Should I DETOX? (and 3 steps to detoxify safely)
SHOULD I DETOX?
It is a good and healthy urge to want to "cleanse" or "detox", but that doesn't mean you need to spend a week in the bathroom!
By definition, your body is ALWAYS detoxing (your liver, kidneys, lungs, GI tract, and skin are all detox organs).
Unless you need a major detox protocol (should be guided by a qualified practitioner), these are the best strategies for a general detox:
reduce toxic exposure
support your body's natural detoxification processes
SOURCES OF TOXINS
It is impossible to completely eliminate toxic exposure, but important to reduce when possible:
food
household products
personal care products
building materials
medications & supplements
relationships
media
mental habits
*Do not let this list overwhelm you, just focus on swapping one thing at a time.
1. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Gut health should be prioritized first because it is the final path of elimination.
If you are not regular or if your gut lining is compromised, the toxins dumped there may be reabsorbed instead of passed out.
get regular (at least 1 BM/day)
nurture your microbiome
heal leaky gut
focus on fiber (acts like a sponge to bind and a brush to sweep out toxins)
2. LIVER
When people think "detox", they often think of the liver.
It is where your body breaks down drugs & alcohol, centralizes most biochemical detoxification processes, and filters your blood (your kidneys help with this too).
eat beets (great for liver, gallbladder, and cardiovascular health)
eat liver (yup, that helps your own)
support with supplements (milk thistle, dandelion root, colorful antioxidant foods)
3. SKIN
Your skin is your largest organ and the barrier where many toxins enter the body.
It reflects inner health, especially of your liver & gut.
check your products (are you adding more toxins to your system?)
try dry brushing
massage (stimulates lymph flow)
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References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Dietary Supplements. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/
Jones, D. S., Bland, J. S., & Quinn, S. (2010). Textbook of Functional Medicine. Institute for Functional Medicine.
Hodges, R. E., & Minich, D. M. (2015). Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2015, 760689. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/760689 Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4488002/