Detoxification
Purging the poisons: how to support natural body detoxification
Detox regimens to avoid
We recommend avoiding extreme detox regimens
such as
- Prolonged juice fasts
- Colon cleanses
- Colonics
- Coffee enemas
- Hours-long saunas
- Excessive doses of antioxidants or minerals
- Foot detox pads (Kinoki)
- “Mucoid plaque” removal
- Extreme or “amateur” chelation
Typing the word “detoxification” into an internet search engine will
return almost five million results. In 2008 alone, we were introduced to 54 new
products with the word “detox” in their names. Crafty advertising may
tempt you, but be careful! Many products and procedures are not based in science,
and some may be downright unsafe.
When products simply don’t work, you’re out the money you spent. But
I worry most about ads for radical juice fasts and extreme colon cleanses. Using
methods like these to compensate for poor diet and lifestyle choices can take a
tremendous toll on your body without delivering on the rapid weight loss and “body
purification” claims made in the advertisements.
Fasting is an age-old practice associated with many religious and spiritual traditions,
and I believe that under planned and controlled circumstances, it can be fine. But
extreme fasting is almost always bad for you, and can unleash toxins too quickly,
making you feel awful. And if you’re considering fasting to lose weight, my
advice is simple: don’t.
The most elegant way to detoxify: naturally
Support your ability to detoxify!
DON’T:
- Smoke or knowingly take in other poisons or toxins
- Use toxic cleaners and beauty products
- Eat processed foods
- Eat sugar, gluten or refined grains, artificial sweeteners, or trans fats
- Take unnecessary drugs
- Expose yourself to noxious chemicals and poisons
DO:
- Eat right and reduce red meat consumption
- Exercise to the point of sweating and to keep blood and lymph circulating well
- Get enough rest
- Address long-term emotional issues that cause tension, stress, and worry. Try support
groups, therapy, or targeted techniques like Byron Katie’s The Work and the Hoffman Quadrinity Process.
- Try yoga to encourage deep breathing and improve elimination
- Keep your skin clean
The ability to detoxify naturally is a limited resource, and if you’re not
choosing well when it comes to lifestyle, emotional health, and diet, your system
can quickly become overloaded. Maintaining good detox capability depends a lot on
what you don’t do. If you avoid eating harmful foods and drinks,
limit your caffeine and sugar intake, steer clear of drugs when possible, and beware
of “toxic” emotional states, you’ll go a long way toward preserving
your own natural detox capability.
Once you begin to detoxify, stored toxins and substances are released into the system
for removal — so you may feel worse for a short period. But if you wait it
out, this sensation passes and you will soon feel much better, and be rewarded with
clearer skin, more energy and vitality, better sleep, fewer aches and pains, better
bowel health, improved mental clarity, and loss of excess “toxic weight.”
How to support your natural ability to detoxify
Basic support for natural detoxification is like many things — simple, but
not always easy to accomplish. You need to provide proper nourishment, with extra
fruits and vegetables; avoid processed, refined, and fatty foods; ensure steady
hydration; and get lots of rest.
For additional support, consider some of these foods and supplements: a high-quality
multivitamin/mineral complex, a probiotic supplement, antioxidants (vitamins C,
A, and E, but never in excessive amounts), glutathione, amino acids (methionine,
L-cysteine, tyrosine, taurine), tea (all kinds), and essential fatty acids.
A wide variety of herbs also are known to support “natural cleansing”
and detox ability, including garlic, red clover, Echinacea, dandelion root,
sarsaparilla root, parsley leaf, goldenseal root, senna or Cascara sagrada,
clove, eucalyptus, and peppermint.
Marcelle’s Super 6: bonus tips for detox
- Pay attention to your overall detox capacity. Be mindful of “clearing out
the clutter” of toxins that may interfere with your body’s metabolic
conversation.
- Your body isn’t “dirty” — avoid aggressive colon cleanses,
prolonged fasting, and other extreme detox activities.
- Heal your gut first and foremost, starting with becoming aware of sensitivities
and allergies. Your body makes its first pass at detoxifying in the GI tract and
the more you can ditch then and there, the better.
- Detoxify your emotions, through therapy, acupuncture, massage, and/or exercise.
Try to resolve toxic relationships and choose enjoyable social activities as often
as you can.
- Talk to a functional medicine practitioner about special testing to determine if
you have a genetic polymorphism that affects your ability to detoxify. Take steps
to support your liver function as necessary.
- Keep your house clean, and consider investing in air and water purifiers and filters.
Change vacuum cleaner bags often, and use “green” cleaners and food
storage.
There is a lot to think about when it comes to managing and supporting your systems
of detoxification. But I have seen the lives of so many women improve dramatically
once they knew which toxic elements were contributing to their symptoms and health
problems. Even if you start with just one or two adjustments, you’ll be moving
in the right direction, and small changes can make a big difference!
Our Personal Program is a great place to start
The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements,
our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional
phone consultations with our Nurse–Educators. It is a convenient, at-home
version of what we recommend to all our patients at the clinic.
If you have questions, don't hesitate to call us toll-free at
1-800-798-7902. We're here to listen and help.
Related to this article:
References & further reading
on natural body detoxification
Last Modified Date: 04/18/2011
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP