Do we actually need to Detox?

Detox diets and programs have been in the media for decades. Their favour ebbs and flows with the latest news article, or (these days) influencer. The truth is, our livers are powerhouses of detoxification. They do a fantastic job at breaking down toxins and metabolic waste for excretion through the bowel. This process would be all we needed, IF we were living in the natural world. Unfortunately, we live in a 21st centaury industrialised world, with literally over 140,000 man made chemicals in our diet, medication, and environment. The human liver has only encountered the majority of these chemicals in the last 20 years, and as you can imagine, can not possibly deal with them all effectively. There is also now the excess of heavy metals which are sequestered away for safe keeping in our fat stores. Modern technology allows us to test for these metals and target them with precision focus. (Wray Organic offers this service if you are interested, just read to the end).

Even 4000 years ago, Ayurvedic medicine (traditional medical system of India, and still used in the mainstream to this day) understood the importance of supporting the body to detox, and would recommend cleanses at the change of season.

There are many ways one can implement a gentle cleanse at home, but for anything above and beyond cleaning up your diet and lifestyle, speaking to an expert in nutritional and herbal medicine is highly advised. As a Naturopath and Nutritionist with a Bachelor of Health Science, I have a comprehensive understanding of the biochemical pathways involved in breaking up all the gunk and build-up from our lives through the liver and other organs.

If you want to start at home, there are some key points to keep in mind. You want to limit exposure to toxins by eating a clean diet and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, chemicals, caffeine etc. You also want to support the 5 organs of detoxification – kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines and skin. This means drinking adequate water, moving your bowels WELL (never try to detoxify if you are backed up!), eating liver loving foods such as greens and sulphurous veg life cauliflower, onion and broccoli, and supporting elimination through the skin by exfoliating (or skin brushing) and by sweating it out through exercises or sauna.

Realistically, your best results will come from a professionally supported, functional medicine detox, utilising specific amino acids and herbs to support your body through the process in a safe way, with the best possible results based on your own personal circumstances. Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a method of testing for heavy metals backed by science which helps us know EXACTLY what is happening in YOUR body, and enables us to prescribe specific treatments that will actually work. When our body is protecting us from heavy metal toxicity, these metals are stored in our fat, which will hinder your attempt at weight loss in an effort to protect you. The test is run from a sample of hair right taken right at the scalp, and provides a wealth of information to be used to tailor a plan just for you.

Currently Wray Organic is running a Promo Package for just this purpose. This package includes a HTMA test and two consultations for $398. Call (07) 3849 8800 to book in. This service is available anywhere is Australia, as the consultations will be delivered via Telehealth / Zoom. In clinic appointments will resume in March should you prefer.