The American way has gone astray when it comes to health issues. Despite marketing techniques used in abundance to make us believe all is well., just open your eyes and look around you and the answer becomes clear. We are getting fatter, weaker, more lethargic, irritable, and our children are being sedated in the home and schools with pills to handle conditions such as ADD that were non existent just 15 to 20 years ago. All types of major disease are on the rise. More children are becoming diabetic and there is a rise in autism. Why is this? Simple! Our air, water and soil are being compromised with environmental toxins!

There used to be many mom and pop farms that produced organic produce, it wasn't considered organic then, that was just how it was. Livestock and chickens fed naturally from the earth as it had been for centuries. But as our population grew, so did the demand for food! So much so, that now about 3/4 of all farm land is now government subsidized with many changes from the old schools healthful way of growing. To sustain more crop, less insect predators and weed free farmland, a new way emerged. Pesticides and herbicides! In the beginning it was hailed as a miracle! Products like DDT were increasing the total crop value. It was discovered later just how harmful it was but not without taking casualties. Other chemicals have since been created to use. But are they all safe. Some experts say not!

Any food that is grown on these large farms are saturated through and through with these chemicals. This applies to livestock as well. We eat toxic food everyday. Look at any smoke stack and see how dirty it makes our air. Cars, trains and planes spew toxins in the air. We breathe this. Our rivers and oceans are polluted. We need to do some major filtering just to have safe drinking water.

We have other factors that make us sick. Almost all processed food are altered to extend shelf life. Drugs and alcohol also poison our bodies. The bodies filtering system, mainly the liver and kidneys, are taxed to the limit. There comes a point where they are over burdened and a weakened immune system settles in.

Just when it looks like its all bad, there are steps that you can take to assist in detoxification and rebuilding your immune system.

Almost any detox out there will have you drinking a lot of liquids, especially water. Water is essential to flushing out toxins. Every part of your body needs water to do this. One way a person flushes out toxins is by sweating. This is great! Go for the sauna, but beware, if you are not replacing what you lost from sweating then you can dehydrate yourself and that just won't do.

Eating fresh organic fruits and vegetables can go a long way to help not only detoxify, but give you the nutrient value your body so desperately craves.

Everyone's body has a ph level that is optimum. An over acidic body will eventually become diseased. All foods are either acid or alkaline. Our bodies need at least 75% alkaline foods for optimal health. To find out what condition your body is in, just go to any drug store and ask for ph strips. They are easy to use.

Whether you are on a detox program or not it is highly recommended that you find ways to reduce stress. Drastically cut down or eliminate sugar from your diet, exercise of any kind, yoga, stretching, a foot massage and even ionic foot baths are all things you can do to calm and relax the body.

Eliminating environmental toxins from the body may boost your immune systems ability to heal itself. Wouldn't it be great to feel better? You can! It is always recommended that you consult a health care professional before starting any detox or cleanse program. Your health is your responsibility and you can improve your quality of life. You can do this!

Willie is a researcher and freelance writer whose own health problems prompted her to gain information on health and wellness and share that knowledge with others. She is co-owner of www.cleanbodydetox.com a site that focuses on detox through foot baths and foot massagers.