Part 3 Toxin Series
How to Eliminate and Flush these Toxins from your System
This is the third and final part of my toxin blog posts and, in this blog, I explore some of the ways that we can all do to help eliminate and flush out the toxin build-up in our bodies.
In the previous two blogs in this series, I have spoken about common toxins that we potentially come into contact with on a daily basis. It may have shocked you to become aware of how many of them exist in our environments. I have also covered the vast array of symptoms that we may experience we are experiencing a toxin overload.
It’s important to know that your body is naturally detoxifying all day. You are a self-cleaning machine and, in a healthy state, able to process normal amounts of toxins. In fact, your liver, together with the kidneys, are the most important detoxification machines. They’re made to do this—unless your liver is packed full of fat, sugar or alcohol, it should keep doing its job well.
You can’t completely avoid toxic substances when they’re so all-pervasive in modern life: if you refuse that takeout carton, your food will probably be wrapped in PFAS-coated paper instead. You can banish plastic from your fridge and purge your body products, but when you go to the office, you’ll probably be sitting in a chair doused in flame retardants.
That said, you can take small but powerful steps to limit your daily exposure to worrying chemicals. Detox doesn’t always have to be restrictive or even something you’re obliged to do from time to time.
1. Choose Organic
First up, where you can choose organic. There are seasonal deals on some organic produce so look out for them in your supermarket or grocery store.
If you can’t go organic then please wash your fruit and veg well before preparing.
Learn which conventional fruits and veggies are highest and lowest in pesticides. There is a list on a website called the dirty dozen foods.
2. Get Your Sweat On!
Infrared saunas can help to promote a deep, healthy and natural detoxifying sweat.
But remember, consistency and regularity are key to sweating being effective. Always drink lots of water, wash any sweat off after your sauna straight away and think about rebalancing with some electrolytes.
3. Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting can help ignite your body’s detoxing process, assist in weight loss and fat burning! Periods of fasting stimulate cells to cannibalize, known as autophagy which is your body’s natural ability to clean out and recycle cells that are no longer functioning properly.
The body struggles to do this when it is constantly having to break down and digest foods and some drinks. Giving your metabolic processes a break means that ‘recycling’ and ‘clearing out’ can happen. Just like your rubbish in a bin – you don’t want it building up to the point where it’s overfilling.
4. Sleep
Getting good sleep is key to the optimum functioning of most of our body systems.
To say it is important for our endocrine, metabolic, cognitive and cardiovascular systems is an understatement. It is absolutely paramount!
Try to get a consistent 7-8hours of sleep and avoid eating three hours before sleep as this is when your body does the most detoxification.
5. Green and Herbal Teas
The antioxidants found in these teas offer the same benefits as drinking lemon juice. They help remove harmful toxins from the bloodstream.
The same compounds found in green tea and herbal teas that provide the body with antioxidants also protect cells from damage.
Consuming these drinks several times per day may kill harmful free radicals that are known to increase the risk of cancer, digestive issues, and various diseases.
6. Skin Brushing
Like the circulatory system, the lymphatic system plays a fundamental role in removing metabolic waste and toxins. Using a natural bristle long-handled brush, start at your feet and brush your skin in a sweeping motion up your legs. Continue brushing the skin of your legs, arms and torso, always sweeping towards the heart.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can act as an antibiotic and helps kill bad bacteria. The vinegar also aids in flushing the toxins in the body by inhibiting the development of harmful bacteria.
Several studies have also found that apple cider vinegar may lower blood pressure. Lowering the blood pressure helps reduce the risk of blockage and improves blood circulation. These benefits are useful when attempting to flush toxins.
8. Focus on the Right Nutrition
Eating a diet free from processed foods, low in sugar and low in inflammatory foods is the best way to ensure you are not putting any extra toxins into your body.
There are some foods which act as antioxidants which everyone should try to include.
Antioxidants protect your cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Oxidative stress is a condition caused by excessive production of free radicals.
Your body naturally produces these molecules for cellular processes, such as digestion. However, alcohol, tobacco smoke, a poor diet, and exposure to pollutants can produce excessive free radicals.
Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help your body fight oxidative stress caused by excess free radicals and other toxins that increase your risk of disease.
Examples of antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These can be found in green leafy veg, tomatoes, blueberries, and fresh fruit. If you struggle to get all these in your diet on a daily basis then it might be worth looking for a supplement to cover some of the nutrients you are lacking.
9. Meditate
Meditate at least 10 minutes a day with some breathwork exercises to help detoxify through the lungs, also maintain a regular exercise schedule to keep your lymphatic system moving.
10. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal can be an effective solution to counteract bloating and other unwanted side effects from overindulging. It also systematically supports the elimination of toxins. It’s relatively cheap and easy to get hold of but absolutely shouldn’t be taken with other supplements or with any medications as it can bind to them and rid your body of them.
Taking a dose close to bedtime when your tummy is empty is the best time I find personally.
11. Supplements
Glutathione is a very special antioxidant compound that provides the greatest antioxidant protection within the body. Every cell in the body produces glutathione. Many longevity scientists believe that the level of glutathione in our cells is predicative of how long we will live. Reaching for a glutathione supplement will help support the detoxification process that our bodies undergo naturally.
Alpha lipoic acid helps to upregulate glutathione levels indirectly by regenerating other anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, E and CoQ10. Lipoic acid protects the mitochondria, the energy producing factories of cells, from oxidative stress and toxicity like nothing else.
Milk Thistle is one of the most powerful liver detoxifying agents. The active compound within milk thistle is called silymarin. Research has demonstrated that milk thistle supplementation helps to boost 2 major intracellular antioxidants, glutathione and superoxide dismutase.
Selenium is a trace mineral that acts as an anti-oxidant that plays a key role in detoxification and immune regulation. There are strong links between selenium deficiencies and the development of autoimmune conditions, especially those effecting the thyroid gland.
Chlorella and Spirulina are single celled algae are potent sources of chlorophyll and trace minerals. Additionally, these algae are a great source of magnesium and zinc, which are a key part of the bodies detoxification system.
12. Coffee Enemas
The purpose of coffee enemas is to stimulate the liver to increase its detoxification of the blood and decrease the toxic load on the liver. This includes removing a variety of toxins and free radicals from the bloodstream.
The coffee solution is not held in the liver. In fact, it’s held in the colon. The vessels in the lower part of the descending colon and rectum carry the solution to the liver. The potent compounds in coffee are absorbed by the hemorrhoidal and mesenteric veins that route to the liver.
Use of coffee enemas is on the rise. And yes, in the air of transparency this is something that I practice. I have noticed a huge difference as I’m trying to rid my body of some heavy metals and mould toxins that have been one of the causes of some of my autoimmune things.
I know it’s not for everyone, but once you get your head around it and used to the actual act of doing it, it’s not an unpleasant experience at all. If you are interested in Coffee Enemas you may find this blog post that I wrote interesting Coffee-Enema
13. Clean Up your Air
Did you know that indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air? More time at home means it’s more important than ever to assess your home and furniture for toxins like flame retardants and PVC. The Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Home Guide lists potential home toxin sources and how to find healthier alternatives.
This is the next step for me in making my environment as toxin free as possible. There are some good deals out there on air purifiers.
14. Drink Plenty of Water
Water does so much more than quench your thirst. It regulates your body temperature, lubricates joints, aids digestion and nutrient absorption, and detoxifies your body by removing waste products.
Your body’s cells must continuously be repaired to function optimally and break down nutrients for your body to use as energy.
However, these processes release wastes — in the form of urea and carbon dioxide — which cause harm if allowed to build up in your blood.
Water transports these waste products, efficiently removing them through urination, breathing, or sweating. So staying properly hydrated is important for detoxification.
If you’re doing a lot of sweating, for example through exercise or through using a sauna, then make sure you replace your electrolytes that are lost. Adding a small amount of Himalayan salt to your water or some clean electrolyte powder is an easy way to do this.
15. Avoid Plastics
Small plastic particles most commonly enter the body through the food we eat. When people consume food or beverages packaged in plastic, there’s a good chance that some of that plastic may have transferred over to the food or drink itself. The amount of plastic that transfers depends on multiple factors, including the age of the plastic, the temperature of the container, and the nature of the contents. For example, more plastic is transferred when it is heated or when the food stored inside is fatty.
BPA (Bisphenol A, found in polycarbonate plastics) is an endocrine disruptor, which means it can interfere with the functions of the endocrine system, including regulation of growth, development, and metabolism. It has been suggested that endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA could lead to increased risk of cancer, recurrent miscarriages, and fertility issues, all of which add to growing concern in the science community about plastics usage.
So swap your tupaware for glass containers and your plastic drinks bottle for a glass one. Handle receipts as little as possible (I tell the cashier to not bother handing it to me when I don’t need it) and always wash your hands straight away if you do.
16. Use Natural Products
There are lots of ways you can use natural products for cleaning and for your hair and beauty regimes.
I am an ambassador for Tropic Skincare, which uses all natural ingredients and is a carbon neutral company. With a huge array of skincare options, delivered to your door, they are nothing short of fantastic. If you would like any more information then please get in contact by either commenting on any of my posts or sending me a DM.
Look at buying organic products when choosing things for the house, or non-GMO.
There are lots of recipes online for creating your own cleaner. Look at the ingredients list of your household surface spray for example. If you don’t know any of the long list of chemicals that I can guarantee are there, then it’s time to rethink what you spray around the house.
Summary of How to Eliminate and Flush these Toxins from your System
There are lots of things we can do in our homes to help limit our exposure to toxins and to help our bodies out when they become overloaded. Start today by taking small steps and changing one thing – it will dramatically reduce your exposure to toxins and help take the pressure off our overburdened organs.
