By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
For many, it’s back to work and to school tomorrow. For retirees like me, it would be life as usual. I hope everyone found meaningful ways to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday and welcome the new year, aside from enjoying each others company and the overflowing party food and drink. Chances are we had more than enough meat, eggs, cream and other dairy, sweets, sugared drinks and alcohol. And perhaps your body is craving for something like vegetables… or you don’t feel like eating. Yes, if we listen well to our bodies, then we will be in tune with the universe and would be fine.
Our body has natural food and water and air processing systems which we discussed in previous issues– 1) the digestive system which processes food and drink and 2) respiratory system which processes air. We also discussed the urinary system which is an important natural detoxifying system. These systems have their waste elimination processes – processes to remove the waste and excesses and poisons from our bodies. And our body will use any opening for elimination – mouth and nose to bring out carbon dioxide and mucus and vomitus, ear for ear wax and mucus, urethral opening for urine and anus for excreta and mucus and let us not forget our widest excretory organ- the skin. Also, the pores of our skin are necessary to bring out sweat and I am sure you know the nice feeling if you are able to sweat it out.
Our body can cope with occasional rich meals like those we had on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. But if we started feasting since the first week of December to January, then our systems will be overloaded. Pimples are a sign that your kidneys are overwhelmed. It needs the skin to help excrete the excess sugar, salt and fat and other excess foodstuff from your body. Sometimes, one way of coping with excessive food is for your body to vomit it out. Or if at this time you are coughing or have colds, then you have eaten and/or drank a lot of mucus-forming foods like milk and other dairy products, bread and cookies, chocolates and sweet cold food. Along with excessive food, perhaps you lack sleep and rest.
Overloaded body systems will also present as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and/or cholesterol and/or triglycerides, painful urination, headaches. Overeating can also present as increased weight and increased girth. That you know very well.
There are many ways to detoxify or cleanse. In fact, it is good business- like the spa, massage, gym. But you don’t need to spend extra to cleanse. The simplest is water fasting – just don’t eat for a meal or two and eat little in the next meals but drink as much water as you like. Or juice fast – this means instead of just drinking plain water, you juice fresh vegetable like squash, sayote, pechay and that is your food. No solids. Or you can just eat raw vegetables – raw sayote is also good for cough and sore throat. Remember to chew very well. This cleansing method is for adults, not for babies or children. Primarily because babies and children don’t need it – they don’t overeat like adults. They will eat only when hungry, drink when thirsty. So parents, please believe them when they say they don’t like to eat or drink anymore.
After water or juice fasting, eating vegetables and a little fruit in season will continue the cleansing process. If you cannot fast, go vegan – meaning limit your food to a variety of vegetables in season, beans, unpolished rice. Avoid overeating also.
One more way to detoxify is to have more physical activities. Dance (I enjoyed the dancercise in St. Theodore’s Hospital), walk around, do gardening, clean house, etc. The wonderful thing about detoxifying your body is that when your physical is clean it will be easier to detoxify your mind and heart of all those negative thoughts and feelings. Many illnesses are caused by toxic thoughts and emotions like anger and worry. Try it and experience that nice clean joyful feeling!
I pray for wisdom and good health and abundance in everything good for everyone this 2022.
(Note: Those taking medicines should continue taking them until they consult with their health worker.) **
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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think of these things.” Philippians 4:8
