Brookline & Needham Acupuncture: Detoxing for Weight Loss

Are you exercising, eating right and still not losing weight? It could be adrenal fatigue (more on this topic next month), irregular sleep (see above article) or toxins in your body. Today we’ll talk a little about toxins.

We absorb toxins everyday, as in today’s society, they are all around us, in our food (colorings, pesticides, additives), air (exhaust, toxic cleaning materials, paint, beauty products, new carpets, etc), and also through our skin (toxic beauty products and chlorine in our shower).

Toxins are stored in our fat cells, which is actually a protective mechanism (so we can thank our smart bodies for that). If they weren’t stored in our fat, then toxins could make their way in to our organs, which would then be a lot more damaging. So often times, if someone is having a lot of trouble losing weight, and seems to be doing the right things with diet, exercise and sleep, it makes sense to do a detox.

A detox doesn’t have to be a scary thing. There are all different types and levels of detox. I usually recommend starting with a mild cleanse if this is the first detox for the person. There are some easy- to- use products available at your local natural foods store that can assist in your detox. These consist of herbs to support your detox organs, probiotics, and fiber.

It is also important to make some dietary changes during the cleanse too. Toxins can also come in the form of food sensitivities which can cause inflammation in the body. A simple test or elimination diet can determine what you are sensitive to.

Acupuncture during a cleanse can help to assist the body’s detox efforts. There are specific ear acupuncture protocols that are designed to enhance detox. They are often used in detox clinics (for alcohol and drugs), smoking cessation, and also weight loss.

Other symptoms of toxicity include: