The very same things that make people sick also make them overweight! And being overweight creates even more sickness and disease -- including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, dementia, and diabetes. So the answer to effective, long-term weight loss is to address this underlying source of trouble, toxicity.

Most weight loss difficulties and much ill-health can be effectively treated through lifestyle changes based on a whole-foods, low-glycemic-load, phytonutrient-rich diet combined with exercise and stress management.

New scientific research links environmental and internal toxins to disruptions of key mechanisms involved in weight control. This may explain why some people continue to struggle to lose weight despite doing all the right things. They may be toxic.

So what are toxins and how do they interfere with weight loss?

Toxins in the broadest sense are the sum total of our poor diet, chronic stress, and environmental pollutants that overload and poison our bodies and minds. Let's face it -- we're living in a sea of toxins. They include toxic foods such as sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, food additives and preservatives, pesticides, and hormones and antibiotics in our food and water supply, as well as mercury, lead, and other heavy metals.

Detoxification -- eliminating toxins -- is a natural and critical part of your biology. But what happens if your body doesn't detoxify as it should? Toxins interfere with metabolism, overload your liver and kidneys' detoxification systems, disrupt the brain's weight-control systems, promote insulin resistance, alter circadian rhythms, activate the stress response, interfere with thyroid function, increase inflammation, damage mitochondria (your body's calorie- and fat-burning furnaces), and lead to weight gain.

So now you know that you are probably toxic. What can you do about it? First, you need to avoid toxins. Second, you must boost your own detoxification systems. Here's how.

Eat High Quality Protein to Boost Detoxification

The body relies on the right balance of protein, fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals to be effective. Getting enough protein and the right types of it -- such as eggs, whey protein, beans, nuts, whole grains, and lean organic animal products, helps rid your body of toxins.

Be Colorful

Many phytochemicals (colorful plant chemicals) enhance detoxification pathways. These include dark-colored plant foods such as cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower), berries, green tea, watercress, cilantro, artichokes, and garlic, ginger and even cocoa. Eating a colorful diet full of these detoxifying molecules can protect you, and help you lose weight!

By avoiding foods and habits that are toxic and adopting an effective detox diet, for example, The UltraSimple Diet, you can reduce the toxic load in your body and finally follow a successful weight loss program

Here's to your good health!

The UltraSimple Diet is available in a $7.99 paperback that includes simple, detailed plans for each day of the week, including shopping and task lists. A free sneak preview of the book is available for download at http://www.ultrasimplediet.com.