Olowo-n’djo Tchala is the Founder and Director of Alaffia. As one of our Whole Trade® vendors he is committed to making sure employees and suppliers receive better wages and working conditions. In addition, Alaffia gives back in so many ways to the African community in Togo. In appreciation for our customers’ support of Alaffia’s mission, Olowo-n’djo is giving away a beautiful gift basket filled with Alaffia’s Everyday Shea products. Read on to find out how to enter.

Year after year, I have become even more confident that through the support of our retailers and customers in the US, not only is Alaffia able to produce quality skincare products, but it is also possible to lead our West African communities out of poverty. In my Whole Story blog post last year, I shared the steps that we’re taking in Togo to help reduce poverty and bring about gender equality. Now, after returning from a six week visit home to Togo, I am pleased to share the progress that’s been made and and the activities that we participated in while there.

New Coconut Cooperative

Due to the success of our EveryDay Shea bodycare products and the increasing need for coconut oil for our soaps, we decided to build a new coconut cooperative and form a collective of women to work at this cooperative. This project brought back great memories of when I started our Sokodé shea butter cooperative eight years ago. I remember the doubt in the women’s eyes, and I saw similar uncertainty in the new coconut collective members. I believe that in the months to come, this doubt will be transformed to pride and empowerment just as it has for the women of the shea butter cooperative. Our new coconut cooperative officially opened the first week of March and provides work for over 200 women.

Distributing Bicycles and Helping Teachers

The bikes that we shipped last fall arrived in Togo during our visit, and after the bikes cleared customs and arrived in Sokodé, my wife Rose and I participated in bicycle distributions in four villages. The village of Kpalafoulassi stood out as it is a struggling community made up of subsistence farmers. The nearest secondary school is 7 km from Kpalafoulassi, and high school students (above grade 11) must go 17 km. Regardless of these difficulties, Kpalafoulassi manages to send an impressive number of students to higher grades. These bicycles help these dedicated students get to school.

Furthermore, while Kpalafoulassi does have a primary school, it only has three classrooms for its six classes. And, since the Togo government pays for only two teachers, the villagers pay for a third “volunteer” teacher, who is paid only $11 a month to teach two grades. Since this is obviously not a living wage, the teacher, Mr. Djannou had to supplement his income by farming – even during the school year. As part of our education projects, Alaffia has decided to sponsor this teacher by paying his full salary, $76 each month, for one year. In return, Mr. Djannou will devote his whole time to teaching.

Building a School

For the first time, Alaffia has commissioned and constructed a secondary school. We built this school in Kouloumi, a village located 40 kilometers from our Sokodé shea butter cooperative. Although Kouloumi is located on a main road and has a population of 3,000, there is no electricity or running water. While the Togo government provided Kouloumi with a secondary school director and teachers, it did not provide them with the school building. Six years ago, the villagers constructed a simple building to hold the classes, but it did not have walls or a good roofing system, and when it rained, the water poured into the school, and students were often sent home. Also, because the school is on the outskirts of the village, snakes and other animals constantly entered the building, causing interruptions and making learning difficult. For the past three years, Alaffia has been providing Kouloumi with desks, and during our 2010 visit to the school, their headmaster, Mr. Ganiyou, asked for help building a school in order to reduce the dropout rate and improve the learning experience for his students. Although Alaffia had not undertaken such a large project for one village before, I replied that I would do everything I could to build Kouloumi a school. Construction began in March 2011, and was fully completed by December 15. The inauguration day was emotional, where the village chief, government representatives and students all expressed their joy and many words of thanks.

Women’s Health Community Project

For many years, I have lived with an unpleasant image in my mind of witnessing my older half-sister undergoing excision (female circumcision) when I was six years old. At the time I was asked to bring bowls of warm water back and forth from the kitchen to the room where the excision was taking place. Ever since, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of the pain my sister must have gone through. Fast forward to December 2010, when my youngest sister, Ibada, was finalizing her studies to become a midwife. She was stationed at a small clinic in Kabou, about 85 kilometers from Sokodé, and told me that the most difficult part of her training in Kabou was delivering babies from women who have undergone excision. The pain these women go through to birth their children is indescribable, and unfortunately, they make up the majority of women who die during childbirth. At the time of our discussion, I told Ibada that we would launch a new project aimed at aiding these women during pregnancy and childbirth and also a community education program to reduce excision all together. Recently, Ibada joined Alaffia as our new Community Projects Coordinator, and we began this project.

Alaffia obtained authorization to take charge of full medical care for 300 excised pregnant women during 2012. This means that Alaffia will not only pay for all medical cost if there are complications, but will also coordinate between the women and the clinic so that transportation is available to bring the women to larger hospitals if complicated surgeries are needed.

This project will be one of the most sensitive and difficult that we have ever taken on, as it is a very socially sensitive and medically challenging topic. According to Mamatou Kegbao, the Head Midwife of Kabou, 1 in every 10 women who come to her clinic for maternal care has undergone excision, but most women who have undergone this procedure do not ever come to the clinic. This compounds this issue, since it means Alaffia staff will have to visit their homes to encourage them to come to the clinic for care and delivery. As challenging as this will be, I believe that if Alaffia truly stands for women’s empowerment, then we must do everything necessary to prevent unnecessary suffering of these mothers in central Togo.

During our visit to the Kabou clinic, we also distributed some basic medical supplies, and we are planning to make another shipment to them by July. One of the most disturbing things that Ms. Kegbao brought to our attention was that the clinic has very limited surgical and birthing supplies. Therefore if there are two women giving birth at the same time, the second one may have to wait while the equipment is sterilized. Therefore, they have to make the difficult decision of losing a baby by forcing the mother to wait or risk exposing the mother and child to HIV by using unsterilized equipment. This is not a decision that any person should have to make.

In Conclusion

It is very sad for me to see conditions worsening for poor people worldwide each year. Even in Togo, we see increasing environmental degradation, economic dominance by only a few people, political elitism, and increasing population. I often ask myself if I can do enough. But after seeing the few lives that our efforts touch, I feel even stronger that the fight for social and economic justice for all disadvantaged people must continue at all costs. It is a struggle that the support of you, our customers, and our retailers such as Whole Foods Market, will make feasible in the end. I am forever humble and grateful to be able to give my life to such a cause, as the only way for my children and their children to have peaceful lives on this earth is to care about human life today.

Have you tried Alaffia’s products or support their mission? Leave a comment below by May 9 and tell us why Whole Trade™ Guaranteed products are important to you. We’ll pick a winner at random to receive a beautiful handwoven basket full of Alaffia products!

The fine print: No purchase necessary. Promotion ends May 9, 2012. Must be a legal resident of the US or Canada (except in Quebec, where it is void) age 18 or older to participate. Taxes on prize, if applicable, are the responsibility of the winner. Employees of Whole Foods Market, Inc., are not eligible. Void where prohibited.

Seasonal allergy symptoms are a natural reaction to certain substances in our environment:

• Spring is a key time for allergies, which usually result from trees releasing pollen.
• Tree pollination tends to start anytime from January to April depending on the climate and location, and those known to cause severe allergies include oak, olive, elm, birch, ash, hickory, poplar and sycamore.
• Imbedded in the tissues of our body are immune cells known as mast cells, which become unstable and release histamine when they are repeatedly contacted by allergens from either the environment or as a by-product of metabolism.
• Eventually, histamines and other inflammatory substances “leak” through our membranes, creating an inflammatory response. Mucous membranes may become irritated and swollen and secrete excess mucous all in an effort to rid the allergen from the tissue.

There are particular herbs that may bring relief for common allergy symptoms:

• Look for formulas that include turmeric, nettle leaf, eyebright, bayberry, yarrow and goldenseal.
• These plants have been studied for their role in supporting the mucous membranes of the sinuses and lungs.
• These herbs support a healthy response to inflammation and promote upper respiratory health, especially eyebright and bayberry, which have astringent properties.

Herbs can provide both short and long-term relief for allergies:

• For best results, Bill Chioffi suggests to begin supplementing about a month prior to allergy season and continue while the problem persists.
• Enhancing the adrenals will directly assist numerous other parts of the body, such as the immune, endocrine, cardiovascular and nervous systems.
• The safest and most effective way to do this is through the use of herbs classified as adaptogens. These are herbs that help the body adapt to numerous stressors through a primarily nutritive mechanism.

Using herbs preventatively may help with allergies developing later in life:

• As we age our immune system becomes compromised due to several factors, among the most common is the impact of stress.
• To address stress we look to support the adrenal system with adaptogens such as ashwaghanda, Holy Basil, rhodiola and schizandra berry.
• Formulas with these herbs may help support normal energy levels during the allergy season.

Visit our Whole Body site to download this month’s featured Be Good to Your Whole Body pocket guide and more.

More than 20% of the US population is affected by allergies:

• Allergies are a histamine response of the body to an irritant that a person becomes sensitized to such as dust, pollen, mold, smoke, pollution, etc.
• This results in symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and congestion that can range from mild to severe.
• Allergies can develop from overexposure sensitivity or be triggered by high stress.

Homeopathy offers effective, natural solutions for allergy sufferers:

• Homeopathic remedies are non-toxic, have no side effects and can be effective for acute situations. They also offer long-term health enhancing benefits.
• If an acute remedy is not effective, Dr. Pollock recommends seeing a licensed, constitutional homeopathy practitioner who will consider the whole person rather than just their symptoms.

There are approximately 800 homeopathic remedies listed as helpful for allergies:

• Homeopathic remedies are chosen through an exacting process based on the specific symptoms of the whole person.
• Because the correctly chosen medicine is an exact match to the symptoms that would cause illness in a healthy person, the medicine acts energetically to negate those same symptoms in a sick person.
• In general, remedies are placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve.

Dr. Pollock recommends starting with a single, well chosen homeopathic remedy:

• Allium cepa is a homeopathic remedy helpful for burning eyes, itchy nose and irritation associated with hay fever and colds.
• Sabadilla is a homeopathic remedy helpful for repetitive sneezing not accompanied by burning discharge.
• The book Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines is a great resource for self help.
• If allergies are severe or self-care is not effective, seek the advice of a certified clinical homeopath.

Visit our Whole Body site to download this month’s featured Be Good to Your Whole Body pocket guide and more.

Do you see the seal that’s on the 365 Everyday Value^® Daily Facial Cleanser and missing from the other brand? Not just any product can wear this seal! Premium Body Care™ means our strictest standards for quality sourcing, environmental impact, results and safety.

(Bonus! Most of our entire 365 Everyday Value^® body care line meets our Premium Body Care standard, making more high-quality products available to more people. Search for these and other products that meet our strict standards here.)

Now let’s check out the ingredients. Some ingredients may not be pronounceable, but we’ve examined each one in our product not just for efficacy, but also for environmental impact and safety. Can the other brand say that?

365 Everyday Value^® Daily Facial Cleanser’s ingredients: Water, sodium myristoyl sarcosinate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, sodium cocoamphoacetate, glycerin, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, sodium citrate, citric acid, natural fragrance, panthenol.

Major national brand facial cleanser’s ingredients: Water, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, acrylates/steareth-20 methacrylate copolymer, glycerin, PEg-200 hydrogenated glyceryl palmate, sodium laureth sulfate, butylene glycol, PEg-7 glyceryl cocoate, phenoxyethanol, masking fragrance, panthenol, PEg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, disodium EDTA, methylparaben.

Let’s take a closer look at a few of those and spot the differences between brands.

Sodium laureth sulfate in the other brand : Surfactants, this cleanser’s workhorses, are used for cleaning, conditioning and creating foam. However, these ingredients often irritate the skin and can remove beneficial fatty acids. (Sodium laureth sulfate isn’t allowed in our Premium Body Care standards, which permit only the gentlest types of surfactants available.)

Disodium EDTA in the other brand: You guessed it; disodium EDTA is one of the more than 400 ingredients we find unacceptable for our Premium Body Care products. It is not allowed because there is environmental data showing that chelators such as EDTA do not readily biodegrade in the environment . . . as in when you rinse it off your face and down the drain.

Methylparaben in the other brand: The truth is some preservatives are necessary in packaged body care products, especially water-based products. Parabens and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are a no-no in our Premium Body Care standards, which allow only milder preservatives (those shown to function properly yet have a lower likelihood of causing cosmetic-related sensitivities), such as alcohol or potassium sorbate.

Natural fragrance in the 365 Everyday Value^® Daily Facial Cleanser: Fragrance is a component that many people expect in body care products and, if naturally derived, may have aromatherapy benefits too. For philosophical and safety reasons, only natural essential oils and components of natural essential oils are allowed as fragrances in our Premium Body Care products.

When you compare ingredients, count on results and calculate your savings, you’ll find a squeaky clean winner.

Hoping to make a clean sweep this spring from bathroom to kitchen? Keep costs low without sacrificing quality by turning to the The Whole Deal value guide for $48+ in coupons, more than a dozen Sure Deals, 11 budget-friendly recipes and a basket full of money-saving tips.

• Children’s skin is sensitive and helps regulate body temperature, hydrate and protect internal organs.
• The skin is the largest detoxification organ in the body.
• Artificial colors, preservatives and scents can cause irritation, especially for young children.

Premium Body Care® is a standard developed by Whole Foods Market® for our vendor partners:

• The Premium Body Care standards make it easier to choose products like baby and children’s lotions, oils, powders and washes.
• The PBC standards also make it easier for teens to choose face wash, make-up, and lotions,
• The Quality Standards team evaluates every product to ensure it meets the Premium Body Care standards.
• Criteria for evaluation include quality of source, environmental impact and safety.

There are many benefits to shopping at Whole Foods Market for your family:

• Whole Foods Market carefully monitors all the products and ingredients we select.
• Our team members are thoroughly trained and educated about the products we offer to help guide customers in making the most informed decisions.

Visit our Whole Body site to download this month’s featured Be Good to Your Whole Body pocket guide and more.

Our commitment to provide the highest-quality ingredients and products extends to every aisle of our stores. Join us for the latest updates in Whole Body where we discuss the benefits of our Premium Body Care® and Organic Body Care standards. Lecia Rand is Category Manager and Product Developer for Whole Foods Market exclusive brand supplements and body care.

Whole Foods Market developed our Premium Body Care quality standards to help clear customer confusion.

• There are a lot of products that claim to be natural, but there is no regulatory standard for making that claim.
• Whole Foods Market™ experts spent years examining ingredients according to the strictest criteria for safety, efficacy and impact on the environment.
• This is an ongoing process, which not only evaluated ingredients such as fragrance in detail, but also examines label claims.
• They have found more than 420 ingredients that do not meet our standard.

Identifying the products that meet out Premium Body Care standards are simple:

• A list of products that meet our Premium Body Care (PBC) standards can be found on each Whole Foods Market store’s website.
• Many stores have special signs on shelf showing the PBC logo next to PBC products.
• Whole Body team member can also point shoppers in the right direction depending on what they are looking for.
• Body care products that meet our standards include shampoos, conditioners, lotions, baby care products and more!
• There are over 3300 products and growing that have been formulated to our PBC standards, which include many of our 365 Everyday Value® and Whole Foods Market™ body care products.

Both successes and challenges help inform research for our Premium Body Care standards to ensure the highest quality products for our shoppers.

• Sales of 365 Everyday Value® body care products made to our Premium Body Care standards have increased significantly and are available for very affordable prices.
• Premium Body Care Organic Soaps and Hand Sanitizers have been developed as well as basic items like shower gels and USDA Organic lip balms.
• The choices for effective raw materials are increasing which has resolved some of the dilemmas for formulation when choices for lathering or moisturizing ingredients that met PBC were more limited.

Visit our Whole Body site to download this month’s featured Be Good to Your Whole Body pocket guide and more.

What fats are essential for heart health and how can we ensure high-quality, adequate intake?  Listen in to this encore podcast to hear about the critical role good fats play in a heart-healthy diet. Dr. Hector Lopez is a board-certified specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, holds a Masters degree in Nutrition and is a member of the Nordic Naturals Advisory Board.

Experts believe hydrogenated fats increase the risk of heart disease, however there are healthy fats that support the heart:

• Heart health is dependent on the balanced intake of essential fatty acids or EFAs as they are commonly referred to. These are considered “essential” as they MUST be consumed in the diet because the body cannot produce them on its own.
• These fats are involved in a variety of molecular mechanisms that have a direct or indirect effect on heart health including: turning certain genes on/off that regulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism; supporting the body’s anti-inflammatory response, and even changing the actual characteristics of LDL cholesterol.

Incorporating essential fatty acids (EFAs) into our diets are critical for the heart and overall health:

• The two EFAs in particular to focus on balancing are omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAs.
• The overabundance of omega-6 EFAs in the diet (examples include: refined vegetable oils, processed foods and non-pasture fed animal meats) and the widespread relative deficiency of omega-3 EFAs are contributing factors to many of the chronic health conditions facing the US.
• Because sources of omega-6 EFAs are already so prominent in our daily diet, we should focus on reducing its intake in favor of omega-3 EFAs found in flaxseed oil, cold-water fish, walnuts and dark leafy greens for example.
• Although a variety of plant-based oils, cold-water fish, greens and relatively lean, wild animal meats may provide a good base of essential fatty acids (EFAs), many Americans still fall short and supplementation is a great way to cover our bases.

While flaxseed oil and fish oil are both excellent sources of omega-3 EFAs, fish oil has some added benefits:

• Fish oil contains omega-3 EFAs called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) that are immediately available to the body and appear to promote health across multiple organ systems from cardiovascular to the central nervous system, as well as metabolic, immune and joint health.
• Even the American Heart Association has recommended over 1,000mg of EPA/DHA daily in patients with history of heart disease for cardiovascular benefits, which is almost 8x more than the average American consumes.
• Supplementation offers a solution to the challenge of satisfying these amounts of EPA/DHA daily.

When choosing a fish oil supplement, it’s important to verify its quality and purity:

• Choose fish oil supplements that have a high degree of purity and concentration from molecular distillation manufacturing processes.
• Also look for third-party testing practices, which can help ensure high-quality oils.

Visit our Whole Body site to download this month’s featured Be Good to Your Whole Body pocket guide and more.

There are many effective ways to support a healthy heart through simple dietary and lifestyle choices. Listen to this encore podcast presentation and learn about the link between inflammation and plant-based nutrition from one of the doctors who former President Bill Clinton credits with regaining his health. Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. is an internationally known former surgeon, researcher and clinician at the Cleveland Clinic, and author of the book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s clinical research and book on preventing heart disease is centered around smart eating for a healthy heart:

• Protection against heart disease through plant-based nutrition has been the foundation of his research and clinical practice strategy for over 25 years.
• He has consistently found in patients severely ill with advanced coronary artery disease that the results of using plant-based nutrition are prompt, powerful and enduring.
• The foundation of this plant-based diet includes a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, while avoiding animal products and processed oils.
• Additionally, he adds 1000 I.U. of vitamin D3 and 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 daily to ensure adequacy of these nutrients.

Chronic inflammation has been shown to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease:

• Coronary artery disease develops from progressive injury to the delicate inner lining of our blood vessels known as the endothelial cells.  When healthy, these cells produce copious amounts of nitric oxide.
• Nitric oxide protects our blood vessels by: maintaining a smooth blood flow to prevent cellular elements from becoming sticky; providing more blood to muscle and other body systems requiring it; inhibiting the development of inflammation in the vessel wall; and preventing the formation of vessel blockages or plaque.
• The western diet of processed oils, dairy, meat, fish and poultry progressively destroys our endothelial cells’ capacity to produce nitric oxide, thus leading to a loss of vascular protection.
• Without nitric oxide, a sticky LDL cholesterol molecule enters beneath the endothelial lining initiating an inflammatory cascade of events culminating in plaque formation and blockage with occasional plaque rupture causing a heart attack.

Dietary and lifestyle choices help support a healthy heart:

• Consume a plant-based diet and avoid processed oils, dairy, animal, fish and poultry products.
• Choose rolled oats for breakfast that are filled with polyphenolic compounds and also copious amounts of green leafy vegetables, which can help restore endothelial function.
• Exercise is important to incorporate, such as regular walking, biking, swimming, running and resistance training.
• Whether it is with family or friends, find the joy of interpersonal relationships.

Visit our Whole Body site to download this month’s featured Be Good to Your Whole Body pocket guide and more.

That means the supplements in Whole Body don’t contain things like  artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives, unnecessary fillers and hydrogenated fats. Those same high standards are applied to our personal care products, as well. In fact, we encourage our vendor partners to use plant-based and naturally-derived ingredients, pure essential oil fragrances, gentle preservatives and non-petroleum ingredients. And, we do not allow any animal testing for any of our personal care products, ever.  In addition, we’ve created a set of top tier Premium Body Care® standards that raises the bar still further. Look for the products marked with our Premium Body Care seal and get a list of the Premium Body Care products your store carries on their store web page.

Now that you know a little more about what the Whole Body department is about, let me fill you in on some of the new products that have come out this month. Check back too, because I’ll be sending out more updates each month. Now you’ll have a good reason to venture into Whole Body!

Britenz Brush-On Teeth Whitener

• A convenient teeth whitening pen with a brush-on applicator; no messy trays or strips and no rinsing
• Has a fresh, natural peppermint flavor
• A portion of Britenz profits goes to organizations providing oral care for kids in the US and abroad

The Natural Dentist Healthy Moisture Dry Mouth Rinse

• Hydrates dry tissue and maintains moisture balance
• Freshens breath

The Natural Dentist Plaque Zapper Fluoride-Free Natural Gel Toothpaste

• A fluoride-free toothpaste for kids
• Formulated without SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors

Kiss My Face Triple Action Paste and Triple Action Paste with Anticavity Fluoride

• No SLS, parabens, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners
• Great tasting mint flavor for fresher breath
• Available with or without fluoride

Everyone Soap

• A 3-in-1 soap — body wash, bubble bath and shampoo — for the whole family
• Gentle, moisturizing and fragrant
• Available in Coconut + Lemon, Lavender + Aloe and Citrus + Mint varieties

LÄRABAR Über

• Just nine carefully chosen ingredients per bar
• Made with whole fruits and nuts for sweet and salty flavor with lots of texture and crunch
• Flavors include Apple Turnover, Bananas Foster, Cherry Cobbler and Roasted Nut Roll

PROBAR

• Delectable combinations of whole grains, chunky nuts and delicious fruit served up in a convenient bar
• Vegan, includes raw ingredients and enrolled in the Non-GMO Project
• New flavors include Peanut Butter Burst, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate and Superfruit Slam made with organic acai and organic wheatgrass

Two Degrees

• Food bars made with natural ingredients including nut-free and vegan options
• For each food bar purchased, a medically formulated nutrition pack (RUTF, endorsed by the World Health Organization) is donated to a child suffering from malnutrition in a developing nation
• Chocolate Banana, Chocolate Peanut, Cherry Almond and Apple Pecan

That’s it. Fruit Snack Bars

• Convenient fruit bars that are vegan, kosher
• Made with only two ingredients: fruit and fruit! No added sugar, no nuts
• 100 calories and 3g of fiber per serving

Keep in mind that these are brand new products and the selection in each store might vary, so you might want to check with them first if you see something here you like.

Do you shop in our Whole Body department? What are some of your favorite products?

The New Year is a natural time to think about giving the body a much-needed vacation. Tune in to this encore podcast presentation to find out what to expect and avoid on a whole-body cleanse, and the simple ways to make the most of your efforts to reduce the “body burden” in this popular encore presentation. Dr. Gaetano Morello is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

While cleansing is an everyday function of the body, beginning a detox cleanse offers many benefits:

• There are tens of thousands of toxic chemicals wiggling their way into our lives on a daily basis through the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe.
• Although our body is naturally designed to process and eliminate these toxins, the sheer number creates an overload and accumulation within various body tissues.
• The concept behind cleansing is to reduce the amount of toxins in these tissues by first, reducing exposure and second, improving our body’s ability to get rid of them.
• The end result will lead to overall improvement and well-being.

The body signals when it needs a break and how the cleanse is working:

• Chemical toxins can impact many aspects of physiology that range from disrupting the endocrine system to negatively affecting the nervous system and digestive tract.
• The general signs to look for may include digestive problems, fatigue, skin issues or weight gain.
• One should feel more energetic and the digestive system should feel lighter.
• One may also experience better skin tone and a general feeling of alertness.

Reducing the body burden is critical to the cleanse:

• By definition, body burden is equal to the total amount of chemicals you’re exposed to minus your body’s ability to get rid of those chemicals.
• An effective cleanse reduces the overall body burden by minimizing exposure to toxins and then supporting the body’s ability in eliminating them.
• Reduce/avoid pesticide-laden foods, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, refined sugar, tap water, air pollution and synthetic chemicals (found in many household cleaners and bodycare products).

Dr. Morello’s tips and recommended supplements to make the most of a cleanse:

• Make sure the digestive tract is in good health, the liver is supported and antioxidant reserves are sufficient.
• Specific supplements like digestive enzymes, fiber and milk thistle may be needed.
• Plenty of rest, deep breathing, good sleep and purified water are also key.

Visit our Whole Body site to download this month’s featured Be Good to Your Whole Body pocket guide and more.