Our physical environment plays a huge role in how healthy we are and how well our body functions.
Environmental toxins can actually affect the body’s internal chemistry and can lead to things like illness, fatigue, digestive issues, and muscle and joint pain. And while the body is great at detoxifying all on its own, proactive detoxification can help get rid of even more pollutants.
In this piece, we explore some natural ways you can assist your body in the detoxification process.
Use CBD
Recent studies have uncovered the effectiveness of CBD in helping your body detox. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system to regulate homeostasis. With more efficient homeostatic function, major body detox organs, such as the liver, are also able to function better.
If you are considering CBD for detox, try our Water Soluble CBD tincture. It dissolves well in most drinks and can be a great addition to a juice cleanse.
Drink Water
Water doesn’t just quench your thirst. It also helps regulate your body temperature, aids in digestion and joint lubrication, improves nutrient absorption, and detoxifies your body by eliminating waste products.
You must keep your body hydrated at all times to facilitate saliva production and, above all, eliminate waste. In a day, aim to drink approximately two liters of water, about eight or ten glasses. Your body may need more or less water depending on your activity levels, your diet, or where you live. Even when you’re busy (or especially when you’re busy!), carry a water bottle and remember to hydrate throughout the day.
Your cells are always working, repairing themselves, and breaking down nutrients to provide energy to the body. During these processes, the body releases waste in the forms of carbon dioxide and urea. Both of these substances can harm the body if they aren’t expelled.
Water helps transport these waste products out of the body through sweat, breath, and urine. This is why keeping your body hydrated is essential for detoxification.
Sweat It Out
Exercise helps your body burn fat and sweat out toxins. Regardless of your body weight, you should develop a consistent exercise routine that fits your schedule or preference. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity every week.
If you don't prefer the gym, go for a morning or evening run or walk or do an hour of yoga in your living room. You can always find simple workouts that don't consume much of your time, even with a hectic work schedule.
There are several health benefits associated with exercise, and reducing inflammation is an essential element. Reduced inflammation facilitates the proper functioning of your detoxification system.
Get Enough Sleep
When anxiety, stress, and professional obligations hit all at once, you often have inadequate time for sleep — but this is exactly when you need adequate sleep the most.
Quality sleep is crucial for supporting your body's natural detoxification system. A good night's sleep allows your brain to recharge and reorganize itself. Additionally, your brain uses this time to flush out toxic waste.
Poor sleep means your body won't perform these functions and will leave toxins to build up, affecting your health. Also, sleep deprivation or sleep disruption leads to short- and long-term health consequences, including stress, anxiety, and obesity.
Clean Up Your Diet
Some dietary components, like sugar, alcohol, and processed foods, increase your toxic load, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Research has linked the consumption of high amounts of processed foods and sugars with obesity and other diseases.
Some of these illnesses harm internal organs, such as the kidneys and liver, that are essential for detoxification. Limit the intake of junk food to maintain your detoxification system.
You should also limit the amount of alcohol in your diet. Although low to moderate alcohol consumption is sustainable, excessive drinking leads to health issues and liver damage. A damaged liver is characterized by inflammation, fat buildup, and reduced function and will not be efficient at filtering waste and toxins from your body. If you must drink, limit your alcohol consumption to one or two drinks a day.
Eat Your Veggies
Vegetables and fruits contain much-needed nutrients, such as antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins, that help your body's detox pathways.
Cruciferous vegetables, in particular, contain sulfur and phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory benefits and can help your body on its detox journey. Vegetables like these boost glutathione production, a vital antioxidant that minimizes oxidative stress:
- Arugula
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Watercress
Also, note that consuming organic produce can further minimize your exposure to toxins.
Include Prebiotics in Your Diet
Your intestinal cells have a natural excretion and detoxification system that safeguards your body and gut from harmful toxins. Therefore, you need to ensure that you keep your gut healthy for an efficient detoxification system.
A poor diet can lead to an imbalance between good and bad bacteria. The unhealthy shift in bacteria weakens your detoxification system and also increases the risks of inflammation and disease.
Prebiotics help keep your gut healthy. With prebiotics, your body produces nutrients known as short-chain fatty acids that are helpful for your health. Focus on foods rich in prebiotics to keep your detoxification system healthy.
Some food sources for prebiotics include bananas, oats, artichokes, and asparagus. Yogurt is also a rich source of probiotics with good bacteria that can help cleanse your digestive tract.
Try a Juice Cleanse
A juice cleanse involves consuming fruit and vegetable juices, and little or nothing else, for a few days. Fruit and vegetable juices are known to boost levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Here's how to do it:
- Preparation: A few days before the juice cleanse, start eliminating such foods as alcohol, coffee, dairy products, meat, nicotine, refined sugars, and wheat. Substitute these with fluids, fruits, and vegetables.
- Cleanse: For a period of three to five days, substitute full meals with fruit or vegetable smoothies, juice, or vegetable broth.
- Post-cleanse: After the fifth day, ease back into regular eating by gradually incorporating solid foods. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are a great place to start.
You may find it helpful to keep a food journal as you start to reintroduce solid foods. Keep track of which foods make you feel icky and which make you feel great so that you can adjust your diet accordingly.
In a nutshell, reducing your body's toxic load helps you feel better, perform better, and lead a more fulfilling life. The tips in this blog are nowhere near the only options, but they are an excellent place to start as you pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is presented purely for educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any condition. As always, consult your doctor before introducing a new supplement to your routine.
Research Sources:
How Toxins Cause Disease, from Joe Pizzorno, ND & his book The Toxin Solution; Institute for Natural Medicine; accessed July 2022
How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?; Kris Gunnars, BSc; Healthline; accessed July 2022
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition; Health.gov; accessed July 2022
Controversies about sugars: results from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on obesity, cardiometabolic disease and diabetes; Tauseef A. Khan, John L Sievenpiper; National Library of Medicine; accessed July 2022
Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits; Mayo Clinic Staff; Mayo Clinic; accessed July 2022
Why Do We Sleep? What Happens During Sleep?; Kirsten Nunez and Karen Lamoreux; Healthline; accessed July 2022
Food Sources of Glutathione; Karen Spaeder; Livestrong; accessed July 2022
What Are Prebiotics? Prebiotics Benefits, Foods, and Downsides; Jillian Kubala, MS, RD; Healthline; accessed July 2022
