Your body detoxes on its own

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This guy deserves a response!

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050913/LIFE01/509130303\

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September 13, 2005

Your body detoxes on its own

BY ROSEMARY and TIMOTHY LAIRD

ASK THE DOCS Related news from the Web

DEAR DOCS: Could you explain how to detox your system?

Also, any information on toe fungus?

ANSWER: We'll tackle both questions. Some Hollywood

stars apparently spend large sums " detoxing " their

systems. Normal people don't need to.

Your body does an amazing job getting rid of harmful

substances and waste. Our main job, through eating

healthy foods, drinking water, avoiding tobacco and

excessive alcohol, and avoiding unnecessary

medications is to avoid " toxing " our systems.

By toe fungus, you could mean fungal infections of the

toenails -- or just plain athlete's foot.

Toenail fungus, in most cases, simply is a cosmetic

problem. In the rare cases where it causes pain or

trouble with foot hygiene, strong antifungal pills

(which cost hundreds of dollars per course and can

require blood tests to check for liver damage) can be

used. Nail lacquers and creams are worthless.

For athlete's foot, simple antifungal creams such as

miconazole, clotrimazole or terbinafine can be

effective. Keeping feet dry and not trapped in moist

athletic shoes can prevent it.

Implants never linked to any diseases

DEAR DOCS: I am a healthy 68-year-old who received a

silicone breast implant after a mastectomy 17 years

ago. I am having no problems, but read recently the

implants need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years.

What would be your advice?

ANSWER: Nonsense. Many people who have a vested

interest in implant litigation won't like this but

here goes: There never has been any good science that

shows medical disease from silicone implants. That's

not to say there aren't plenty of patients and

attorneys who blame various problems on implants, but

when you study incidences of diseases, they aren't

different in people with or without implants.

Implants only need to be replaced if there are

specific pain or cosmetic issues identified by the

patient or plastic surgeon.

" If it ain't broke, don't fix it " applies to implants,

too. By the way, don't forget to get your yearly

mammogram.

Contact the Lairds at doctorsmail (DOT) flatoday.net or

mail " Ask the Docs, " FLORIDA TODAY, Health section, 1

Gannett Plaza, Melbourne FL 32940.