So earlier in the year I wrote about supplements, and in that segment I posted a link to an article titled, "How Sporty Are you?". It was written by Dave Foreman, The Herbal Pharmacist. Dave went throughout the article highlighting the importance of supplementation and also briefly wrote about the potential negative effects that marathon running, or any endurance exercise, can have on the body. His main point:
All of the breakdown, stress, and depletion put on the body and its systems can cause long term damage, and allow for by product related toxins to build up internally. In the long run, this can have effects on the body at the cellular level.
Now, I'm not knocking exercise, especially endurance exercise, by any means. What I am doing, is advocating some good practices for recovery, rest, and long term wellness.
The first, and my most favorite...MASSAGE THERAPY. I try to do this once a month and would do it more if I could afford it. Massage has a number of benefits and helps with overall relaxation. It has been proven to aid in injury recovery as well as be a key component in injury prevention. It also helps loosen tight muscles and to work out knots and kinks that might be affecting you in one way or another. The working of the muscles helps to release toxins and lactic acid that have been building up over time. Often a massage therapist will recommend that you drink several glasses of water afterwards to help "flush" these released toxins out of the system. My massage therapist can even tell if I am dehydrated by the feel of my skin and how it reacts when manipulated. Often, I will feel very tired after a massage, and sometimes a little sore the next day. I can live with this!
The other key benefit that massage has is its affect on the lymphatic system. This is the body's second circulatory system and is often overlooked in its importance in overall health. Unlike the blood stream, the lymphatic system does not have the constant pumping and flow. Normal exercise does not really aid in movement of this system, so over time, toxins can build up in this part of the body. Alternative methods, such as massage therapy and yoga, are perfect to help flush these toxins...again, water is the second component in moving things completely out of your system.
To tie into this I also do a complete body cleanse twice a year. Cleanses are sold at places like Whole Foods and they are kits that contain various supplements and herbs known to help the body remove toxins from the liver, colon, and lymphatic systems. There are many brands...I have been using "Whole Body Cleanse" by Enzymatic Therapy. This is a two to four week process that literally breaks you down and helps rebuild you. The first few days of a cleanse, you can expect to feel rotten. You are essentially stirring up all the dirt in your body. After that, you are back to normal and then ultimately start to feel great toward the end. There are some rules here...follow the recommendations, avoid alcohol and medications if possible, and try to avoid meat for the two weeks. Lean cuts are okay, but if you can stick to a vegan type diet for this short time, you will reap maximum benefits. Go light on exercise too...your body is going through a lot, so you might not have your usual energy.
For me... I will typically cleanse the first two weeks of the year (after the holidays), and then again mid year. The second cleanse helps if I am in a long training season and have had a tough schedule of spring workouts and races. It also gives me two weeks mid year to remind myself to take a break and slow down a little. Two weeks is nothing compared to two months or more of injury recovery!
Good luck....next post be ready to here about my LSD experience!
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