What Is Naturopathic Nutrition?
Naturopathic Nutrition is a combination of dietary approaches and supplementation, suited to the individual, coupled with naturopathic techniques (see below). By eating a whole food diet, including live foods, juices, super foods, specific supplementation and drinking enough water, the body begins to release unwanted matter (our toxic load). This occurs at a cellular level, freeing the cells to function optimally.
What Is Detoxification?
Detoxification is any method that can be applied to help the body, or more precisely the cells and tissues to release and eliminate toxins. Toxins can build up in the body until it is overloaded, eventually causing dis-ease. Heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium can build up and cause a myriad of problems. Pesticides and herbicides used to help grow our food are toxic. Our own metabolic waste can also be a source of toxicity, if not eliminated properly, causing congestion, particularly in the lymphatic(sewer) system.
Pathogens – viruses, bacteria, fungi, worms and flukes can all compromise the immune system. I hasten to add that not all bacteria are bad and we need a certain amount of fungi. These can be considered the clean-up crew when the terrain has become congested much like a stagnant pond. After all, our lymph nodes need bacteria to help break down metabolic acids for removal, much like our digestive system needs bacteria for it to function optimally. With the help of antiparasitics, we can bring down the pathogenic load whilst cleaning the system. It’s all about creating a balance, thereby eliminating dis-ease.
Naturopathic techniques are natural approaches to help lighten our toxic load and stagnation.
For example, cleansing the bowel and digestive system with a combination of natural cleansers and/or enemas. Liver cleansing with food, herbs and specific flushes. Hot and cold showers to move lymph and blood. Saunas to take the load off the kidneys. Deep breathing to help alkalise and oxygenate. Castor oil packing to help break down congestion.
Functional Medicine aims to find the root cause of a disease from a biochemical and physiological standpoint. Various lab tests can be applied to help uncover dis-ease states. Examples are complete nutritional panels, stool tests and hormonal profiles.
Exercise and movement are important as they get the blood and lymph moving and give the organs an internal massage. Sweating helps eliminate toxins through the skin. Saunas can be used as a form of detox.
Emotional Healing can come under the heading of detoxification. ‘Stuck’ emotions can cause a form of toxicity, which once eradicated lessen the toxic load, making it easier for the body to heal itself naturally.