When people decide to change diet, manage weight and live a healthier lifestyle, they often ask if they should also detoxify and cleanse their body. Yes, detoxification is one of my 'Four Pillars of Wellness'. This involves not only external cleansing - bathing our bodies and washing our hands - but also internal cleansing.

WHAT ARE TOXINS?

Toxins (another word for poisons) are substances that cause harmful effects on the body, slow down our metabolism, undermine our health, and disturb the functions of our cells and organs. In the same way that an engine produces waste and exhaust fumes, so the body itself creates toxins. But in addition to our internal toxins, we also live in a very toxic world, exposed to poisons from the outside.

The food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the medicines we take, the things we apply to our skin and hair are sources of toxins. Hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, food additives, fertilisers, waxes, dyes, plastics, preservatives, colourings are now part and parcel of our daily lives. We are living in an unhealthy chemical soup.

There are more than 100,000 synthetic chemicals in commercial use today. Over 25,000 of them are known to be hazardous and many can cause cancer. As these substances readily accumulate in the fatty tissues of the body, it makes good sense to pay special attention to detoxifying our bodies.

There are several cleansing programmes available, some better than others. Avoid quick fixes. A comprehensive approach is required for deep, effective cleansing. I suggest that we focus on aiding the body's own natural detoxification systems. Below are some guidelines.

NOURISH THE BODY

Dietary and lifestyle changes are important in order to obtain long-term benefits. You cannot be trying to get rid of toxins while adding new ones. Avoid known sources of toxins in your diet and lifestyle. I strongly recommend consuming a lot of fresh vegetables, fruits, fresh juices, fibre, and water-rich foods. Up to nine daily servings of vegetable and fruit is ideal. These are natural cleansers that assist the colon, liver and kidneys.

SUPPLEMENT YOUR DIET

A well-balanced programme of supplementation with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is vital for rebuilding and strengthening the body at the cellular level. The antioxidants vitamin A, C, E, and selenium are very important, as are the herbs schizandra, rosemary, garlic, milk thistle and slippery elm. I recommend the cellular- nutrition programme as it provides effective weight management, sound nutrition and gentle detoxification.

CLEANSE THE COLON, FLUSH THE LIVER

The colon is the body's major garbage-disposal unit. Not only does it eliminate undigested food, but the liver, as it cleanses the blood, dumps bile into the intestines for removal in the stools. Sadly, many of us are constipated. Constipation invites toxicity. A combination of cleansing herbs like aloe vera, milk thistle and slippery elm, a blend of fibres (soluble and insoluble) and healthy bacteria like acidophilus is particularly useful in this regard. It is important not just to cleanse, but also to restore balance to the colon.

Colonic irrigation, also called colon hydrotherapy, conducted by an experienced colon therapist greatly increases the benefits of any cleansing programme. It may sometimes be useful to have a series of colonic irrigations combined with herbal cleansers for optimal results. A special procedure called a liver flush is sometimes used by natural therapists to powerfully stimulate the liver to cleanse itself.

FLUSH THE KIDNEYS

The kidneys are also major organs of elimination. A high fluid intake helps the kidneys function optimally. Pure water, coconut water, watermelon juice, cranberry juice, herbal teas and vegetable broths are ideal. Half an ounce of healthy fluid per pound of your body weight is a useful guideline. Green tea and dandelion tea are especially useful for kidney detoxification. A day or two of a liquid-only diet will powerfully enhance an internal cleansing programme. Elimination of excess fluid is an essential part of effective cleansing.

OPEN THE PORES

We eliminate from the skin by sweating. Activities like aerobic exercise, saunas and steam baths are valuable aids in assisting the body to detoxify. Body massage powerfully stimulates the circulation in the fatty tissues beneath the skin, encouraging the release of toxins. Dry-skin brushing using a loofah or skin brush removes dry skin cells and promotes healthy skin. A daily sunbath, while exposing the skin to fresh air, is another healthy cleansing practice.

USE THE BREATH

Each time we breathe out, our body releases wastes, while each intake of breath brings oxygen and vitality to our system. Avoid polluted air, especially cigarette smoke, at all cost. Become aware of your breathing and frequently take slow, deep, abdominal breaths.

CLEANSE THE MIND

Chronic stress and negative emotions like fear and depression can be very toxic. Emotional cleansing is very important. Learn to release tension and stress with techniques and strategies for detoxifying the mind. My 'Time to Relax' CD is a very useful tool for mental detoxification.

Cleansing is important: Start your own detoxification now.