CHI - Mercy Medical Centerville

THE NEXT TIME friends or family recommend that you try a detox diet to clear your body of toxins, you might want to remind them that they have multiple organs hard at work doing just that. In addition, some detox or cleansing practices can actually be harmful for you, especially if you have a chronic condition that requires careful dietary management. Juice cleanses can be particularly dangerous for people with diabetes. Detox programs that recommend fasting can also be risky, since fasting can cause headaches, weakness, dehydration and fainting. Fasting can also hinder your body's natural detoxification process. GOODBYE, TOXINS Organs that remove toxins from the body include the lungs, kidneys and the entirety of the digestive system. Some of these toxins occur naturally, such as carbon dioxide in your blood that is exhaled by the lungs and waste products from digestion that are removed when you visit the bathroom. Other toxins come from outside the body, such as pollutants in the air and mercury in seafood, which are also taken care of by natural bodily processes. To support your body's natural detox system, stay hydrated and eat plenty of fiber from sources including vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator Mendy Kratofil, RN, received the Mercy Medical Center-Centerville's 2018 DAISY award, given to recognize the super-human feats nurses perform every day. THE NOMINATIONS CITED Mendy's care, compassion and enthusiasm for her patients and job. One nomination complimented the creative ways Mendy ensures her patients continue to exercise after completing treatment. Another patient said Mendy's encouragement challenged her to do better each day. A colleague noted how Mendy's friendliness eases the fears of patients starting treatment. Mendy's engagement with her patients extends beyond the program. During one patient's first 5K run, Mendy, an avid runner, finished her race, then doubled back to cross the line again — arm and arm with her patient. Mendy was honored this past June at a ceremony in Des Moines with other Mercy Health Network 2018 DAISY Award recipients: Cody Babbitt, Ragena Brown, Carla Cochran, Kara Dickerson, Christina Emmart, Vanessa Fraser, Meghann Johnson, Kaysie McSweeney, Ashley Profitt-Salamanca, Tammy Roberts, Jeremy Sayre, Ashley Schaper, Lindsey Scott, Kathy Steele, Colleen Stroud, Stacy Thomas and Bailey Witt. DETOX Don't Some diets and cleanses are supposed to detoxify your body, but your body already has it covered. DAISY The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 from complications of a little-known autoimmune disease, to thank nurses for the profound difference they make in the lives of patients and patient families. A for a Special Nurse Mendy Kratofil is pictured with Vice President of Patient Services Sherri Doggett. MERCY MEDICAL CENTER-CENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 6

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