Our health is the sum of our relationship with the environment — what we eat, drink, absorb, think, breathe, put on our skin, and how and where we live — and how well our body’s natural detoxification system works. Unfortunately, as the environment becomes ever more toxic, we are becoming more and more saturated with toxins. As a result, we’re sicker than we’ve ever been.
Dr. Axe
Toxic exposure often flies under the radar, but the body’s remarkable detoxification system tirelessly works to break down and expel harmful substances, safeguarding our organs, bones, microbiome, and cellular health.
Yet, as time passes, the burden on these detox pathways can become overwhelming, leading to fatigue and depletion. Persistent exposure to toxins from our foods and environment accumulates, resulting in what’s known as a toxic load—a hidden menace that fuels inflammation, undermines cellular integrity, and allows unwanted toxins to take up residence like unwelcome guests in a vacation home.
This toxic load adds toll, that saps our energy, impairs cognitive function, upsets hormonal equilibrium, and compromises the health of our microbiome and mucosal barriers.
Effective detoxification isn’t just about having optimal pathways; it also requires efficient enzymatic metabolites and a well-executed elimination process. Moreover, our body’s immune system and cytokine response can falter under the weight of stress, anxiety, or depression, exacerbating the problem and turning our body into a leaky vessel, not just from the toilet, but from everyone room in our house.
While it’s possible to gradually reduce the influx of toxins through diligence and lifestyle adjustments, the reality, as noted by Dr. Axe, is that our environment is increasingly laden with toxins, making it challenging to stay ahead.
So, what steps can you take today to mitigate this onslaught of toxins? Renowned nutritional expert Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, offers valuable insights:
- Drink Clean — Drink plenty of clean water, at least eight to ten glasses of filtered water a day.
- Eliminate Properly — Keep your bowels moving, at least once or twice a day. And if you can’t get going, then you need some help. This can include taking two tablespoons of ground flax seeds and taking acidophilus and extra magnesium citrate capsules. If you have any chronic diseases or problems, you have to be careful about taking supplements and should work with your doctor.
- Eat Clean — You should also eat organic produce and animal products to eliminate the toxins, hormones, and antibiotics in your food.
- Eat Detoxifying Food — You should eat 8 to 10 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables a day, particularly family of the cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, collards, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi) and the garlic family (garlic and onions), which help increase sulfur in the body and help detoxification.
- Minimize Drugs — Avoid stimulants, sedatives, and drugs, such as caffeine and nicotine, and try to reduce alcohol intake.
- Get Moving — Exercise five days a week with focus on conditioning your cardiovascular system, strengthening exercises, and stretching exercises.
- Avoid the White Menace — This includes white flour and white sugar.
- Sweat — Sweat profusely at least three times a week, using a sauna, steam, or a detox bath.
- Supplements — Take a high-quality multivitamin, mineral and other targeted supplements that support your health needs.
- Relax —Relax deeply every day to get your nervous system in a state of calm, rest, and relaxation Stress Tips Calm Your Mind Heal Your Body
By implementing these proactive measures, you can take significant strides toward reducing your toxic burden and safeguarding your health in an increasingly toxic world.
But how do you rid yourself from the buildup of garbage in your body and bring yourself back to homeostasis?
There are several methods we will break apart in future articles such as: fasting, glutathione supplementation (the body’s master antioxidant and essential for both detoxification pathways), liver and kidney support supplements and repairing the gut mucosal barrier and gut health.
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