Ever wake in the morning feeling dazed, dulled and bleary-eyed and wonder why? Chances are your body is agitated and unhappy from an over-production of mucus.

Like a blocked sink, clogged up with pieces of hair, soap and bits of decaying food, the body is being prevented from functioning normally. But a clogged-up body is avoidable. Wouldn’t it be nicer to wake, clear-headed and full of energy?

An over-processed, dairy-rich diet demands the human body to react as if fighting a viral invasion every day. Certain foods such as milk, bread and wheat cause an increase in mucus secretions.

These foods have large protein molecules (casein and gluten) which are difficult to digest and are therefore more prone to putrefaction (the process of decay or rotting in a body or other organic matter), and may be toxic and irritating to the body.

Foods shown to cause mucus are dairy products, meat, eggs, potatoes, beans, rice, grains, and fish. That sounds like every existing food in the staple Irish diet but the balance should be improved.

Within two weeks of a changed diet, the transformation can be quite remarkable. After adjusting the balance with fruit and vegetables (whose natural, sponge-like properties help prevent intestinal diseases, especially amongst the elderly) you will find yourself with renewed energy.

Grapes and citrus fruits are some of the greatest cleansers. They help the body to remove mucus and toxins while supplying vital nutrients necessary for rejuvenation and healing. You can find gluten-free produce in most supermarkets and health food shops.

The best method, though, for removing mucus from the intestines and mucoid from the organs and lymph glands (filtering glands) is the combined cleansing effect of a proper diet and some fasting.

The length of time fasting can range from one day to thirty days or more. There are two types of fasting: water fasting and juice fasting. The water fasting is more extreme and is done over a shorter period. Juice fasting is used for longer fasts. Both types can be combined.

Not all mucus is bad. Healthy mucus is a clear, slippery, lubricating secretion, used to protect mucus membranes along the digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive tracts. Unhealthy mucus though is cloudy, thick, and sticky.