Exercise & Detox
Traditional Exercise
Physical activity is absolutely critical for your health and is just as important as having a healthy diet, restful sleep, relaxed mental attitude and avoiding unnecessary chemical and electromagnetic exposures. In fact, studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle is dangerous for your health.
Unlike a machine that wears out with use, the body is designed for action and actually gets healthier with proper exercise and movement. This is because movement of the muscles, ligaments and limbs massages the tissues and organs, brings them more oxygen and increases circulation to the area. It also helps increase the exchange of nutrients into the cellular level and push toxic waste out. The lymph system, which plays an integral role in the immune functions of the body, is totally dependent upon muscular movement and exercise to pump lymphatic fluid throughout the body. Without proper exercise, the body is more vulnerable to chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. Thus, the importance of exercise can never be overemphasized.
Beginning an exercise program brings many benefits and is as easy as just starting to take a walk each day. Stress levels can be immediately reduced, muscles that are tight and tense are stretched and nervous energy is balanced and improved right from the start. Regular, consistent exercise results in changes in brain chemistry and physical metabolism; it has been shown that there is a direct correlation between how much you exercise and how you feel, both emotionally and physically.
Exercising outside in the fresh air results in additional benefits. Exposure to the sun’s beneficial rays (without sun glasses) helps to regulate the body’s clock, which improves sleep and decreases the incidence of depression. In addition, sun exposure to the skin during exercise aids in the body’s manufacture of Vitamin D, which strengthens bones and teeth, and is considered a preventative measure for breast and prostate cancer.
Exercise Detoxification
A collaborative study conducted by researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the Environmental Working Group and Commonwealth Environmental Health and Research Institute shows that we all have serious reason to reduce our toxic load. Each person was tested for 210 chemicals commonly found in consumer products and industrial pollution. On average, the test results showed each person tested positive for 50 or more chemicals linked to cancer in humans and lab animals, considered toxic to the brain and nervous systems, or known to interfere with our hormone and reproductive systems.
In another study, “Body Burden” , published in July 2005 by the Environmental Working Group (who works to protect children from toxic chemicals in our food, water, air, and the products) showed that we actually come into this world with these toxins. They found that 287 xenobiotic* chemicals were detected in the umbilical cord blood of American newborns, with an average of 200 chemicals per baby. Of the 287 chemicals detected, 180 cause cancer, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. Exercise detoxification is one way to decrease this body burden that begins to bioaccumulate even before we are born.
Most people think of physical fitness or weight loss when they think of an exercise program, but in today’s toxic environment, detoxification is a critical component as well. This can be achieved through things like the FAR Infrared Sauna, the rebounder trampoline, the Chi lymphatic stimulator and the inversion table. Because these devices enable you to reap many of the same benefits of a strenuous workout, in addition to enhancing the body’s natural detoxification process, we refer to their use as “exercise detoxification”.
There are several facets of exercise detoxification:
- Increased circulation – Muscle movement from exercise increases blood and lymph flow, which results in cleansing or detoxification of the body. The blood and lymphatic fluids distribute essential nutrients to the cells and also remove toxins and metabolic waste.
- Weight loss – Since the body stores toxins in body fat, losing weight through exercise reduces the body’s toxic load.
- Sweating – Sweating reduces the body’s chemical burden. It’s considered one of the most efficient ways of removing chemical and metal toxins from the body. Toxic waste that is excreted through sweating takes pressure off the kidneys and other elimination channels. See Learn: Sauna.
- Increased respiration – This brings more oxygen to the body, takes away more metabolic waste and helps balance the pH.
Aerobic exercise and sweating take pressure off the detoxification organs by using the skin as the exit organ for toxins. To sum up, exercise increases nutrient delivery to the cells and enhances detoxification, leads to more efficient organs and systems (such as the lymphs), increases clarity of the mind, decreases nervous tension, and increases strength, endurance, and flexibility. Therefore, initiating an exercise program should be a priority in a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle.
*xenobiotic - substances foreign to an entire biological system, i.e. artificial substances, which did not exist in nature before their synthesis by humans. The term xenobiotics is very often used in the context of pollutants such as pesticides, pthalates, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls.
Needak® manufactures only rebounders, so they have control over all aspects of products. Most rebounders are imported and are of far lesser quality. Although Needak® rebounders may be more expensive than most, you are purchasing a product that will outlast any other on the market because of its high quality standards. Their design is virtually indestructible and time has proven its effectiveness. The springs absorb as much as 85% of the impact of each bounce. This is due to the unique barrel shape of the spring.
While places like Wal-Mart and sporting good stores offer inexpensive mini-trampolines, they are poorly made and tend to jolt the body. You can see the difference for yourself with just once bounce!
This is the original and only Chi Machine that is classified as a Class I Medical Device. It has 26 worldwide patents and 4 U.S. patents. The Sun Ancon Chi Machine is made with metal parts with one set speed that oscillates at 140 oscillations/per minute which is scientifically and medically approved for heart rate, blood pressure and spinal alignment. Other imitation machines are primarily composed of plastic parts, have variable speeds, and are not calibrated to oscillate in the proper range.
The industry leader since 1981, Teeter Hang Ups has focused solely on producing the best value inversion equipment with time-proven design features that ensure dependability and user security. Teeter is the only brand certified to UL 60601-1 Medical Grade Standards and supported by an independent engineer evaluation showing the highest factor of safety and easiest assembly.
The Heavenly Heat Sauna we recommend stands alone as the safest sauna available today and is made with the extremely chemically sensitive in mind. It offers a unique combination of Finnish stone heat and Far Infrared heat. Heavenly Heat is the most comfortable, safest, and most effective sauna for detoxification. Unlike other saunas, Heavenly Heat saunas are built using absolutely no plywood, glues, plexiglass, adhesives, putty, stains, or high terpine-containing woods. Only the highest, “clear” grade of white poplar is used and all framing boards are securely screwed together, rather than nailed and glued like ordinary saunas. Lights are plain metal and glass, rather than typical coated metal or plastic and “gadgets” like CD players and ionizers are excluded to limit the heating of synthetics. Each sauna has a passive venting system for an automatic, constant air-exchange. Even the far-infrared heaters are tested to assure lower electro-magnetic fields. Also, for highly sensitive individuals, mostly-glass units are available, at no added charge.
Two of the most highly regarded sauna detox programs for the chemically injured are at the EHC-Dallas, run by Dr. William Rea, and the Nova Scotia-EHC, the clinic for Canadians diagnosed with “multiple chemical sensitivity.” Both medical clinics have used a Heavenly Heat sauna successfully for many years.
Our criterion for any material or product is always based on the canary principle, which gives us a benchmark for safe materials. If the canary (the chemically sensitive) can tolerate or use the product or material without harm or reaction, then everyone else does fine, but if the canary gets sick or dies, then further evaluation is necessary and everyone is potentially vulnerable. See “Canaries in the Mine.”
Traditional Exercise
Everyone would welcome more energy, better health, and stamina if it were offered on a platter. Studies show that it doesn't take an enormous amount of physical exercise to achieve health-enhancing results. A mere 30 minutes a day of walking, swimming, rebounding, jogging, cycling or other cardiovascular exercise can have astounding positive health effects. Even trying to include exercise at least three times per week into your normal weekly schedule may help you feel better than you have in years.
It is very important to begin with exercise that does not overly tax the muscles and gradually work your way up as the body responds and is strengthened. For instance, if you have not been doing any exercise at all, it is crucial that you implement a program that will utilize and develop unused muscles without straining or overextending yourself because the effects of different types of exercise are extremely varied. Some develop strength and endurance, others improve agility, flexibility, and/or speed, but no one exercise can do it all. Therefore, your exercise program should be personalized and diverse enough to achieve all the benefits you are looking for.
For the person who just wants to get started on a simple exercise program to improve health and wellbeing, just taking a walk everyday can get you started. Another easy option for getting started is to use a rebounder and/or the Chi Machine. The key is to get moving in some way!
For the person who is interested in a serious fitness routine right away, seek guidance. The number one mistake people make is joining a health club and beginning a workout program on their own. Hire a personal trainer or start out slowly with a well-prepared workout schedule. Obtain the help of a personal trainer so you can become familiar with the equipment at the gym and set up a safe effective program to get you started.
A well-rounded exercise program should consist of stretching, anaerobic (such as lifting weights to help regain and/or maintain lean muscle mass) and aerobic exercise. Keep in mind that you should make sure that you are getting adequate rest at night and between exercise sessions so that the body can recover and rebuild to become stronger. Since the benefits of exercise are cumulative, an appropriate program practiced correctly and consistently will result in an overall improvement of health, increased strength and endurance, as well as a decreased chemical body burden through detoxification.
For a detailed explanation of how exercise can impact the health, different options for exercise, as well as how to pace yourself according to your present condition see Dr. Kenneth Cooper, M.D.’s bestselling book, Aerobics, published in 1968. Dr. Cooper’s work, research, and study introduced the concept of exercising for good health and introduced the term aerobics to the American people. The book will help motivate, educate, and guide you as you progress.
Exercise Detoxification
Rebounder – Rebounding is one of the most efficient and all-around beneficial exercises. It provides a means of incorporating a low impact aerobic exercise program along with extraordinary lymphatic and cellular detoxification. If done properly, every major muscle in the body is worked and every cell of the body is stimulated. Many people have seen weight loss with its consistent use. See “Benefits of Rebounding” for more information.
Chi Machine – The Chi Machine is an FDA-regulated Class-1 medical device that is used for muscle relaxation, oxygenation, massage therapy, stress relief, anxiety, weight loss, spinal alignment, lymphatic drainage, back and neck pain, and much more.
Hang-Up – The hang-up is a balance system, which allows you total control of the speed and rotation with simple weight displacement of your arms. In just a few minutes, the body decompresses, naturally using your body weight and gravity so soft tissue in the joints can hydrate and decompress. Progressive decompression allows each joint to be decompressed by the same weight that compresses it while upright. This "perfect" stretch helps naturally relieve back pain, keeping the weight-bearing joints healthy and allowing the weight-bearing skeleton to align, which can result in better balance, posture, and symmetry.
Infrared Sauna – Daily use of a sauna is the best way to eliminate the toxic exposures we are exposed to everyday. By heating the body and sweating out toxins, there are countless health benefits. It has been estimated that 15 minutes of sweating in a sauna eliminates as much toxic waste as 24 hours of normal kidney function. See Learn: Sauna for more information.
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