest findings raise the possibility that in the future, women in the general population who are at the greatest risk of developing ovarian cancer because they carry these newly discovered DNA variants can be identified and given closer surveillance to look for early signs of ovarian cancer when it is most treatable," added Berchuck.

Ellen Goode of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine said "additional research will be required to learn more about the specific genes and DNA changes in these DNA stretches that could be causing ovarian cancer," but added the newly implicated regions of the genome also contain some familiar suspects.

"What is surprising is that we found that three of the most common SNPs for ovarian cancer lie quite a distance away from this bunch of troublemakers - in an apparent gene desert - which suggests they may be causing functional problems by a very different mechanism," said Goode.
A second study found a region of DNA on chromosome 19 that also affects ovarian cancer risk. And a third study found that variation in this same region of chromosome 19 also increases the risk of breast cancer in women who already carry a faulty copy the BRCA1 gene on chromosome 17.

Researchers have known for some time that heritable mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can dramatically increase a woman''s chances of developing breast and ovarian cancer, but these mutations only account for a small percent of ovarian cancers.

Because DNA variations such as those described in these new studies are much more common in the general population than BRCA1 and BRCA2, researchers concluded that they probably cause a much greater proportion of all ovarian cancers, even though the overall cancer risks associated with these SNPs are smaller.

Simon Gayther of the University of Southern California said: "Our study shows that the same genetic region plays a role in both breast and ovarian cancer, suggesting that the same faulty pathway can cause both diseases, just like BRCA1 and BRCA2 do. This is important because it suggests that women who carry certain versions of this stretch of DNA could benefit from closer monitoring for both breast and ovarian cancers."

The studies appeared in the journal Nature Genetics.