The Natural Detox Shop

Take Care Of Your Body

2010-05-28T11:13:00.003-04:00

Well, the first days of summer have begun, and now more than ever we all want to look our best!

If you are not 100% happy with the look, shape and feel of your body, food can become a source of discomfort, confusion and consequences rather than a vehicle for nourishment and enjoyment.

“When you have a poor body image, you may be driven to diet, have difficulty enjoying food and restrict your food intake in unhealthy ways,” says Susan Albers, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic and author of Eating Mindfully: How to End Mindless Eating and Enjoy a Balanced Relationship with Food.

Paying attention to what, when and why you eat will not only lead to greater satisfaction, but your jeans and summer clothes may fit better too! Let's look at some of the positive things you can be doing immediately to take care of your body:

STOP Unhealthy Snacking

Kick the cookies and unhealthy snacks to the curb. Focus on eating small, nutritious snacks, like nuts, in the late morning and afternoon for a boost.

DROP Unwanted Pounds

Begin moderate exercise such as walking to help get rid of any extra weight. Track your steps and see how far you can go with a pedometer ~ aim for 10,000 steps a day for maximum benefit!

GO FOR Tighter Abs

You can strengthen your core and improve your body image through abdominal work. An exercise ball will help you sculpt your abs and tone your arms and legs - and you can do it from the comfort of your home.

If you are looking to get a "jump start" for your body's needs that complement your efforts, look to our recommendations of all natural supplements for energy, body sculpting and weight loss!

Enjoy Your Memorial Day Weekend!

5 Easy Ways to Bring your Health Back into Focus

2010-03-24T13:04:00.006-04:00

Here are five easy ways to bring your mental and physical health back into focus!

Eat well. Chemical additives, unhealthy fats and sugar stress you out on a nutritional level. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, 100% whole grains, lean meats and healthy fats, including nuts and seeds.

Drink water. Soda pop, sugary juice drinks, teas and “power” drinks with artificial sweeteners and synthetic vitamins barely hydrate you, let alone provide any true value. Drink eight to ten glasses of filtered water each day instead.

Exercise. Regular exercise not only relieves stress, it also releases feel-good hormones and increases your energy level.

Relax. Set aside time for daily prayer, meditation, or reflection. Learn the simple art of deep breathing. Take time to have some fun with friends and family. Schedule a monthly massage and time out for a Body and Facial Applicator! Taking the time to run a bath, roll a towel up behind your neck, lie back, and relax while the herbal mask delivers intense anti-aging benefits into your skin can be simply blissful.

Supplement. Include an advanced formula multivitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplement as a general basis for good health such as Its Vital™. Another great product from It Works is Confianza™, which specifically helps your body deal with the stresses of everyday life.

Great suggestions from Dr. Don Verhultz to be the best you can be for Spring!

The Four Stages of Stress

2010-02-24T13:01:00.001-05:00

Which One Are You In and How Can You Get Out?
(Credit to Dr. Don Verhulst)

Whether it's the upcoming summer activities for your kids, tax season, or everyday work worries ailing you, springtime is stress season. And that can bring imbalance to our health if we are not careful!.

Stress can cause a host of immediate physical symptoms, from headaches and indigestion to fatigue and weight gain. Stress is also the number one enemy of your immune system. Learning to manage our stress load is critical to our mental and physical wellbeing.

Fortunately, you can track your stress levels by familiarizing yourself with the signs of stress cycles. Knowing when you are in a productive state and when you need to take a few minutes to relax is key to keeping your stress levels under control.

LEVEL I

Level I is the body's first signal that it needs a break, and it manifests through subtle signals. You start to get fidgety, you start yawning and sighing, or wanting a snack. You may also notice an inability to concentrate and recalling familiar facts and words. These are the body's first way of signaling that you are experiencing stress.

LEVEL II

The second stress level is deceptive in that it does not feel at all like stress. We experience a surge of endorphins that make us feel good, energized, and highly alert, which is the body's natural stress response system. The problem is that many of us allow our bodies to repeat this cycle several times throughout the day, depleting resources and impairing normal physiological functions.

LEVEL III

Although you may feel invigorated during level III of the stress cycle, your body is running out of steam. Your memory, performance, and critical thinking falters; you begin to feel physically and mentally fatigued, and lose your sharpness. We all know these symptoms; but we often fail to realize that they are caused by ignoring earlier signs of stress.

LEVEL IV

Level IV stress is the danger zone we enter after being continually in a state of level III stress. The body becomes overwhelmed, and reacts chemically with a flood of powerful, damaging stress chemicals. Beyond physical and mental exhaustion, symptoms progress to more serious stress-related disorders including insomnia, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, immune system dysfunction, depression, anxiety, breakdown and a shortened lifespan.

How can you beat stress before it beats you?

The simplest way is to set aside time to relax when you notice you are entering into a stress cycle (at level I, ideally), so that you avoid the body's progression into higher levels of stress. As little as 20 minutes of relaxation once or twice per day can create significant benefits by neutralizing the effects of stress on your body. Make sure you set aside time for some peace and quiet, exercise, and relaxed, nutritious meals.

Stay tuned for upcoming post on five easy ways to bring your mental and physical health back into focus!

Jump Start 2010 with a Detox Program!

2010-01-25T18:13:00.009-05:00

If you are really ready to make some positive changes in your life and overall health in 2010, start with a great detoxification program! As toxins play a huge role in overall health and disease, it is critical before embarking on any New Year's plan to "blitz" your body and give it a clean slate! (If your body is already in ill health, make sure your adrenals are well supported and check with your doctor in advance.)

There are many great detoxification protocols you can follow, but the best incorporate many techniques including some kind of infection control, immune system building, foot baths, sauna treatments and internal cleansing. We are currently reviewing several detoxification protocols and products, and will keep you posted on our best recommendations.

Once you have selected a detox protocol to follow, make sure to follow up with a good maintenance program that includes eating well with whole, rich organic foods, and begin working in a mild to moderate exercise program that suits your specific interests. Don't leave out nourishing your spirit and mind as well! A healthy, positive mindset is a key to healing and overall good health.

Until next time, drink lots of pure alkaline water, and make positive choices that will ultimately benefit your long term good health!

How to Minimize Stress during the Holidays

2009-11-22T22:26:00.009-05:00

The Holidays are such a wonderful time of year to be thankful for our many blessings and celebrate with our family and friends. At the same time, many of us may be dealing with stressors concerning our jobs, business, economy or personal relationships. Especially at this time of the year, it is important that we take extra measures to minimize stressors and maximize potential!

The following simple truths speak to a natural way to better health and coping with stress that we CAN control:

1. Drink plenty of pure water and make sure your PH is balanced.
2. Learn to relax and get plenty of rest! Some simple ways I have learned to relax include:

- 4:6 it! "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known by God" Phil 4:6.
- Practice mindfulness and enjoy the present moment. Take time outs throughout the day.
- Practice relaxation breathing techniques
- Be thankful for all the blessings you have every day!
- Laugh and be joyful
- Listen to music
- Get to bed on time!

3. Eat properly -- make living foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc. the staples of your diet. Also, enjoy "power snacks" and eat 5 -- 6 small portions throughout the day to speed up your metabolism and burn body fat more efficiently.

4. Exercise -- it is important to incorporate exercise into your life, even if it is 30 min 3-5 times a week. Pick an exercise you enjoy, or just walk.

5. Detox -- one of the most important KEYS to good health is detoxification! Detoxification also supports a healthy immune system. Some key points for detoxification include:

a. Use an herbal--fiber bowel restorer to encourage normal colon function.
b. Supplement with digestive enzymes and probiotics.
c. Lose excess fat as it is where toxins hide. (look into body wraps!)
d. Support liver and kidney function with Greens and a whole food based that includes herbs and milk thistle.
e. Regularly utilize ionic footbaths, infrared sauna therapy and body wraps for ultimate toxic relief.

6. Supplement -- even when we eat well, our bodies do not get everything they need from food alone. Supplement with a good whole food based natural multivitamin! nutrients to function.

7. Get plenty of fresh air and sunshine!

The valuable equation to take away is that detoxification+balancing the immune system = good health. Maintaining optimum health is the best way to prepare for and deal with stressors and disease, and to perform at your optimum level.

Top Thermogenic Foods

2009-09-25T14:27:00.003-04:00

Eating frequently is not only important for metabolism, it is important for maintaining your lean muscle. The breaking down of food requires energy! If you are not eating enough, your body still needs to get this energy.

Muscle contains vast stores of glucose, if you don’t consume it, it will consume you. So while you may lose weight initially by skipping meals, the negative consequences far outweight the benefits. When you really understand the process of thermogenesis you will never want to skip a meal again!

Below are some top thermogenic foods to consider incorporating in your regular diet:

1. Oatmeal (not instant)
2. Sweet Potato
3. Brown Rice
4. Cottage Cheese (low fat)
5. Eggs
6. Chicken
7. Fish
8. Apples
9. Berries
10. Thermogenic Soup

Develop your own favorites and find what works best for you!

Eat MORE to Lose Inches.

2009-08-28T14:20:00.001-04:00

That’s Right...food can be your friend! When, how often and what you eat can rev up your metablolic engine. It is physically impossible to shed body fat when you are starving yourself, so choosing nutritionally balanced and healthy meals is fundamental to fat loss.

To turn your body into a fat burning machine, eat small frequent meals spread throughout the day. Meals consisting of real, raw whole foods INCREASE thermogeneis. Thermogenics is the heat produced from the metabolism of food. Certain foods definitely have a higher thermic effect than others so choosing wisely will actually tap into your stored fat and burn more calories (ONLY if you are not starving yourself)!

Fat loss can be confusing for sure and is not easy..it takes commitment and hard work. It is all about choices! The results in the end are well worth the effort.

How to Implement a Detoxification Program that Complements Body Wraps

2009-07-24T16:46:00.001-04:00

Detoxification is one of the most important keys to achieving good health, and in a healthy body is a natural ongoing process. Detoxification is handled by many of our internal systems and helps to eliminate or neutralize anything that could be potentially harmful to our body tissue. It improves health and also stimulates fast inch loss since toxins can be a huge barrier to weight loss.

Sometimes, due to poor eating habits, too many pollutants, and overall imbalance our bodies need to be cleansed and replenished with some help from us. Using body wraps can be an extremely effective way to help your body detoxify. There are also additional detoxification methods you can incorporate to complement the positive effects of the body wrap.

1. Use an herbal-fiber bowel restorer to encourage normal colon function. If your colon is sluggish, or if you have excess "bad" bacteria in the colon, extra toxins and gas will be created.

2. Supplement with digestive enzymes and probiotics. Probiotics are the "good" bacteria that help us fight off disease, product vitamins, metabolize hormones, nourish new cells and produce enzymes that help with food digestions.

3. Lose excess fat as that is where toxins hide. You can start losing weight by improving your eating habits and beginning a regular exercise routine. For immediate site specific inch loss consider using body wraps.

4. Support liver and kidney function and proper PH balance with Greens and a whole food based natural multivitamin that includes herbs and milk thistle. Your liver and kidneys are responsible for much of your body's natural detoxification process. Toxic overload can place stress on these organs.

5. Consider utilizing ionic footbaths and infrared sauna therapy along with body wraps for ultimate toxic relief. These all effectively remove toxins from your body.

Remember that natural herbal body wraps are an essential part of a detoxification program. With the body wraps, you will see fast inch loss, smoother and toned skin and cellulite improvement in the areas where the wrap is placed. Another side benefit of body wraps is that seeing the immediate results you get from them will give you with the desire to live the healthier lifestyle that supports their benefits!

How to Lose Inches Fast, Boost Your Metabolism and Improve Your Health by Drinking More Water

2009-06-24T16:34:00.001-04:00

Are you wondering how to lose inches fast while gaining more energy? It can be tempting to purchase expensive products that promise to help you lose inches fast, boost your energy and improve your overall sense of wellbeing. In fact, you may not need to look further than your kitchen sink for the health boost you need to lose inches fast and improve your health.

Although it doesn't look like much, there are many benefits to drinking water. Besides helping to boost your metabolism and giving you more energy, water also:

- Helps you to lose inches fast by enhancing fat loss. If you're trying to lose weight, water flushes out the by-products of fat breakdown.

- Improves your sense of wellbeing. Fatigue, headaches, and back pain may all be caused by not drinking enough water.

- Reduces hunger. Hunger pangs may be misinterpreted cravings for water, and it also works as an appetite suppressant.

- Rehydrates your skin. When your skin is properly hydrated, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and looks more radiant.

- Drinking plenty of water is suggested along with body wraps to flush out toxins to improve digestion, metabolism, energy levels, and fast inch loss.

One of the most important things water does for you is detoxifies your body, which is a crucial step if you want to lose inches fast, improve your metabolism and your overall health!

Alternative Fat and Cellulite Loss Treatments

2009-05-24T14:29:00.011-04:00

It seems that everywhere you turn now there is a great new bodysculpting or anti aging technique offered to attract the person who wants fast fat loss results without invasive surgical procedures! It is important for anyone who is considering such a procedure to be well informed before making a decision.

One of the very best things anyone can do to assist in overall fat and cellulite loss is to eat whole, natural foods, keep active and drink plenty of water! Having said that, not everyone feels they have the time or ability to do that (although with some simple changes it can become a part of your every day lifestyle).

• Lipodissolve and Mesotherapy are non surgical treatments that help destroy fat cells and improve appearance of cellulite. Lipodissolve contains additional “fat reducing” properties (including a soy lecithin substance) and Mesotherapy contains more vitamins and herbs. Through a delivery process of tiny needle injections, the treatments help to metabolize fat tissues that are then naturally excreted through your system. The procedure can sometimes be uncomfortable but results can be good. Down time with some bruising is about 2 weeks, and 6-10 treatments are recommended to start seeing results. Average prices range from $350-$700 per treatment.

• Liposuction is the surgical removal of pockets of fat to contour an area of the body and is performed under local anesthesia. A tube is inserted through an incision in the skin and fat tissue is suctioned out. There are several risks associated with the procedure that one should educate themselves on. There is bruising and discomfort associated with this procedure and patients should allow 2 weeks of down time. Mesotherapy is sometimes used afterwards to correct any lumpiness. Costs for liposuction range from $1400-$7000+ depending on the part of the body you are focusing on.

• The Ultimate Applicator is an herbal topical treatment that naturally breaks down fat cells and heals cellulite. It is a gel covered cloth that is easily applied and worn for a minimum of 45 minutes but can be worn overnight. The person is encouraged to drink lots of water to help mobilize the toxins. It is recommended a person wrap every 72 hours using the complementary Gel product 2x a day in between. While most people see immediate inch loss, a full body makeover can be realized in 30 to 90 days using a bottle of Gel and a couple of boxes of wraps each month. Cost for Gel is as low as $38 per month and for The Ultimate Applicator is as low as $49 for a box of 4 wraps on the Customer Loyal Program.

Some additional sources to review:

http://www.mesotherapy.com/
http://www.Lipodissolve-Treatment.com
http://www.liposuction.com/howtopick/cost.php
http://www.theultimateapplicator.com

Research your options thoroughly before deciding which choice works best for you!

Fat Loss 101

2009-04-30T13:10:00.009-04:00

Storing fat is a natural body function that helps protect your organs and ward off starvation. For decades, people were warned to avoid fats at all costs! But we now know that the type of fat you eat is more important than the amount of fat you eat. Good fats, like the omega-3 fatty acids turn on your body's fat-burning genes and bad fats turn them off.

The once believed idea that you need to engage in extreme cardiovascular exercise and limit caloric intake to burn fat is not biologically possible.

What is true is that extreme exercise and drastically reduced calorie intake can initiate a “starvation response” which may actually promote future weight gain. The survival response (a metabolic process) sends a signal to our fat stores we may not be eating for a while. And so, they do literally hang on – usually where we want them the least! Our body will actually change its chemistry to make it easier to store fat.

You can literally burn more fat by choosing Thermogenic foods and eating more frequently! Simply put – when you eat less you lose less and when you eat more you burn more. When you begin to understand this process you will learn to view food as fuel to ignite your furnace allowing your body to naturally burn fat more efficiently.

Give up the entire concept of using low calorie diets to lose weight. These temporary diets will give you just that – temporary results. Permanent fat lose cannot be achieved by going on and off diets. Learning new nutrition and exercise habits that you can use for life is our goal!

Slender Thigh Recipe

2009-03-29T14:07:00.019-04:00

Slender Thigh Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Boxes The Ultimate Applicator Natural Body Wraps

1 Bottle Defining Gel

It can be challenging to keep the thigh area of the body toned, firm and young looking! Women in particular have a different fiber structure than men, and can potentially have fat/toxin build up that produces a cellulite appearance. In addition, the leg tissue can be tougher than other areas of the body, making it more difficult to get at the deeper layers of fat tissue.

The positive news is that there finally IS a non-surgical body countouring treatment called the Ultimate Applicator Slimming System that can "zone in" on the thigh area at a cellular level to quickly and effectively mobilize fat and toxins. The result is more toned, firm and cellulite-free skin...just in time for Summer ~ and can be maintained year round!

Directions:

Dry brush skin with an all natural skin brush if possible
Take warm shower to clean debris from skin and open pores
Towel dry, and measure each thigh in 3 places
Apply one Ultimate Applicator to each thigh, and wrap cellophane firmly on top to secure in place
Leave applicator on for a minimum of 45 minutes. 80% of the product will be absorbed at that time ~ may leave on longer if desired or overnight
Remove wraps, and rub in remaining product deeply into skin
Re-measure and document results
Repeat every 72 hours, using Defining Gel 2x/day in between treatments

For maximum results, eat "living", healthy and non-fat foods, exercise 3-4 times per week, and drink PLENTY of water. This helps flush toxins, keeps body well hydrated/PH balanced and metabolism working at optimum efficiency.

Enjoy immediate and progressive results with slender, toned thighs just in time for Summer!

Wrap those Inches Away!

2009-02-26T12:14:00.009-05:00

If you are beginning to take note that Spring is just around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about shedding those winter sweaters and fitting into your light Springtime clothes, you are not alone! Spring is a great time for renewal in general, and to get you back on track with healthy eating, an exercise plan, a deep cleanse and a site specific fat loss system that ensures your optimum good health!

Fat cells hang out with toxins, and visa versa, so it is important to target those fat cells and MOVE THEM OUT! Regarding body wraps, I highly recommend The Ultimate Applicator System for a great way to jump start your Springtime wellness and inch loss program. The Ultimate Applicator works along side your body's natural process to promote inch loss and heal cellulite. How this wrap differs from others, is that it is actual fat inches lost during the process and not water loss!

The inch loss that occurs during the first hour is caused largely by an anti-inflammatory process, and is inch loss that could return with poor diet and without exercise. The inch loss that is obtained over the coming days/weeks is obtained at a cellular level through circulation, detoxification and lipolysis, and has a permanent and lasting effect. My advise here is to stick with the Program! Just as when you are taking a new whole food vitamin supplement or embarking on any other lifestyle change or treatment/protocol, don't give up after one or two applications! The Ultimate Applicator is a foundational part of any good health and wellness program. If you stick with it, along with using the Defining Gel in between every 72 hour treatment, you will see slimming, toned and lasting results!

Renew yourself, and your body this Spring, and start wrapping those toxins and inches away!!

Belly Fat Research and Natural Solutions

2009-01-28T13:44:00.007-05:00

It has long been recognized that people who carry their excess weight around their middles -- those who are apple-shaped instead of pear-shaped -- have a higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.

Recent research also suggests a link between belly fat and a range of other diseases, including diabetes, some cancers, and even age-related dementias. Researchers used two measures of abdominal obesity -- waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio -- in their attempt to better understand the role of belly fat in early death.

Specifically:

Men and women with the largest waists (more than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) had roughly double the risk of premature death as men and women with the smallest waists (less than 34 inches for men and 28 for women).

Each 2-inch increase in waist circumference was associated with close to a 17% increase in mortality in men and a 13% increase in women.

Waist-to-hip ratio also strongly predicted mortality.

"The most important result of our study is the finding that not just being overweight, but also the distribution of body fat, affects the risk of premature death," The findings come as no surprise to University of Michigan cardiologist and research scientist Daniel Eitzman, MD.

Work by Eitzman and colleagues found that belly fat -- also known as visceral fat -- produces more inflammation than fat found in other areas of the body. Inflammation is thought to play a key role in heart disease and a host of other chronic diseases.

"Studies like this focus attention on the importance of measuring visceral fat, which is not now routinely done in clinical practice," he says.

So get those measuring tapes out and take account!

You can learn more about natural detox body wraps and slimming solutions for belly fat by visiting The Ultimate Applicator link on this blog. Do it for yourself, and do it for your health!.

2009-01-10T11:48:00.013-05:00

Detoxification + Balancing the Immune System = Good Health!

Throughout our lives we are all exposed to unhealthy levels of pollution, dangerous toxins, and heavy metals. All of our bodies have the ability to naturally cleanse themselves. The problem is that we are now exposed to so many of these different toxins that our bodies cannot keep up and toxic residues begin to build up within the body! This toxicity decreases our body’s ability to function at or near an optimum level.

In order to be the best we can be and perform at our optimum levels, it is important to detoxify and balance our immune system to get the best benefits of any wellness, weightloss, fitness or lifestyle change program. This site was intended to offer sound suggestions based on tried and true personal experience with exceptional detoxification products!

We pray that these resources will help lead you into the radiant freedom that God intended for you, and that you will live your best year, and best life ever in 2009!