Ayurveda Foundations: Detoxifing the Body (from consuming non organic foods)

May 8, 2014

It is sad that today, most people cannot afford to eat organic foods, for the abundant availability of non-organic foods as well as genetically modified foods which are a lot cheaper than organic foods, makes them easier to afford and purchase. Dr. Neelesh Korde explains that it is very important to eat locally grown products for they do not require pesticides or the process of freezing for them to be used, making it the best food choice.

Replying to a question on how one can reduce the toxic effects of non-organic foods, Dr. Korde says that whether food is organic or non-organic, there are certain toxic effects that the food is sure to exhibit on the system. A healthy liver can effectively deal with the toxicants, but it is important to remember that one should not strain the liver all the while, by consuming such foods (loaded with pesticides, preservatives, additives) constantly.

If our system is good, Ayurveda recommends that we follow a cleansing diet once every 3 months or at least a thorough cleansing once a year. Toxins should not be allowed to accumulate inside the body. They are present everywhere, especially in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, and in the food we eat, and we can't control that. How our body will react to that depends on how we treat our body. Cleansing is the only method by which we can eliminate toxins effectively from the body, without putting our system into imbalance.

Dr. Korde recommends Panchakarma cleansing; and also advises easier detoxification techniques such as a daily oil application using sesame oil or weekly body massage; this helps drain out toxins from the body. Sweat is yet another method to eliminate toxins, therefore steam baths are also advisable, these are the easiest methods that can be done by anyone, and best done under medical supervision. This is especially advised to those
in other parts of the world who do not have access to Ayurvedic resources available in India.

Dr Korde also recommends fasting for half a day once a week, mindfully skipping one meal, making sure to drink plenty of warm water during that time to allow the system to rest for a while, giving it a break from loading and overloading it with food.

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