Are you feeling tired or sluggish?  Is it hard to wake up in the morning?
Do you have food sensitivities?  Does your skin break out a lot or look dull?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you may have a toxic burden in your body that is causing many of the symptoms you are experiencing. But, there is some good news. If you are willing to make some simple diet and lifestyle changes, it could have a big impact on decreasing your ongoing exposure and increasing your body’s ability to mobilize and get rid of toxins.

Ways to increase your body’s natural elimination of toxins:

Stay well hydrated: Drinking a minimum of 64 ounces of water a day is important for helping to flush toxins out through the kidneys. When I say water, I don’t mean tea or soda or coffee, I mean water and only water. It does make a big difference.

Have regular bowel movements: One of the primary routes for toxins to leave our bodies is through the bowels or intestines. Constipation leads to impaired elimination and actually spreads the toxins that the poo was going to eliminate, back into the body. That means the longer you don’t have a bowel movement, the more toxins are getting back into your body. Staying well hydrated, getting regular exercise, and getting plenty of fiber in your diet can help make sure that you are having one to two bowel movements per day. If you are suffering from constipation, make an appointment with me today so that we can improve your elimination!

Exercise regularly: Moving your body helps to keep the lymph and circulation moving which helps to flush toxins out of your tissues. I advise people to aim for 30 minutes of activity per day, given that you are healthy and able.

Drink green tea: Green tea contains compounds that help to mobilize toxins from fat and helps to make sure that those toxins get excreted in your stools. One cup per day is a great place to start. It’s best to drink green tea before 4pm, as it does contain caffeine.

Eat cruciferous vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale have compounds in them that help to promote proper detoxification.

Ways to minimize your toxin exposure:

Avoid fish high in Mercury: While the right fish can be a healthy part of the diet and a good source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, the wrong fish can be a major source of the heavy metal, Mercury. Fish with the highest Mercury levels include tuna, swordfish and sea bass. Alaskan salmon, sardines, shrimp, tilapia, sole and haddock tend to be low in Mercury.

Avoid farm-raised Salmon: Farm-raised salmon are not only low in beneficial fats, but they are also contaminated with high levels of dioxins and chlorinated pesticides. If the packaging doesn’t say that it is Wild Pacific or Alaskan Salmon, don’t eat it! In general, if it is labeled as Atlantic salmon it is farmed salmon.

Use a water filter in the kitchen and shower: City water supplies and well water are often contaminated with low levels of lead and other heavy metals, chlorine, as well as pesticides and other environmental toxins. In the shower, these toxins can become aerosolized and breathed in, as well as absorbed through the skin. Crude but true: use a filter or be the filter. Your choice.

Eat organic foods: Our food supply is full of pesticides, herbicides, hormones and antibiotics. By choosing clean foods it helps to reduce our exposure to toxic compounds. The Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists can be helpful in trying to determine what fruits and vegetables you should purchase organically. Because animals accumulate and concentrate the toxins that they are exposed to, I advise minimizing your intake of animal products and when you do eat them, make sure that they are organic.

Skip the dry cleaning: The solvents used in dry cleaning are highly toxic and have been found to be elevated in homes for over 48 hours after the clothes were brought inside. If you do have clothes dry cleaned, let them air out in the garage or outside for forty-eight hours before bringing them in to the house.

Don’t use non-stick pans: Non-stick pans give off a compound called Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) which cause neurological and thyroid impairment and are associated with increased risk of Attention Deficit Disorder, elevated cholesterol and more.

Leave your shoes at the door: Shoes get covered with all of the pollutants outside and when worn inside track them all in thus, increasing our exposure. This is particularly important in households with children who may be spending a lot of time on the floor.

Invest in house plants: The following five plants have been found to be particularly effective in clearing the air of formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene: Corn plant, Chrysanthemums, Gerbera daisy, Dracaena, Ficus and Rubber tree.

Following some of these holistic medicine recommendations will go a long way towards helping to decrease your body’s toxic load. In addition, periodically embarking on a guided detoxification program can help give the organs a break and allow them to catch up on clearing your toxic load.

Here’s a comprehensive 7-day detox program that I’ve been using with patients for years: Cleanse kit

In cases of more severely impaired detoxification or elevated toxic load, a more comprehensive detoxification program may be necessary. In addition, it is important to make sure that you are detoxifying at a rate that your body can handle to avoid a potential worsening of your symptoms.

If You Need More Support

If all this seems confusing, or you don’t know which route is best for you, call us, I can customize a safe and effective detoxification program that is appropriate for you and your needs.

Many people have found that by participating in our Detox programs that they’ve received the following benefits:

  • Increased Energy
  • Improved Digestion
  • Weight Loss
  • Improved Mood
  • Better Skin
  • Decreased Nasal or Ear Congestion

Call or contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment to begin your health and wellness journey to a cleaner and healthier you!

 

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