Detoxification - 5 Vital Foods for Effective Detox

Detoxification or detox for short is one of the liver's most important functions. Your liver has to break down and safely eliminate everyday substances the body produces such as hormones and metabolic waste products as well the more obvious chemical toxins that you consume through our food and water.

It relies on two complicated phases involving enzyme reactions to break down toxins and render them safe for excretion via the bile in the form of feces or into the urine produced by the kidneys. Research has shown that specific foods and nutrients have an inhibiting effect or enhancing effect on these detoxification enzyme systems. Plenty of these foods should be used for the most effective liver detoxification diet. These same foods and nutrients can even be used to treat some common toxicity and immune system disorders.

There are two detox pathways known as Phase I and Phase II. Diet can help regulate and balance their activity for more effective and safe detoxification. For example if Phase I is working well but Phase II is slow the toxins processed by Phase I can build up causing damage while waiting to be dealt with by Phase II.

Many of these intermediate toxins may be more dangerous than the original substance and can have adverse effects on the glandular system, the immune system, and the nervous system causing health problems.

Some of the substances that cause increase in Phase I without the equivalent increase in Phase II are pesticides, cigarette smoke, exhaust and paint fumes, burnt or barbequed food, alcohol, intestinal toxins and certain medications.

Top foods to support liver detoxification:

1) Cruciferous vegetables: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, rutabaga (swede), broccoli, broccoli sprouts, mustard greens, turnips, radish, cauliflower, kohlrabi, collard greens, daikon.

They contain potent phytochemicals and antioxidants that support Phase II activity. They help the liver convert chemicals that could be cancer causing into something far less toxic that can safely be excreted. Broccoli sprout extracts inhibit Phase I but stimulate Phase II. This is beneficial for people exposed to a high level of toxins from paint fumes, cigarette smoke, pesticides and alcohol.

2) Sulfur foods: fish, meat, eggs, onions, garlic, turnips, radishes, celery, kale, string beans. These foods are beneficial for Phase II which uses sulphur for its sulfation pathway.

3) Fresh fruit and vegetables: Eating your 5 or preferably more portions a day helps supply the amino acid glutathione needed for Phase II. If you are exposed to a high level of toxins then eating glutathione rich foods is essential. Commercially prepared foods contain very little glutathione. Frozen vegetables seem to retain their glutathione content.

Especially rich in glutathione are cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, avocado, dill and caraway seeds. Fruit and vegetables are high in antioxidants which help protect the liver from free radical damage caused by toxins. Organically grown are best.

Grapefruit and its juice is an exception. It contains a substance, naringenin, which if regularly consumed inhibits Phase I detoxification. Drugs and toxins can stay in the body longer before detoxification causing damage. So if you are taking drugs or are exposed to a high level of toxins do not eat grapefruit or drink the juice.

4) High quality protein: Meat, fish and eggs supply the amino acids needed for the conjugation pathways of Phase II. It is important to eat organically produced or free range meat and eggs to avoid further toxins stored in the fats of intensively reared produce. Fish is best from deep clean waters or organically farmed.

5) Essential fatty acids: Many diets are sadly lacking in the beneficial fats that are
vital for Phase I detox. Avoid all hydrogenated fats found in many commercially produced and processed foods and meals, and heated fats which can damage them.

Eat fresh nuts and seeds and their unheated cold pressed oils. Oily fish may be contaminated with mercury and other pollutants so it is debatable if they should now be included.

No matter how good your diet or how clean your environment you will always be exposed to toxins. Strengthening detoxification pathways through specific foods mentioned above will help you stay well or can improve existing conditions. Its worth it!

To learn a lot more about detoxification get my brand new Free Report at http://www.thedetoxspecialist.com (c) 2007. Sandy Halliday, a former nurse, is a nutritionist and health researcher with 20 years experience of many different types of detoxification programs. She produces a weekly newsletter full of useful information, tips and reviews of products for effective detoxification.

How To Choose The Right Cat Food

As all cat owners know, a feline can be a wonderful addition to any family. One of the most basic aspects of cat ownership is proper health care for the cat. Health care for a cat encompasses a wide array of vaccine shots, flea protection, vet visits, medications, and even proper exercise.

However, the most important aspect of cat health is also often overlooked. People spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a cat to keep it healthy, but most cat owners don?t pay nearly enough attention to the proper cat food.

The right cat food is absolutely essential to a healthy, happy cat.

But what is the best cat food for your cat? While each cat will have slightly different nutritional needs, there are some general rules that must be considered when looking for cat food.

First of all, cats (like their human owners) need a high quality diet. This means the best types of protein, fats, carbs, and the less preservatives and chemical additives, the better. Most of the research available online does not compare specific brands of cat food, as much as specific ingredients to feed your cat, and which to stay away from!

Cats need a high protein diet. Wild cats are very carnivorous, and cats derive a great deal of their nutritional needs from protein. House cats, while not wild, still have many of the same nutritional needs as their wild feline ancestors. So, the most important ingredient in any cat food is protein.

Carbohydrates are also an important part of a cats diet, though not as important as protein. Cats really should derive the majority of their nutritional needs from protein, so cat foods that are high in carbohydrates may not necessarily be the best for them.

Interestingly enough, many of the premium brands of cat food, such as Eukanuba and Innova offer exactly what most cats need, and aren?t necessarily more expensive in the long run. This is because high end cat foods need a smaller serving amount than the low end cat foods to give a cat all the nutrients they need to be satisfied and healthy.

When comparing a premium brand such as Eukanuba, to a lower cost brand such as Purina, they cost difference for the recommended serving size is only a nickel a day. Furthermore, because a cat will eat less of the high end cat food, their waste will be reduced. This can cut down on the frequency of litter replacement and litter box related chores.

Another aspect of cat food to be considered is the quality of the protein in the food. Because of the way many pet food companies describe the meat in the food, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what the difference between ?chicken flavored?, and ?chicken dinner? is.

Food that contains ?chicken meal? can only be made from the skin, flesh, and bones only. This is really the best type of protein for a cat. Food that has ?meat byproducts? can contain nearly any animal parts, and are of lower quality than ?chicken meal?. Food that is ?chicken flavored? only has to taste like chicken, but may not contain any animal meat at all. Also, chicken is generally better than beef for cats.

And it goes without saying, preservatives, as well as artificial colors, should be avoided whenever possible. Although specific research is lacking on this subject, we do know that preservatives and artificial colors can have a negative impact on human health. It is only logical that cats will also be negatively affected by artificial colors and preservatives in their cat food.

With the vast selection of cat food on the market, it is easy to be intimidated and just pull the cheapest variety off of the shelf. Just remember what?s good for your cat and read the labels. Always remember, a little research can go a long way when it come to the health and well being of your cat.

About the Author:

Greg Podsakoff is one of the owners of Hercules the cat and an editor at http://www.cat-care-cat-information.com.

Cholesterol Information - Medication, Lifestyle And Food

In a seemingly endless barrage you are probably bombarded with facts about cholesterol - foods, lifestyles and medications. For the most, these facts are associated with products you can buy, in other words, commercials - tv, radio and print. On the other hand, what cholesterol information is actually pertinent to avoid heart disease and live a healthy life and where can you find this kind of cholesterol information?

Pertinent cholesterol information can be divided into two parts: information about you and information about everything else. Your doctor will ask you about your important cholesterol information. Understand your numbers get a cholesterol test and find out how much good and bad cholesterol you have. Your doctor can also tell you whether your numbers are too high or too low. Like so many health problems, smoking has a tendency to make high cholesterol even higher.

Your family's medical history is an important cholesterol information factor. If your blood pressure is high, you may already be feeling the effects of high cholesterol. Some medical conditions, like diabetes, can also raise cholesterol levels.

While you may not know the cholesterol numbers of your relatives, their medical conditions can give your doctor a good starting point and a good idea of your potential health issues. Information about your lifestyle is also important. If your diet is good, your weight is under control and you exercise regularly, you may be doing everything you can. If this is your situation your doctor may recommend medication.

To control cholesterol, you need to know what it is. Many are surprised to find out that cholesterol manufactured in the liver and that it's essential for the body to function at optimal levels. You may be surprised to know that you make it yourself and so your body clearly needs cholesterol in order to function so you don't need to add any to your diet. Good cholesterol information includes where to find cholesterol in your food. Because cholesterol comes from your liver, a good rule of thumb is if your food had a liver at some point in time, it contains cholesterol.

That goes for dairy products, too. Cholesterol is found in the fat part of the food. Whole milk contains more cholesterol than non-fat milk. In eggs, the cholesterol is in the yolks. If your food has a nutrition label, look for saturated fat - some if ok but zero grams in best.

Besides meat and dairy, palm and cocoanut oils contain saturated fats. A good rule of thumb regarding cholesterol information is that polyunsaturated fats are not bad for you unless they are hydrogenated. This is done to keep them stable in manufactured foods.

Tip - For more information on cholesterol, check out the links below.

About the Author:

Visit low cholesterol diet or level cholesterol or cholesterol medication for more information on cholesterol.

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