What are toxins?
Toxins include everything that our bodies don’t need that can be harmful if accumulated. They are actually made by the body through metabolism: lactic acid, urea or other waste products. They also come from outside the body and can include pesticides, mercury, lead, pollution, chemicals in tobacco, drugs, or alcohol. Toxins can accumulate in our bodies in fat, muscle, and bones.
How does our body naturally detox?
Our bodies are constantly detoxing naturally. It is the process by which these toxins are removed from our bodies through urine, feces, breathing, or sweating. Our ability to detox is greatly influenced by our environment, diet, lifestyle, health, and genes.
What happens when we eat more processed foods?
Pills can’t compete with Mother Nature
We often look to supplements to help our bodies detox. The truth is that individual nutrient supplements are not as effective as whole food nutrients! This means that we get much more benefit from the nutrients in whole foods as the vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals all work together to help our bodies detox!
Whole Foods’ Power is somewhat of a mystery
- We know that compounds found in natural foods make us healthier.
- More than twenty-five thousand phytonutrients are found in whole foods from plants.
- Did you know that one apple contains more than ten thousand nutrients?
- Nutrients work together to help decrease chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and chronic disease.
- An example of phytonutrient power: The phytonutrients in berries and other deep red, blue and purple foods are powerful! The anthocyanins have been shown to help keep blood sugar levels lower. They do this by slowing down or inhibiting an enzyme that breaks down sugar. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16498205
Whole Foods’ Benefits
- They help our metabolisms
- Whole foods improve our immune system
- They contain phytonutrients
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve brain function
- Lower blood pressure
Ways to boost your bodies ability to detox
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Eat less processed food.
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Eat more fresh produce.
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Stay hydrated! Use mostly water, but also consider including green tea.
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Consume lots of fiber to help maintain bowel regularity.
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Include cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, artichokes, garlic, onion.
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Limit amounts of refined sugars, flours, and other preservatives.
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Consume adequate amount of lean protein. This helps promote optimum levels of glutathione, the body’s master detox enzyme.
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Use herbs and spices when cooking, especially turmeric, oregano, and cinnamon.
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Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement to fill any gaps.
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Eat naturally fermented foods regularly to promote gut health like yogurt.
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Again—EAT LOTS of FRUITS and VEGGIES! Choose organic when possible and especially with “the Dirty Dozen”
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Reduce exposure to toxins:
- Use glass or stainless steel instead of plastic
- Minimize cleaning products
- Use dryer balls instead of sheets
- Don’t buy shampoo, conditioner or lotions with parabens or sulfates
- Limit use of hand soap with the ingredient “triclosan”
- Use sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide NOT oxybenzone
- Limit pesticides at home and also in your produce
Helping our body’s ability to naturally detox takes a little bit of work, but most of us can at least choose 1 or 2 of the ideas above to help us get started. One small change at a time can make a big difference in your bodies ability to function optimally. You don’t need fancy detox drinks or pills! There are so many great ways to help your body’s own detox process!
Although pills can’t compete with mother nature, sometimes it is nice to have a little extra help. Pure Encapsulations makes a Pure Detox packet for every day assurance that you are doing everything you can to help your body’s natural detox systems! https://www.purecapspro.com/nourishednutrition/pe/products/product_details.asp?ProductsID=1786
