We've all heard it before: this detox that detox,

We've all heard it before: this detox that detox, this body cleanse that body cleanse. We all know someone who's been on some type of detox program or another.

I get a lot of questions on cleanses and detoxes so I thought I'd write this article to help guide all of you on the most common questions that arise:

- How do I cleanse my body?

- How should I prepare for a cleanse?

- I'm healthy and eat right, why should I detox?

* of note: throughout this article I will use the terms "Cleanse" and "Detox" interchangeably.

WHAT IS A CLEANSE OR DETOX? WHAT ARE TOXINS?

Over time, toxins accumulate in our bodies. These can be from the environment, from things we put in or on our bodies, or from our bodies themselves.

Let me give you some examples:

FOOD. And I'm not talking about pesticides, those are in a whole different category. I'm talking about processed foods, genetically modified foods, food additives, food dyes and flavorings (MSG, aspartame). Even alcohol and wine have sulfites. All these are toxins.

AIR. Carbon dioxide and methane from air pollution. Car and factory emissions. First and second hand smoke.

WATER. Yes, water has been shown to have ammonia, bleach, chlorine, chromium and additional pollutants in it.

CHEMICALS. Mercury from the fish. OTC, prescription and recreational drugs that build up over time. Bisphenol A and phalates from plastic water bottles. And here it is, all the pestiside residue from fruits and vegetables.

As you can see, toxins are all over the place.

Once toxins accumulate in our bodies they are able to disrupt cellular function, and this shows up in various health conditions such as chronic fatigue, erectile dysfunction, thyroiditis, acne, vision issues. Eventually the toxins build up and contribute to chronic diseases such as kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, skin issues, autoimmune