Spring Is Here! Is It Time to Detox?
Are you ready to say goodbye to feeling tired, bloated and overweight? A Spring Detox is a great way to kick your health into action and get things back on track.
So What Is Detoxification?
Detoxification is a process that your body undertakes every day to help eliminate toxins and restore a healthy balance. Even if you eat well, exercise, and try to manage your stress, your systems of detoxification are challenged to keep up.
As an Integrative Health Practitioner for over 20 years, I believe that regular detoxification is one of the most important health practices we all should consider.
Did you know, more than 100,000 chemicals are now found in our foods, drugs, personal products and everyday items, with about 1,000 new ones introduced every year. The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (2015) tested for 265 different industrial chemicals and found increasingly worrisome levels in our blood and urine. The role these chemicals play in multiple forms of cancer is well documented.
Your Genes and Toxic Load
Researchers agree, “genes load the gun – environment pulls the trigger.”
Genetics play a role in your ability to detoxify through a process called methylation. This means, an effective detoxification program needs to not only include environmental exposure but also take into account your genes.
What Do Your Genes Tell You About Detox?
One of your body’s main detoxification pathways is methylation and this can be affected by a genetic mutation called MTHFR.
MTHFR is short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, an enzyme that plays key roles in your body’s processing of amino acids and folate (vitamin B9), as well as other biochemical pathways.
Methylation is critical for gene expression. Although your genes never change, they can become active or inactive, flipped on or flipped off (through epigenetics), and this is achieved via methyl groups. Methyl groups (a carbon atom attached to three hydrogens) are your body’s messengers, jumpstarting reactions such as turning on a gene or activating an enzyme.
Dysfunctional or impaired methylation triggerd by methyl groups, can result in the silencing of beneficial genes or the over activity of detrimental ones. This can cause chronic health conditions within the body.
Impaired methylation is a factor in a staggering number of diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, miscarriage, chronic fatigue, neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis, and autism.
Methylation is required for effective detoxification.
Your body uses methylation to convert toxins into water-soluble compounds so they can be excreted. When toxins and heavy metals build up in your tissues, your risk for cancer and other serious health problems increases.
Therefore, you can see how any mutation in the MTHFR gene could create a serious weakness in one’s body when it comes to detoxification, and many other vital health functions.
Based on holistic naturopathic principles, my 100% natural 12 Week Spring Detox is developed to coach you through the stages of detoxification.
Call 03 9486 4111 to BOOK your initial FREE 15 min Detox Review, with our Integrative Natural Health Practitioner Narelle Stegehuis and discuss an individualised detoxification program today.
Narelle Stegehuis is a naturopath with over 20 years’ experience. She has a Masters in Health Science Herbal Medicine. As well as being an experienced clinician she is a presenter, academic researcher and author with Cochrane database of Systemic Reviews. Narelle specializes in integrative management of complex health disorders. Narelle regularly presents at industry events including the Endeavour College of Natural Health and community health initiatives. A member of the Fertility Society of Australia and Naturopath and Herbalist Association; Narelle is a leading expert in her field.
