In the past, we have taken a look at liver cleansing and colon cleansing. Many people swear to the benefits of cleansing and others warn of the dangers. Some doctors say that toxins can build up in the liver and that using a cleansing can help to detox the liver and allow it to function better. Cleansing the colon dates back to ancient Greece. Its popularity has been rather cyclic, being popular then not so popular and back to being popular again. Unlike the liver, the colon relies on a sufficient population of natural bacteria – probiotics – and some advocate that cleansing can destroy your body’s probiotic bacteria in the colon, which results in other problems.

The problem is that everyone’s body and system are different than everyone else’s and we all react differently to the same things. What may be really beneficial and healthy for one person may be life threatening to another person. That’s why we not only have to be careful or more discerning about supplements and natural remedies, but, we also need to be discerning in what our doctors prescribe for us.

Is cleansing or going through a detoxification a good thing or bad thing? To be honest, there is no definitive answer to that question. It’s up to each individual person and what their body needs. If you do research, you can find a plethora of information that supports a detox cleansing and just as much literature that warns against it.

In searching for an answer for seniors, I went to a senior source, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Here is what I found on their website:

“Medical evidence indicates that our digestive health is connected to an array of chronic health issues. Taking a break from processed foods, sugar, salt and caffeine can go a long way toward a healthier body and a happier you. Be mindful that a sensible, food-based detox diet is not designed to lose weight, but rather to rid your body of toxins and common food allergens. Although, by eating a natural diet, you will likely lose weight anyway. People with serious medical conditions should see a doctor before making any changes to their normal diet or taking supplements.”

“To gain the most benefit from a detox diet, try to stick to the guidelines below for at least two weeks, gradually adding back in moderation some of your regular foods at the end. :

• Drink at least eight to 10 glasses of filtered water every day. The kidneys rid waste products from our bodies and water plays a key supporting role.
• Eliminate white flour and white sugar.
• Eat six or eight little meals every day of whole unprocessed foods that include vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains.
• Each of those meals should include a serving of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and Brussel sprouts. Garlic, onions and cilantro all contain properties that aid detoxification.
• Eat real fruit, rather than drinking fruit juice, which is often high in sugar.
• Unless you are a vegetarian, include small portions of lean animal proteins and fish. If possible, organic and pasture-raised meats and dairy products are recommended to avoid ingesting additional hormones or antibiotics.
• Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine.
• No drugs or alcohol.
• If you suspect you might have food sensitivities, try eliminating wheat/gluten, eggs, dairy, yeast, soy and corn products, and see if you feel noticeably better after a few weeks.
• Take a daily multivitamin.”

From reading what AARP posted, one would think that they do endorse a detox cleanse for seniors. However, after posting the 10 tips for a gentle detox, they also post a warning:

“Beware of possible side effects, such as headaches, low energy and nausea caused by physical withdrawal from sugar and coffee. These symptoms will usually stop after a few days and indicate the cleansing is working.”

When you look at their gentle detox tips, it’s basically just a sensible healthy diet which they also recommend getting regular exercise with. Any healthy diet is a good, and probably the best way, to not only detox your body, but lose weight, control blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and many other health conditions that come from eating a crummy, sugar and processed food filled diet.

Eating healthy and getting exercise is advised for everyone. Doing so could eliminate the need to go through some of the other detox cleanses you read and hear about.