Energy Detox: for improved health
(Note: this is a long page, designed to be easy to copy and paste.)
1. Include in your diet unrefined sunflower pumpkin and sesame seeds,
plus walnut and Brazil nuts for healthy brain, arteries and skin.
2. Eat liver and kidney, cabbage and sardines for acetylcholine, a
vital brain nutrient often lacking in Alzheimer’s patients.
3. Add sage to cooking to improve your memory. It inhibits an enzyme
that breaks down acetylcholine and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties. (Note: Avoid if you are pregnant.)
4. Relax with exercise, meditation or massage. Stress produces the
hormone cortisol, which can damage the brain.
5. Do simple mental exercises such as a daily crossword to keep the brain
active and improve brain function.
6. Eat salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring twice a week for healthy
omega-3 fats to nourish nerve fibers and improve brain function.
7. Use a wobble board to improve balance and strengthen muscles around
the joints, leaving them supple and healthy and to make you feel younger.
8. Don’t blame your genes. Genetic make-up may give a predisposition to
certain conditions, but lifestyle and diet can minimize chances of certain
genes ‘switching on’.
9. Spend one hour of every day in direct daylight— or use full spectrum
light bulbs to improve mood and reduce winter blues.
10. Laugh more. Laughing aids your immune system, burns calories,
exercises the lungs and releases pent-up tension.
11. Go to bed early. The two hours before midnight are the most
beneficial in terms of anti-ageing as our systems arid adrenal glands
recover then.
12. Eat more lettuce at night because It contains a natural sedative,
called lactucarlum, that can help promote deeper sleep.
13. Think positive. Yale University scientists have found that people
who are positive and adaptable have happier, more fulfilled lives, and on
average live eight years longer than those with a pessimistic outlook.
14. Rub essential oil of basil and/or rosemary diluted in almond oil
into your scalp to increase circulation to the scalp, clear the mind and
improve concentration.
15. Eat spicy foods as they produce endorphins to lift your mood.
Turmeric is highly anti-carcinogenic.
16. Take a walk in the sunshine. Exercise and sunlight release
endorphins, that are natural anti-depressants, as well as the feel-good, hormone
serotonin.
17. Don’t worry. Most of the things we fear never happen — and worrying
ages you.
18. Learn how to meditate. Proponents of the art believe that, when you
attain total stillness within, linear time stops. In other words,
meditating can actually help you slow down the ageing process.
19. If you don’t want to meditate, sitting quietly for ten minutes will
help.
20. Think young. Tell yourself that you’re years younger, and also act and dress
younger. You will begin to feel and look younger, too.
21. Know how to handle stress. Cortisol and adrenaline are the natural
‘fight or flight’ hormones but a build-up may cause conditions from heart
attacks to stomach ulcers.
22. Replace mercury fillings. Mercury can trigger memory loss and
symptoms that mimic senile dementia.
23. Have prunes, raisins, blackberries, figs, apricots, apples, carrots
and green vegetables to absorb excess free radicals responsible for most
of the signs of ageing.
24. Investigate live cell therapy. Shark, sheep or bovine embryos that
are injected into humans are said to rejuvenate older cells. After four to
six weeks, patients say their memory has improved, joints no longer ache
and skin looks fresher.
25. Strong winds can cause veins. Use thick protective cream when
outdoors.
26. Take a detox bath. Airline flights and computers subject the body
to radiation. A warm bath with one lb (1/2 kilo) of epsom salts
counteracts these damaging effects.
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FACE
27. You can strengthen your eye muscles by exercising them. Hold your
thumb at arm's length and move it in circles and figure eights, both closer and
further away, following it with your eyes the whole time.
28. Facial acupuncture helps eradicate dark circles under your eyes,
whether they're hereditary or because of lack of sleep.
29. Hearing loss needn't be a natural consequence of ageing. Protect
your hearing by wearing disposable earplugs when using power tools or
lawnmowers.
30. If your hearing is fading, take a ginko biloba supplement to
increase circulation to the head.
31. Celery-seed extract aids drainage of excess water from your body,
so helps reduce puffiness in eyes or face. Take a supplement of 500mg
twice daily.
32. If you think you may be losing your sense of taste or smell, take a
zinc supplement daily.
33. Deficiency of potassium sulphate can also cause loss of taste
and smell. If you suspect this might be a problem, take a daily
supplement.
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34. Drink water A baby’s body is over 75 per cent water but by the age of
65, we’re just 55 per cent water. Water keeps skin hydrated and improves
cell function.
35. Tap water and most bottled waters have chemicals and minerals.
These are not necessary beneficial as they are inorganic and our body can
only use organic minerals (from plants). For 99.99 per cent pure water,
get RODI (reverse osmosis de-ionized) water, either from a supermarket or
from a plumbed-in unit
36. Drink green tea for powerful antioxidant properties that neutralize
excess free radicals.
37. Increase your exposure to oxygen. Consider ozone therapy — a treatment
that floods the body with oxygen, that is said to inactivate viruses and
stimulate Immune function.
38. Vitamin C is great for building collagen but cannot be stored in the
body. It is most effective when taken with food in several small doses
during the day – or in sustained release form capsules/tablets.
39. Don’t have milk in tea. Both green tee and black tea contain
antioxidants, but their effect is neutralized by adding milk.
40. Cut down on excessive sun exposure — it triggers oxidative damage
that contributes to wrinkled skin and can help to cause age spots.
41. Take antioxidant supplements (ACES – Vitamins A, C, E and selenium).
42. Take Carnosine daily. It is a naturally occurring compound in the
body and can also be found in red meat and chicken. It extends cell life and
regenerates the skin.
43. Use a pH-balanced soap. Skin is slightly acid, which helps repel
bacteria and pollution. Many soaps are alkaline and can neutralize the
skin’s acidity, reducing its resistance to infection and damage.
44. Remember oils and creams do penetrate the skin — the average woman
absorbs 2 kilos of ingredients from them every year. So opt for organic skin
products – or better yet, use foods like olive oil and flaxseed oil. If you
can eat it, it’s safe to put on your skin.
45. Exfoliate skin regularly for a fresher look.
46. Sleep on your back to reduce wrinkles on face and chest.
47. Take echinacea supplements — on a two-weeks on, one-week off basis to
boost your immune system.
48. Apply moisturizers to slightly damp skin to increase their
penetrating and hydrating effects.
49. Reduce any sun damage by a cream like Jurlique’s Calendula C cream.
Calendula reduces inflammation and nourishes skin.
50. Avoid synthetic fabrics. They stop your skin breathing properly, so
your body retains toxins.
51. Breathe deeply through your nose to use your lungs to their greatest
capacity. increase your oxygen Intake and promote easier digestion.
52. Put your hands on your lower abdomen and watch them raise and lower
as you breathe in and out. This re-alkalizes your system, expands the lower
lungs and re-energizes the body.
53. Ability to take a really lung-filling breath declines with age.
Minimize this decline with exercise and singing.
54. Watch your weight. Excess weight puts a strain on almost every organ
in your body, stressing the skeleton and the circulatory system and reducing
your life expectancy.
55. Invest in a purifier to rid the air inside your home of toxins such
as monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and benzene vapor – all of which can be more
damaging to the body than outdoor pollution.
56. Keep indoor plants. They remove carbon dioxide from the air and
increase the levels of oxygen in your home.
57. Stop smoking. Every cigarette you smoke takes 15 minutes off your
life, ages your skin and robs you of vital nutrients — so don’t light up.
58. Cut back on sugar in all forms. Sugars contribute to obesity and
diabetes, trigger inflammation, and age the skin and brain.
59. If you find it hard to cut sugar from your diet, start supplements of
chromium - 2OOmcg a day should help reduce cravings (but give it time – at
least 2 months). Chromium is also believed to reduce the incidence of late
onset diabetes.
60. To boost your circulation, use a body brush regularly. Circulation
becomes less efficient with age and means less oxygen and fewer nutrients
are delivered to cells, leading to leg ulcers, cold hands and feet, and
memory loss.
61. Take a magnesium supplement every day to relax constricted arteries
and so reduce the risk of stroke.
62. Cut down on sodium-based salt. It dehydrates the skin, causing it to
wrinkle prematurely, and can also contribute to high blood pressure and
hardened arteries. Try replacing it with magnesium (most minerals taste
salty and we don’t get enough magnesium any more).
63. Instead of using salt, chop a seaweed, such as kelp, over your meals.
64. Improve circulation to your head with a regular head massage. The
health of your hair is dependent on circulation to the scalp. (Men and some
women lose hair on the top of their head, where blood flow is reduced in
comparison to the sides.)
65. Take regular exercise to boost circulation. Also, eat more foods
containing Vitamin E (such avocado) that help to thin blood naturally.
66. To avoid varicose veins, ensure you maintain good circulation in your
legs. Don’t cross your legs.
67. If you have been on your feet all day, lie on the floor and place
your lower legs on a chair or bed for 15 minutes. This rests the valves in
the blood vessels and encourages absorption of excess fluid.
68. If you spend most of the day sitting at a desk, make an effort to
take regular breaks — try once every hour, if only for a few minutes — and
use them to be active.
69. The body requires essential sugars for the immune cells to function
at their optimum level. Most fruit and vegetables that we eat are picked
before they are ripe and before the essential sugars have developed. Go out
of your way to find "ripe-picked" vegetables and fruit.
70. Maintain a good acid-alkaline balance. Cells function best when
alkaline, and ideally our bodies should be 70 per cent alkaline and 30 per
cent acid. However, the average person is 80 per cent acid and 20 per cent
alkaline, so most people need alkalizing foods such as honey, watercress,
carrots and celery.
71. Look after your liver and bowels. Anyone with CFS (ME in the UK) or
chronic exhaustion has a liver and bowels overloaded with toxins. Once they
clean up their diet for a month, improvements start to be noted. Take
psyllium husks or whole linseeds daily – start with ¼ teaspoon and work very
slowly up to two tablespoons daily.
72. Have a glass of good red wine or red grape juice daily. The antioxidant polyphenols counteract some ageing processes.
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BONES, TEETH AND NAILS
73. Avoid refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pizza, which are
acid-forming. Osteoarthritis and diseases of ageing are linked to an excess
of such foods.
74. Massage your nails regularly with jojoba, olive or almond oil. Along
with a good diet, this will keep them looking young and healthy.
75. Sit in the sun for 15-30 minutes a day to build up a supply of
Vitamin D.
76. Over time, teeth get worn away and gums recede – regular cleaning and
flossing will keep them healthier.
77. Avoid concentrated fruit juices. Their sugar content can weaken
enamel and allow bacteria to enter the teeth.
78. Eat Thai food. It has lemon grass, coriander and garlic, all great
for bones and teeth.
79. Build muscle. Ratio of lean muscle to fat is an indicator of age. In
our 30s we lose an average of 300g of muscle tissue a year. Exercise using
weights increases muscle and strengthens bones.
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80. To avoid hangovers, take 500mg of GLA (gamma linoleic acid, the main
ingredient in evening primrose oil), one gram of vitamin C, a B complex,
plus a milk thistle supplement with a full glass of water before you go out.
81. If you have to take a painkiller, avoid too many paracetamol tablets.
They are bad for the kidneys. If you are taking painkillers regularly,
switch around between the different types on a weekly basis.
82. Look after your liver. Your liver detoxifies the body. If it
cannot do so effectively, this can contribute to making your skin look
prematurely old.
83. Good portions of broccoli, globe artichokes, cauliflower and radishes
all cleanse and support the liver.
84. If you go out drinking, try to be in bed before 1am. Chinese medicine
says the liver detoxes between 1am and 3am and is most efficient when you’re
lying down.
85. If you feel hungover when you haven’t been drinking, try a liver
cleanse (seek doctor s advice first). Mix 6tbsp lemon juice, 3tbsp olive
oil, 1 small garlic clove, a pinch of ginger, a pinch of cayenne pepper
— whisk in a blender and drink immediately Do not eat for at least an hour
afterwards.
86. Eat raw or lightly cooked vegetables. They are higher in anti-ageing
vitamins and minerals.
87 Take an acidophilus/bifidus supplement. These bacteria maintain a
healthy gut.
88. A little of what you fancy is good for you. There’s no point in
living longer if you don’t enjoy life. (There’s a saying: eat carefully,
exercise: die anyway.)
89. In the West the average person eats 40 per cent more food than they
need. Eating less places less strain on the digestive system and liver.
90. Serve your meals on smaller plates — your brain will still see a full
plate of food. (As you age, you tend to eat less anyway, of course.)
91. Avoid junk food because it contains very few nutrients and is high in
sugar, salt and fat.
92. Avoid eating last thing at night. This places an extra burden on the
digestive system. If you need to, because of blood sugar fluctuations, eat a
very small high-protein snack.
93. Avoid drinking too much with your meals because this dilutes the
stomach acid needed to digest your meal.
94. If you have fluctuating blood sugar, snack. Try to eat a small,
balanced meal every two or three hours. (This does not cure the problem, but
it helps with the symptoms.)
95. Improve levels of stomach acid by taking two teaspoons of apple cider
vinegar and a teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water about an hour before each meal.
96. Swap your regular honey for Manuka honey; it can help heal the
stomach and strengthen the immune system.
97. Fiber in your diet is essential for healthy bowels. Try rice and oat
bran instead of wheat bran.
98. Detoxing is a great anti-ager. Eliminating foods containing flour,
sugar, caffeine and dairy for just one week will greatly help to cleanse your
system.
99. Use fresh coriander over salads to remove toxic metals (that damage cells)
from the body.
100. Know the consequences of the way you live. If you live on coffee,
burgers, alcohol end cigarettes, you’ll accelerate your ageing.
