Detox is quite a buzz word today. Your Google search can bring up a lot of confusing information. For body cleansing to be effective, with the minimum amount of detox reactions, your routes or “channels” of elimination must be functioning at their optimum level. We must also understand why our world and bodies are toxic and understand how chemicals are still being developed, manufactured, and used today to support the advanced society we live in.
Hippocrates Health Institute explains our dilemma:
“Today we are being exposed to tens of thousands of harmful or potentially harmful compounds from the air, water, soil, and food. They include pesticides, herbicides, solvents, petrochemicals, heavy metals, and plastics. Many of these substances are fat-soluble and can therefore persist in adipose tissue (fat) indefinitely. In 1982, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that a total of 20 toxic compounds were found in 76%–100% of adipose tissue samples from cadavers and elective surgical patients from all regions of the United States.[i]”
“We have a number of mechanisms to remove toxic substances from our body, or at least to metabolize them in ways that make them less harmful. Tissues and organs that play a role in the body’s response to toxic exposures include skin, kidney, liver, lungs, and bowel. Whether or not toxic exposures will cause illness depends both on the level of the exposures and on the body’s ability to detoxify. A toxin poisons its host only after it reaches a concentration within the host that interferes with its biochemical, physiological, or other essential life processes. There is evidence that Parkinson’s disease and other motor-neuron diseases may be caused in part by the combination of exposure to neurotoxic environmental chemicals and impairments in the capacity to detoxify these chemicals.[ii] Chronic exposure to environmental toxins might also play a role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, various other autoimmune diseases, some cancers, Alzheimer’s disease,[iii] and certain other chronic conditions.”
Their conclusion is that our total toxic load = total toxic exposure “minus” the ability to detoxify and excrete toxins.
The body is equipped to rid itself of toxins. The main channels for the excretion or elimination of toxins are your intestines, kidneys, liver and gallbladder, lungs, lymph, and skin. One reason for hydrating your body is so the blood is the right consistency and can carry hydration to all the vital organs, tissues, and glands.
Detox Through the Lungs
The lungs work to put oxygen in the blood and get waste gases out of the body that come from each cell of the body.
- Breathe deeply and regularly from the diaphragm to lift the abdomen and the chest. After you think you have expanded your lungs, take an extra breath in before exhaling.
- Exercise regularly so that you expand your lungs more as you need more oxygen while exercising; do it outside if you can.
- Get outside and walk so you are breathing fresher and moisturized air.
- Open your windows or doors if you can when it rains so you can air out your living space.
Detox Through the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body due to its surface area. The pores not only excrete toxins but also take in toxins. Many times skin disorders mean the colon is full and the body has to use this channel to get rid of things, hence acne, psoriasis, etc.
- Use a sauna (especially infrared sauna) to detoxify via the skin. Hydrate with water and an electrolyte drink during sauna therapy. Electro-Mix or Ultima are easy to find.
- Try skin brushing with a soft bristle brush to help eliminate dead skin.
- Engage in aerobic exercise to help perspire and support skin detox.
- Be mindful of what you put on your body with toiletries, makeup, and sunscreen.
Detox Through the Bowel
Anything less than two bowel movements per day is a type of constipation. Waste backing up in the bowel can create a toxic bowel. Due to our Standard American Diet, stress, and lack of exercise, the bowel can become sluggish. It becomes a holding tank of accumulated waste and toxins which keeps the body from purifying itself. As nutrients and water try to get absorbed, they pass through this waste so toxins get back into the bloodstream and are deposited into cells. This is autointoxication and can contribute to chronic diseases. Many autopsies show belly fat has these toxins in it as the body tries to deposit them somewhere besides vital organs.
To support your detoxification process:
- Stay well hydrated. According to the National Institute of Health, one should drink half your body weight in fluid ounces per day. There are 30 ml of water in one ounce.
- Increase fiber intake. Fiber adheres to toxins and helps move them out of the body. Eat six to eight servings of vegetables per day. Greens and sprouted beans or seeds act as a scrubbing brush in your colon. Fiber also acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria. You don’t need a probiotic that has a prebiotic encapsulated with it; just eat vegetables when you take your probiotic.
- Consider colon hydrotherapy to cleanse, tone, and restore. Warm, filtered water gently rinses the colon to remove encrusted fecal matter, gas, and mucus. This process helps nutrients absorb more easily and prevents autointoxication.
- Use probiotics such as Thrive or Prescript Assist to help build good bacteria in the gut. Beneficial bacteria support vitamin production, mineral absorption, detoxification, digestion, neurological health, emotional balance, and skin wellness.
- Take digestive enzymes to properly digest food so it becomes nourishment, not waste.
- Establish a routine bowel movement in the morning with a glass of lemon water, light movement, and a squatting position. According to the Chinese clock, 5–7 a.m. is the colon cleansing time.
Detox Through the Lymph
The lymph glands transport waste from the cells into the major organs for elimination.
- Try an Ion Cleanse footbath to detox the lymph meridian. Hydrate during the therapy.
- Receive lymphatic drainage massage from a Licensed Massage Therapist. Swedish massage is also beneficial.
- Do skin brushing with a soft bristle brush toward the heart.
- Use a mini trampoline for 10 minutes daily (with a bar for safety if needed). Gentle up-and-down knee bends also help.
- Engage in aerobic exercise such as walking, biking, running, or swimming.
- Alternate between sauna and cold pool dips, or hot and cold showers.
- Drink water equal to half your body weight in ounces. Keep a 16 oz bottle with you and sip throughout the day.
Detox Through the Liver, Kidneys, and Gallbladder
- Drink plenty of water.
- Consume alcohol, teas, and coffees in moderation.
- If you wake consistently at the same time each night, consult the Chinese Clock to see which organ may need support.
- Eat antioxidant-rich foods to neutralize free radicals (like the browning of a cut apple).
Foods with antioxidants include:
- Organic deep-colored berries
- Citrus fruits
- Green leafy vegetables
- Bean or seed sprouts
- Soaked seeds
- Red and orange vegetables
- Dandelion greens
- Raw organic soaked nuts
- Sea vegetables
- Legumes (peas, beans)
Before beginning any juice, herbal, or supplement detox, consider cleansing the colon first with colon hydrotherapy. Stock your refrigerator with enough fresh fruits and vegetables for three days at a time to encourage healthy eating. Belonging to a produce co-op can also help, as it motivates you to use what you purchase.
Final Thoughts
We cannot totally rid the body of all toxins, but we can decrease the toxic load on major organs, glands, and tissues so they can function without interference. We can re-establish and sustain optimal function by changing our lifestyles to support a healthy body. It takes planning, cooking, and preparing meals at home. Get your family involved in the kitchen and they will be more likely to eat what they help prepare. Together, you can build pride in healthy living.