Dry January – an alcohol free month – is now behind you and maybe you’re feeling smug in your efforts to ‘detox’ your body after enjoying the feast of food and drink that the Christmas period brings with it.
But is detoxing a real benefit?
Medical experts don’t think so. They point out that a good diet and exercise, avoidance of smoking and drinking in moderation are the only real way to stay healthy.
Says Edzard Ernst, emeritus professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, ” The healthy body has kidneys, a liver, skin, even lungs that are detoxifying as we speak,” he says. “There is no known way – certainly not through detox treatments – to make something that works perfectly well in a healthy body work better.”
Catherine Collins, an NHS dietician at St George’s Hospital adds, “The ultimate lifestyle ‘detox’ is not smoking, exercising and enjoying a healthy balanced diet like the Mediterranean diet.” Which means you should be sitting down to enjoy foods like meats, fish, olive oil, cheeses, salads, wholegrain cereals, nuts and fruits.
Sounds like life could be a lot more enjoyable post-Christmas after all then.
On the other hand, in our daily lives today we are met with a barrage of chemicals that our bodies have to deal with. So surely it would be a good thing to avoid unnecessary exposure to them in the first place?
Many products designed for skincare contain SLS – sodium lauryl sulfate – which is basically put in them by the manufacturers to create a foamy, sudsy effect that makes you feel you’re cleaning your skin better. SLS can however irritate the eyes and skin and it’s also not great for aquatic life (when it gets washed down the drain). So surely you’re better off avoiding it altogether?
We’re proud to say that all our skincare products – natural mineral facial wash, soaps, shampoos and conditioners are SLS free – so you can use them happy in the knowledge that you’re not bombarding yourself with chemicals. Our range contains only natural minerals from The Dead Sea.
If you’ve been working out at the gym (well done) you could enjoy a refreshing post-gym shower using our shower gel and know that it’s cleaning your skin naturally, doing the job, without any unnecessary ingredients.
Allergies & Skin Reactions
There’s another good reason to avoid putting chemicals on your skin. Some products have some very strong ingredients that can strip the skin’s natural protection away, resulting in allergic reaction, breakouts and irritation.
And why would you want to put yourself through that?
For example, some acne treatments are very intense and can create more problems than they solve. By contrast, our Black Mud Mask soap has been hailed by acne sufferers to make a real difference to the look of their skin. (You have to use it over a few days to start feeling the effects properly.)
Ditch the Kale & Wheatgrass Juice
Of course, if you really like the taste of cauliflower and kale smoothies then carry on. But if you’d rather eat proper, healthy food that hasn’t been in a juicer or blender, then you don’t need to feel guilty either. Just carry on with the exercise routine or start one.
What do you think? Are you a fan of detoxing or do you just believe in living a healthy lifestyle?
If you’d like to try out our SLS-free products, you’ll find them in Boots. You can buy online or instore and prices start at just £3.75 for our Black Mud Mask soap.
What have you got to lose? (Except the chemical exposure.)