Camila Smith LCSWKick your natural detox system into gear through diet, exercise, and supplements.
Updated: Jun 6
The word detox is a hot buzz word, plenty of books out there offering a 7, 21, 30-day detox. But what exactly does it really mean to detox the body? The bottom line is we want to support the organs and systems in the body that naturally help detoxify toxins to keep us healthy.
The human body has a detoxification system (to get geeky, we have Phase I and Phase II detox) that helps us neutralize and eliminate toxins from the body. A toxin is a harmful substance.
We are overly exposed to environmental toxins, pollution, and stress. Most of us have exposure to:
Anti-nutrient foods: high-fructose corn syrup, trans fat, alcohol, processed food.
Heavy metals: mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, tin, aluminum.
Chemicals: pesticides, herbicides, cleaning products.
Allergens: mold, dust, pollen
Infectious organisms: bacteria, viruses, yeast, parasites.
The liver is primarily in charge of the detoxification system. Other major systems that work together to maintain balance are:
Kidneys
"Gut”
Skin
Lungs
Lymphatic system
Signs and symptoms that our detox system is overloaded:
Fatigue
Trouble sleeping
Brain fog
Muscle and joint pain
Sinus congestion and postnasal drip
Headaches
Dark under-eye circles
Bloating
Irritable bowel.
Dark urine, foul stool
Heartburn
Fluid retention and excessive weight
Rashes and canker sores
Bad breath
An unbalanced system stresses our body and can impact our mental health. Along with detox, it's important to help our stress response system through proper diet, exercise, and supplementation.
Have you experienced any of these?? The reality most of us do because of the daily exposure to toxins.
So here’s what you can start doing today to support your detoxification process:
Exercise: ideally daily, but at least 3-5 times a week. Bonus points for being outdoors!
Sweat it out! I LOVE Bikram yoga (hot yoga) it gets me sweating and help to rid the body of toxins. You can also try a steam or sauna room, or any activity that gets you sweating.
A balanced diet: high in nutrient-rich fruits and veggies! To reduce exposure to pesticides, consider organic produce.
TIP: The deeper the color of the vegetable, the more nutrient-dense.
Hydration-- drink water!!!
Supplements:
Probiotics (lactobacillus and bifidobacteria)
Fish oil omega-3 fatty acid (EPA & DHA):
Magnesium
B6
Passionflower
L-theanine
Glycine
These ingredients have been clinically proven to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety. It can be overwhelming to know what and how much to take. Good news: there is a multivitamin specifically formulated and proven to work! We've taken the guesswork out and made it easy to feel better.
Interested in learning more? Click below
Detox lemon water:
Squeeze half a lemon into a full glass of water
Add 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup
Pinch of cayenne pepper.
Enjoy!! I drink this several times a week and love it!
I know it can be challenging to know precisely how to get started. There is so much information out there that it can be overwhelming! My recommendation is to talk to work with someone who can guide you. As you make changes to your diet, it is equally as important to address any mental barriers and make sustainable lifestyle choices.
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Reference
Integrative Medicine, 3rd Edition, David Rakel MD. Saunders, Philadelphia (2012), ISBN: 9-781-437-717-938