It’s that time of year again — when people start talking about “detoxing” their body after a long winter of being cooped up indoors and taking in heavier foods. But what is detoxification? Is it just a fad, or is it something that you can benefit from?

Detoxification is the process whereby you eliminate toxic matter from your body by changing your eating habits. This creates a more alkaline environment so that you can live a longer, healthier life that is full of energy.

The elimination channels in the body consist of the skin, the lungs, the bowels and the kidneys. These organs are essential in helping the body maintain the correct alkaline and acidic balance. If, for some reason, they are bogged down by too much toxic matter, it could result in acidosis — acid buildup, which can cause major health problems.

Your body is a machine. And, just like any machine, you need to take care of it in order for it to function properly. What happens when you don’t service a car? One issue turns into another, and it eventually breaks down. The same goes for your body. You get out of it what you put into it, and disease and sickness are just the manifestation of poor eating choices.

“Dead” food (meat, eggs and other dairy products) or processed food (soda, candy, packaged goods) create a toxic, acidic environment inside of your body which, in turn, slows it down and causes health problems that you pay for in the form of fatigue, constipation, disease and much more. The nutrients you would get from any healthy food that you do eat won’t get absorbed and your energy will be depleted because your system is overwhelmed with toxic materials.

On the other hand, if you eat live, healthy foods you create a happy, alkaline environment for your body and it functions at its optimal capacity. Foods such as leafy greens, fruit, wheatgrass juice and chlorophyll-rich foods all contribute to a sound body and mind.

Ever wonder how Tony Robbins gets so much energy? Here are some key foods that he takes in on a regular basis:

Water with lemon

Lemon is an alkalizer, and when added to water, it’s an easy way to rid the body of excess acid.

Green juice

Greens are the number-one source alkalinity; when you juice them, you get a higher concentration of nutrients.

Wheatgrass juice

Wheatgrass juice packs a lot of power in a small amount. It is 70% chlorophyll, which is the blood of plants. It helps to keep the blood clean and healthy and is also one of the greatest concentrations of minerals you can get.

*Please consult your physician before partaking in any diet to alkalinize your body.