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Use the Food as Fuel NOT store it as FAT
(The Weightloss Program)
The Weightloss Program also treats high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The same hormone insulin plays a large role in the above conditions. Insulin reacts with the liver and instructs it to produce cholesterol at a rout of 82%. What we eat dietarily only accounts for 12% of our blood cholesterol levels. Insulin is responsible for the rest. Insulin direst the kidneys to hold onto salt. Therefore we hold onto water, thus increasing blood pressure. Insulin thickens and constricts arteries, again increasing blood pressure and heart disease. Therefore, the naturopathic diet helps to biochemically reverse these hormonal patterns, in can decrease all these diseases. It is a permanent weight loss process that teaches the body to use its food as fuel, and not store it as fat.
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Free radicals are molecules that damage cells and create inflammation. They impair the immune system, increase heart disease and age your cells.
Free radicals are formed through exposure to radiation, toxic chemicals, metabolic processes in the body such as the breakdown of fat, etc.
Free radicals attack the lining of blood vessels. This damages the endothelium and creates a weak spot where the vessel may kink and form a plaque of calcium and fats in that area.
Free radicals cause the oxidation of fats and cholesterol in the blood. Oxidized cholesterol is sticky and will form plaques with a greater affinity. Oxidized cholesterol will damage any cell it touches.
Natural antioxidants are Vitamin A, C, E and selenium and CoQ 10. Our Immune system has its own free radical scavengers, the largest being glutathione. However, now days with increased pollution, poor diets, and toxic exposure it is important to support our body with these external anti-oxidants.
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Why should you detox your body?
Detoxification is the body's natural process for eliminating and neutralizing damaging toxins. This process is accomplished through the liver, kidneys, bowels, skin, perspiration, and exhalation. Today we are continually bombarded with thousands of toxic pollutants, chemicals etc.
For simplicity let's categorize toxins into 3 groups.
- Heavy Metals - cadmium, lead, arsenic, aluminum.
What happens is, these metals accumulate in the body as a result of direct exposure though cigarettes, fish, household cookware, tinned food and other such environmental contaminants. These metals are deposited in the bone and tissue in the body and can create a wide variety of symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, decreased mental capabilities, pallor and dizziness.
- Chemical toxins - drugs, pesticides, and alcohol.
These toxins affect the liver and kidneys, the two main organs that breakdown the pollutants and filter the blood. Symptoms of chemical toxicity are nausea, tingling in the extremities, jaundice, skin rashes, pruritis, and headaches.
- Microbial - Included gut bacteria, yeast, bile and different agents in the immune system that create harmful substrates to kill foreign bodies such as viruses and bacteria. These toxins primarily affect the immune system, bowel and skin and can create symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, allergies etc.
How the body detoxifies
Liver - the liver is situated beneath the rib cage in the right upper quadrant of the thorax. All liver cells have the ability to regenerate themselves. They do not normally replicate unless a liver cell has been damaged. If there is persistent injury or damage to the liver then there is a resulting decrease in the liver's function.
When toxins build up the liver must metabolize or break them down. This process requires energy, and so it must divert energy from its normal cellular activity like fat metabolism and recycling of cholesterol and other hormones. When this occurs, fat begins to build up in and around the liver creating a condition known as a fatty liver. Similarly, cholesterol is not broken down at its usual rate and the serum lipid levels consequently rise.
When the liver is overloaded, its functions are greatly reduced, symptoms such as malaise, jaundice, increased serum Bilirubin and transaminases (liver enzymes) occur. In severe cases, liver failure may result.
Kidneys - The kidneys are two organs that lie at the adjacent to the lower back on either side of the spine. These organs eliminate metabolic wastes, regulate electrolytes, influence the pH of the blood and produce hormones such as prostaglandins and vitamin D. The kidneys must filter the blood of all its impurities. (like a sieve) If we pass pure water through the sieve then the filtering occurs quickly and without damage. If we place water mixed with any solid the filter may become clogged. When this occurs the rest of the water does not pass through readily and the holes in the sieve are temporarily damaged.
The kidney is also responsible for reabsorbing sodium, potassium, glucose, phosphorus and amino acids. All nutrients that are required by the body for proper functioning and health. If the kidney is damaged or its filters are clogged, then its other functions are lessened. This means a lower nutrient absorption for the body and sub optimal health. Eventually, with chronic renal irritation urinary symptoms such as hesitancy, frequency, pain of urination may result. In more sever cases we will see a build up of calcium, creatine, and other substances in the blood.
Bowels - the intestinal tract is a long tube like organ extending from the stomach to the rectum. It consists of three main parts the small intestines, the large intestines and the colon. The small intestines are primarily responsible for enzyme digestion of the food we eat and nutrient absorption. The large intestines are more concerned with the storage and elimination of food waste products, fluid balance and the degredation of bacteria and other nutrients. The large intestine is also used as a mode of transportation to eliminate the majority of the body's waste products. The colon is essentially a temporary holding tank for the waste products that the body must eliminate. While toxins are in the colon, bacteria may act upon the waste products and fermentation may occur producing more harmful toxins. When this occurs headaches, nausea, intestinal cramping, gas and bloating may occur. When these toxins are held in the body for an extended period of time, more than 24 hours a re-absorption of those toxins may occur. For this reason it is very important to ensure a good healthy bowel movement daily.
Skin - The skin is the largest organ of the body. A function of the skin is to cool down and eliminate excess water through sweat. The skin also produces a variety of oils to soften and moisturize it. However, when there has been an excess build up of toxins in the body that the liver and kidneys could not break down or filter, some toxins are redirected to the blood and eliminated through the skin. This presents itself in skin lesions and irritation and odours. Almost any rash may be the result of a drug or toxin taken internally or applied to the surface of the skin.(General and Systemic Pathology published by - Churchill Livingstone Press by Joseph Hunter, London 1992 pg 698).
The Importance of Detoxification
A sticky car engine will not perform as well as a clean one. It will require more energy to do the same job, and will never reach its maximum speed. The same holds true for the body. Every time toxins build up in the body, the energy required to rid the body of them, take energy away from our vital functions necessary for health and well being.
The Longevity Program
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