Tag Archives: new year

detoxing your body from toxins

What are Toxins and how can I Detox?

Toxins are substances that cause harmful effects to our bodies. The immune system, liver and kidneys work together to remove these toxins at the same rate they are encountered. They can build up and be stored until removed and are store as fat in the body.
Endogenous (Internal) Toxins can be built up from our lifestyle, created within our bodies and even created due to a build up of emotional stress in our every day lives. Exogenis (External) Toxins come from pollution, mercury, plastics, Antibiotics and Pesticides.

Countless metabolic reactions are occurring in our body at every moment of every day. These reactions occur at molecular level and are necessary in helping us break down proteins, fats and sugars into energy during the digestive and metabolic processes. Each of these reactions creates toxic waste products that must be eliminated.
Another important example are hormones such as estrogen and androgen, which must be broken down and excreted by the liver after they are used.

If they are not properly broken down and excreted, then it causes hormonal imbalances and causes symptoms such as weight gain, skin disorders and blood sugar imbalances. In addition, toxic build-up can occur when elimination mechanisms are inadequate due to poor nutrient intake or improper absorption or key detoxification nutrients. In most cases, it is the combination of excess toxin formation and poor toxin elimination that leads to toxic build-up.

The intestinal tract is full of bacteria and yeast. Typically known as gut flora or intestinal microbes, these bacteria and yeast are highly beneficial. They assist in the digestion of vitamins and play and important role in the body;’s immune response. Although most of these microbes are beneficial, overgrowth or certain strains of bacteria and yeast can be harmful to our health. These harmful flora constantly absorb nutrients and produce waste that can be absorbed into our body’s blood stream. This can lead to inflammation, a weakened immune system and a slower metabolic rate.

 

detox from toxins

 

It usually takes about 12-20 hours for the food we eat to be digested and eliminated from our body, but when we have digestive problems, such as decreased enzymes, to digest our food or slow peristaltic movement, undigested food can remain in the large intestine for a prolonged period of time causing harmful bacteria and yeast to grow. This build-up produces high levels of toxic compounds that are absorbed into the body’s circulation which require detoxification and elimination from the body.

When we experience a traumatic or stressful event, it’s common for us to react with a myriad of emotions. Repeated cycles of these kinds of emotional stresses have a direct effect on the nervous and hormonal systems, which can indirectly affect our body’s ability to detoxify. Rather than accepting these as normal or natural emotions, we might suppress them and not deal with them directly.

Ignoring or suppressing these emotions (such as leaving a spouse or job, avoiding a relative or neighbour etc…) will not make them do away and only prolongs the damaging effects on our bodies.

 

How to avoid a toxic build up in your body

  • Avoid all processed foods which are full of chemicals and additives which will also lead to weight/fat gain, poor digestive health and certain food allergies.
  • Avoid drinking normal tap water and invest in a quality filter.
  • Get any mercury fillings removed and instead opt for tooth-coloured composite.
  • Use chemical-free cleaning products that don’t contain bleach ammonia or other chemicals.
  • Look after your stress/emotions- Meditation or yoga will help you relax and calm down and will help you deal with day to day ups and downs.

 

How to Detox your body

  • Choose natural organic food ie: green vegetables and meat
  • Drink clean fresh water
  • Fill up on good fats
  • Lead and clean and healthy life
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes per day and start a weights program
  • Try a 3-day Juice Diet

 

Another beneficial Detox method is using a sauna, particularly for slow metabolizers. It heats your tissues several inches deep, which can enhance your natural metabolic processes. It also enhances circulation and helps oxygenate your tissues.
Please note: Never start any Detox until you are healthy, eating well and aren’t sick otherwise your liver won’t be able to process toxic substances properly.

If you would like to discuss our Initial Lifestyle Consultation or our Juice Detox Diet, give our team a call now on 01 853 4091 or email info@theedgegym.ie.

Kick start your 2014 with some clean living and a healthy program-

You will feel better, just give yourself the time, the TLC and  the dedication you deserve!

santa claus

Happy Fitmas and How to Eat Clean over the Christmas Holidays

Just a quick post to remind you as to what kind of hours we are open so you can stay healthy over the holidays:

Dec 24th- Christmas Eve- Open for group classes only – Just a few places remaining!

Dec 25th- Christmas Day- CLOSED

Dec 26th- Stephen’s Day – CLOSED

Dec 31st- New Year’s Eve- Open as normal

Jan 1st- New Year’s Day- Open as normal

santa claus

 

Some clean-eating tips for the Christmas Holidays

If, like us, you love your food, don’t avoid everything you love or you will spend your quality time off feeling very sorry for yourself.

We do, however, ask you to watch your portion size, maybe not for your Christmas Day lunch but here are some hand tips to help you choose the healthier option!

1. Swap your regular potato for sweet potato and your turnip for butternut squash mashed with sauteed red onion, a little real butter and some  salt and pepper- delicious!

2. Try frying your Brussel Sprouts in coconut oil with some  lean turkey bacon- savage with some poached eggs for breakfast!

3. Try having your turkey without the skin and opt for homemade cranberry sauce instead of pre-mixed gravy or better still, use the juices from your lean meats.

4. If you have a sweet tooth, keep a stock of 85% dark chocolate at hand. This is also delicious as an alternative and healthier hot chocolate! Mix one cup of heated almond milk with three squares of 85% Green & Black’s chocolate and add some mint oil for flavour if you like too. Finish off with a little blob of cream, as it is Christmas after all…

 

When the gym is closed, here’s a little Body Composition routine you can try at home over Christmas, to help ease the post-lunch guilt:

 

How to do the perfect Burpee

how to do burpees

 

The perfect Squat Technique

how to do squats

– 20 Crunches

– 10 Burpees

– 20 Body weight squats

– 20 Leg raises

* Repeat this sequence four times and finish your whole exercise routine with a 1 minute plank and 50 jumping jacks to get your heart racing!

Cool down with a gentle jog to get your heart rate back down again 🙂

We are fully stocked for all of our supplements, but we do recommend that you grab your Infinity Fuel, Probiotics and Fish oils while you can and as soon as possible as these do tend to sell out quickly for the January gym-goers looking to detox!

Should you need anything over the holidays, drop us a line here

From all of the team at The Edge: Clontarf, have a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year for 2014!