Flowers are blooming, farmer's markets are packed with
seasonal produce, and the sun is shining. Thanks to
Mother Nature at this time of year, you're also able to pack
more activity into your days with ease due to extended sunlight
hours. This is the perfect time of year for us to unwind and destress
from a long hard winter and shortened spring!
The fiery element that powers this bright time of year sets
a tone of energy, vitality and growth. Summer simply is time to
thrive—and this active season also lends itself well to detox both
physically and emotionally. To bolster the most benefits, you must
focus your attention on your heart and your small intestine, two
organs that really shine during the summer months.
The Heart's Connection To Detox
You may not think of your heart as a detox organ, but it actually
plays a very signification role in this process. Your heart works
in tandem with your liver, pumping vital nutrients throughout
your entire body. With each beat, it completes the critical job of
regulating your circulation, allowing the detoxification process to
receive these necessary nutrients. Highly active in the summer,
this four-chambered muscle—the strongest muscle in your
body—provides the energy and messages needed to coordinate
your organs to work in harmony.
To dive deeper into the process, about 3,000 gallons of
blood is pumped to your lungs each day where the blood then
absorbs oxygen. After returning to the heart, it's pumped
throughout the body, allowing it to disperse oxygen and vital
nutrients. Incredibly, your heart can keep going seemingly
endlessly so long as it has the oxygen it needs. However, if
your lungs are impaired and/or your liver is overly stressed,
problems with this system surface. In fact, if your liver isn't
functioning properly, the blood supply—up to 70 percent of
it—can become blocked and thwart the circulation and oxygen
fueling process.
I'd guess it comes as no surprise that smoking and
an artery-clogging, cholesterol-raising diet are both quite
detrimental to the heart. Another negative factor that's all too
common these days is stress. Every time you become tense, the
rate and rhythm of your heart are affected, which disturbs the
blood and oxygen flow, causing the blood vessels in your wrists
and ankles to become constricted. One way you might be able
to identify that this is occurring is that your hands and feet feel
unnecessarily cold. In time, a lowered supply of oxygen to your
heart can produce secondary symptoms that include angina,
heart palpitations, irregular beats—and even potentially a heart
attack.
The Breakdown On Homocysteine
Escalated levels of the potentially toxic amino acid called
homocysteine can also make you a likely candidate for
cardiovascular disease by damaging blood vessels and
contributing to plaque buildup. Having a higher-than-normal
amount of homocysteine in your body can actually become so
dangerous that studies have found it can equal the danger to
your heart that smoking and high cholesterol causes.
Homocysteine is the metabolic byproduct of a methionine
breakdown, an amino acid found in animal protein. In ideal
functioning, homocysteine passes through a detoxification
process known as methylation, where it is converted to the
nontoxic amino acid cysteine. But this process can only operate
properly if vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid are readily available.
Having low amounts of these critical B vitamins (particularly
B12, which is mandatory for the conversion process and the
production of folic acid), consuming an overabundance of
animal protein (meat, dairy, eggs), and drinking a lot of coffee all
can aggravate normal functions and cause homocysteine levels
to climb. The result may be frustrating forgetfulness, cloudy
thinking, and other Alzheimer's-like symptoms frequently
associated with the aging process—regardless of your age. For
those with the MTHFR genetic variation, do make sure your B12
and folate are methylated.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, when the "fire"
of your heart becomes out of balance due to impaired kidneys—
which are a water element—being unable to keep the heart
cool, it produces hot flashes, night sweats, and palpitations.
You also begin to experience emotions such as feeling uneasy,
irritable and restless, and may also experience insomnia and
even upsetting nightmares. You might notice that your cheeks
are flushed, the tip of your nose is noticeably red and/or any
other areas of your skin seem to have a redder pigmentation
than usual. Your tongue can also be a gateway into the health of
your heart. Analyze the color and texture, keeping in mind that a
pink, moist tongue is ideal. Paleness could indicate anemia and
if your tongue appears to be coated, that might be a red flag for
digestive issues.
Digestion And Detox
The vital nutrients that the detoxification process so heavily
depend on are made readily available to your body through
your 23-foot long small intestine, which links your stomach to
your large intestine. With help from enzymes in the pancreas
and bile from the liver and gallbladder, the small intestine pulls
useful elements—such as glucose, fatty acids, and the muchneed
amino acids—from the food you eat. It then digests and
absorbs nutrients and ships them off to the bloodstream, where
they are carried to the liver. They're then either used or stored in
the form of glycogen, which reverts to the original substances
(glucose, fatty acids, or amino acids) as needed to nourish the
whole system.
Keeping the small intestine clear is vital for the overall
health of the body. If your intestinal lining becomes coated with
mucus, nutrient absorption is greatly diminished, and your
immune system suffers, resulting in increased likelihood of
food allergies and illnesses, as well as fatigue from the rise of
white blood cell production. Having an impaired digestive tract
causes the loss of essential building blocks, resulting in dull,
brittle hair, skin and nails, indigestion, uncomfortable bloating,
excess gas, stomach pain, and constipation.
In fact, your small intestines are the critical stop for digestion
and overall good health. To function optimally, your digestive
system needs pancreatic enzymes, the enzyme ptyalin—found
in saliva—and hydrochloric acid (HCL)—produced in the
stomach. HCL plays a critical role in the process and could
even be considered one of the most important chemicals in the
body. When it's missing, protein can't be broken down properly
into amino acids, hindering the maintenance and building of
muscles. These non-metabolized proteins begin to decay and
enter the bloodstream, resulting in toxic waste making its way
through your system, and stress being placed on your lungs,
kidneys, skin and bowels. Also, when HCL production is low,
the opening to your small intestine doesn't function normally,
causing lowered levels of bile and your bowel to slow, resulting
in constipation. From there, a domino effect occurs, causing
harm to the optimum operation of your pancreas, liver, and
gallbladder.
Keep Your Levels Up
So, what causes HCL levels to plummet? The two most likely
contenders are stress and a poor diet which lead to deficits
of iodine, salt, and zinc—the mineral precursors of HCL.
Plus, if you're upset, highly stressed or continually on the go,
or you tend to drink liquids with your meals, frequently drink
carbonated beverages (including mineral waters) and eat your
meals in a rush, you may be causing reduced levels of HCL in
your body.
As you can see, these two summer-loving organs are
directly connected to the detoxification process and overall
functioning of your body. To love these organs, take time to
slow down and enjoy the season, being conscious to mindfully
reduce your stress levels and not over-schedule yourself. And,
as always, nourish yourself with a diet that's full of grass-fed,
lean protein or clean vegan protein, organic fruits and veggies,
heart-smart fats like olive oil and macadamia nuts, and say "no"
to processed and/or fried foods.
Happy, healthy summer!
