7 Ways to Support Detoxification
With how much we encounter toxins on a daily basis it is important to incorporate consistent detoxification strategies into our routines. By “toxins” I mean pollutants, synthetic chemicals, and heavy metals which negatively affect our health. We come into contact with these harmful substances through consuming processed foods, being exposed to toxic cleaning and/or beauty care products, smelling a scented candle and drinking alcohol or unclean water, to name a few.
The organs of your body that support detoxification are the kidneys, liver, digestive system, skin, and lungs, with the primary player being the liver. By caring for these systems we can be continually detoxing rather than undergoing an extreme detox diet or plan (many of which are very hard on the body).
Some healthy, effective practices for supporting detoxification include:
1) Sweat it out. Sweating is one way for your body to safely and effectively eliminate heavy metals like nickel, lead, copper, arsenic, and mercury. A sauna is a great option, as is heated yoga and exercise, which also have an array of other powerful health benefits.
2) Switch to natural, non-toxic products. There are a lot of great products out nowadays that focus on clean, non-harmful ingredients. I like to use Branch Basics for my cleaning supplies, Beautycounter for my skin care and candles scented with essential oils rather than fragrances.
3) Support your gut health. Some great ways to do that are to eat plenty of fiber and prebiotics, which feeds the good bacteria in your gut called probiotics. Some foods high in prebiotics are apples, asparagus, garlic, onions and dandelion greens.
4) Drink plenty of water. Water has many important roles in our bodies, one of which is helping to eliminate toxins from our tissues, so drink up!
5) The role of glutathione. Glutathione is considered the body’s “master antioxidant” due to its crucial role in protecting our cells from oxidative stress and removing harmful toxins from our bodies. Glutathione is also needed for the liver to function optimally and is therefore very important in detoxification. Factors such as an unhealthy diet, chronic stress and higher exposure to toxins lower your glutathione levels. I like to supplement with glutathione as well as get it form my diet by eating broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, garlic and meat.
6) Receive bodywork. Massage, cupping, acupuncture and chiropractic care all help support the functioning of your elimination organs and flush toxins from your system
7) Sleep. If you read my blog posts regularly you are probably tired of hearing about all of the benefits of sleep (pun intended). I mention it quite often as an important way to take care of your body and here is no exception. When you sleep your brain is able to get rid of toxic waste byproducts that otherwise accumulate and have detrimental long-term effects.
I hope this was helpful in providing you with some tools to support your body’s natural detoxification methods. Remember that the body is designed to be healthy and has powerful built-in detoxification pathways. You don’t need to do something drastic to detox your body, instead trying making these 7 things a regular part of your life to maintain your overall health!