Detoxify: Ridding Your Body of Toxins (Part 5)

There are two strategies to dealing with the toxic world we live in:

• Avoid them
• Get rid of them (detoxification)

How To Avoid Toxins

Avoid non-organic and genetically modified foods (GMOs). Non-organic fruits, vegetables, and derivatives have almost certainly been sprayed with pesticides that are undoubtedly toxic to the body. GMOs are suspected of introducing new allergens into the food supply and increasing resistance to antibiotics, without having passed any level of “natural” bio-selection. Animals fed genetically modified foods are beginning to show rapid rises in tumor growth and diseases. Find a recipe for an inexpensive, 4-ingredient veggie wash on Earth’s Living Clay’s YouTube channel.

Avoid hydrogenated oils, and any foods made with hydrogenated oils. If the word hydrogenated is on the label, leave it on the shelf. Hydrogenated fats are chemically altered by adding hydrogen molecules to the original fat molecule.

Once educated, read labels of household products and beauty products, and avoid those with known toxic ingredients. This includes everyday products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, lotions, and detergent. Do not let the marketing language on the label fool you!

Limit and avoid exposure to electromagnetic waves, which are produced by power lines, cell phones, televisions, computer monitors, microwave ovens, and other equipment.

Just as the air filter in a car, needs to be changed regularly to keep the air needed by the engine clean, the filters in air conditioning and heating systems need changing. These filters trap and hold pollutants in the air in homes, offices, and businesses. Replacing them regularly will help keep toxins out of the air and thus, out of the body.

Another easy way to help reduce toxins indoors is to grow spider, aloe, and philodendron plants.

If feasible, install a whole house water filter to eliminate chlorine and other chemicals in the water. Alkaline water filtration systems are beneficial, as are reverse osmosis drinking water systems, though to a lesser degree. Adding filters to shower heads reduces the amount of toxins hitting the skin and, therefore, entering the body.

Detoxification

The thought in years passed was that fasting was a good way to detox, but science has shown that specific nutrients and behaviors are needed for effective detoxification. Just as the body needs nutrients to perform optimally for tasks like thinking and exercising, the body also needs nutrients to perform detoxification. Detoxing periodically helps the body with the onslaught of toxins from our modern day life. Detoxification is the process of binding up toxins and releasing them from the body. Here are several free and inexpensive ways to detoxify the body and help return it to a state of optimal health.

1. Drink Water

Drink lots and lots of water. With adequate hydration, urine should be the color of hay and should NOT have a strong odor. When ‘nature calls,’ heed the signal to eliminate since the liquid and solid waste in the body is where toxins are concentrated. Drink clean water. Many of the body’s vital detoxifying and restoring organs work during sleep. It is a good idea to flush the system after this overnight shift of rejuvenation and cleansing!

2. Consume Citrus

Citrus is a great detoxifier! Drink fresh lemon juice in hot water first thing in the AM. Drink lemon of water throughout the day. Unless you grow your pesticide-free lemons if you are going to cut and put lemons in water, wash them whole before cutting. There was a study done of lemons served in restaurants, and a HUGE percentage was contaminated with bad bacteria.

3. Exercise

Yes, it’s true! Exercise helps the body’s detoxification process. The circulatory system has a pump to help circulate blood throughout the body—the heart. However, the lymphatic system (critical to aiding the body in detoxification) does not. This is a key reason exercise is so important to detoxification. Exercise, particularly whole body movement, pumps lymph through the lymphatic system, helping flush toxins.

Rebounders are great for in-home use and can be stored under a bed or couch, out of the way. Rebounding stretches and moves every cell in the body, which is why it’s such a great exercise for detoxification.

4. You Are What You Eat

Eat natural, whole, unprocessed, organic food when possible. Eat local, seasonal foods. This almost guarantees that the food is pesticide-free. However, if in doubt, always ask. Also, include foods rich in bioflavonoids, including citrus fruits, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and spinach. Bioflavonoids dilate (open) the lymphatic system, making it easier to carry toxic waste to the liver for processing, before elimination.

Eat unpasteurized, raw, and fermented foods when possible. Pasteurization involves exposing food to high heat, which kills beneficial enzymes. Raw food is recommended because it contains live enzymes, which help immensely in digestion. Fermented foods help restore the good flora in the gut. As noted above, a healthy gut equals a healthy immune system. Moreover, a healthy immune system helps fight off and eliminate toxins.

Healthy fats are found in avocado, flax, and coconut oil, as well as in fatty fish, such as salmon, and walnuts. Among other qualities, healthy fats burn off more quickly than unhealthy fats. The idea is not to add fats but to substitute healthy fats for unhealthy fats.

5. Mineralize

Another reason to avoid commercially grown fruits and vegetables related to micronutrient content. Unfortunately, these foods tend to be mineral deficient because of large commercial farming practices, which deplete the soils of nutrients. Soil that is lacking nutrients results in nutrient-deficient plants.

Our bodies cannot manufacture minerals, so we must get them from food sources and supplements.

Ensuring the body gets enough of the right minerals is crucial to good health. Essential minerals are needed to help with detoxification and avoid heavy metal stand-ins. Fortunately, the foods that are good for you are also rich in vitamins and minerals, especially colorful foods and dark, leafy greens. Read more about mineral deficiency on Earth’s Living Clay’s blog.

6. Perform Or Receive Reflexology

Reflexology is a technique involving manipulation of pressure points in the hands and feet to help relax, stimulate, and reduce stress to organs, glands, and other parts of the body. This reaction reduces stress on this part and allows for less wear and tear, and more healing. The points that are pressed on are called reflex points, and there are reflex points for every part of the body on both the hands and the feet. Reflexology charts of both the hands and feet are readily available online.

7. Learn Dry Skin Brushing

The skin is an essential organ in helping the body to rid itself of toxins. It is designed to protect our organs and tissues. There are estimates that the skin can remove up to 25% of the toxins in the body each day! The skin is exposed to the elements, and as a result, pores can become clogged with toxins and particulates. Skin can respond to poor diet and lack of circulation (exercise) by swelling. Regular dry skin brushing can help and doesn’t take more than 5 minutes when done correctly.

Dry skin brushing is a process involving the use of a soft bristle brush and stroking the skin from head to toe.  This process is done on dry skin, ideally before bathing. Stand in the shower or bathtub so that the dead skin cells can be washed down the drain.

It is believed that dry skin brushing can help reduce the appearance of cellulite, caused by toxins trapped in fatty tissue.

8. Increase Fiber Intake

The ideal amount of fiber for an average adult is 35 grams per day. Most people associate fiber with grains. However, there is more fiber per serving in fruits, vegetables, and legumes than in grains. Choose foods that have at least 4 grams of fiber per 100 calories. Be sure to take lots of water as fiber intake is increased, so abdominal cramping, bloating, and gas is avoided or minimized.

• Psyllium Husks

A great way to add fiber to the diet. The husks ‘brush’ the bowel and improve colon health. These can easily be added to smoothies and are readily available at most grocery stores. Metamucil is a popular over-the-counter product. Metamucil’s primary active ingredient is psyllium husks. However, unhealthy sweeteners, such as maltodextrin and food dyes are also included, to make them more palatable. Artificial sweeteners and food dyes are toxic to the body and should be avoided.

• Chia Seeds

Chia seeds contain 100% more essential amino acids than salmon and double the number of antioxidants than is found in blueberries. Chia comprises six times more calcium than milk and six times more iron than spinach! Adding one serving of chia to the diet per day provides 41% of the average daily fiber requirement.

Note that individuals on blood pressure medication or blood thinners should limit or avoid chia. People with allergies to sesame and mustard seeds may also have an allergy to chia. For a delicious, super easy muffin recipe featuring chia, visit Earth’s Living Clay’s YouTube channel or our blog.

9. Take Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom salts are a relaxing and inexpensive way to support detoxification of the body. The scientific name for Epsom salts is magnesium chloride. Epsom salts are a compound made of magnesium and sulfate, both playing essential roles in optimal body functioning. Magnesium supports regular enzyme activity in the body. Among their many roles, enzymes accelerate the metabolic rate, which includes the conversion of food to energy. Boosting metabolism is a healthy means of moving food through the body efficiently. Sulfate helps support detoxification by helping strengthen the wall of the digestive tract. Since the gut is the key to a healthy immune system, any steps to strengthen and support gut health will aid the body in fighting off the negative effect of toxins in the body. Topical application of a good quality magnesium oil is also preferred over magnesium supplementation through the digestive tract.

Take three layers of undyed wool or cotton flannel large enough to cover the affected area. Soak in castor oil, so it is soaked, but not dripping. Place pack on the skin over liver region. Cover with plastic wrap larger than cloth. Place hot water bottle over pack and leave for 45-60 minutes. Some individuals may prefer to leave the pack on longer. Note: Castor oil will stain clothing and bedding. Store pack in a covered container in the refrigerator. It may be used 25 to 30 times before being discarded. Clean the area with warm water and baking soda mixture afterward.

10. Drink Or Bathe In Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is a mineral compound consisting of silica dioxide and many other trace minerals. Bentonite clay is a powerful, yet safe detoxifier. It has been used by native cultures all over the world for thousands of years. Earth’s Living’s calcium bentonite clay comes from the pristine Mojave Desert, near Death Valley, California. It was created from volcanic ash 65+ million years ago and has been covered by earth over eons.

Once hydrated, the clay’s negative ionic charge goes to work attracting positively charged ions to its surface. Parasites, bacteria, mucous, and other varieties of toxins carry a positive charge. They attach to and are absorbed by the clay. The toxins and clay are then eliminated from the body.

Calcium bentonite clay can be mixed with water and drank daily for good health. It can also be used as part of a cleansing and detoxification program. As the largest organ of the body, bentonite clay baths are another way to detoxify and cleanse, pulling toxins through the skin. Not all clays are created equally or meant for internal consumption. Read more about how to choose quality clay for internal use here.