DETOXING 101
Chances are, when you think of the word “detox” you think of drinking a tea or something that makes you want to poop non-stop. Yes, having a bowel movement is a form of detoxing, but you should be having those at least one time a day, and optimally two to three times a day. BM’s should be a normal part of your daily habits. Typically, detox programs will focus on the digestive system. Which is good, because most people only eat about 5% of the daily fiber that they are supposed to eat. And fiber is the food that allows your digestive system to eliminate the waste in the form of stools. We should be having at least 1 bowel movement a day, if not 2-3.
But I want to show you how important it is to detox your liver as well, since it is one of the hardest working organs in our bodies!
There are different thoughts on whether or not our bodies really need a detox. I believe our bodies do need detoxing from time to time, specifically our liver.
Our liver is considered a beast of a workhorse in our body’s function! It has more than a thousand known functions and is crucial to our metabolism. Our liver makes bile which helps us digest fats, metabolizes hormones, aids in digestion, stores fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), helps control blood sugar by storing glycogen and as well as converts sugars into glucose, and helps to metabolize protein.
This is all before it is bombarded with extra toxins from our environment like artificial pesticides, herbicides from our yards and foods, chemicals in our water supply, exhaust fumes, paint fumes, gasoline, laundry detergents, skin care products and pharmaceutical medications.
We are exposed to toxins every day and pretty much all day long - from the air we breathe to the foods we eat and the products we use on our bodies.
Your liver’s ability to detox is dependent on the heath of your body. If you are toxic, have poor genes, or are undernourished, your body cannot work optimally in order to detox. It take’s a lot of energy in order to detox, and if our bodies cannot get rid of the waste, it can get stored in the tissues of our body.
Elizabeth Lipski, PhD., CNS, FACN, IFMCP, says in her book on Digestive Wellness “Annually, we consume, on average, 6 to 9 pounds of food additives, including colorings, preservatives, flavorings, emulsifiers, humectants, and antimicrobials. More than 1 billion tons of pesticides are used in the United States every year.”
Scary thought, isn’t it? Our liver’s are working overtime to try to remove all the toxins to keep us healthy and we need to take care of it.
Signs you need to detox
How do you know if your liver isn’t functioning at it’s prime?
You may notice things such as:
nausea
bloating and gas
acid reflux
yellowish eyes or skin
dark urine
painful liver
itching skin
chronic fatigue
water retention
dark urine
frequent UTIs
inability to lose weight
anxiety
depression
moodiness
high blood pressure
acne rosacea
PMS
irritable
frustrated
uncontrolled/repressed anger
When you detox your body, you are able to allow your body to naturally restore itself. Detoxification, which is really just the body removing waste material, is essential for a healthy body. We can see this in how our bodies work when we sweat, sneeze, breathe, urinate and have bowel movements. Our bodies are getting rid of waste material through our skin, lungs, and digestive systems.
Ways you can detox your liver.
As always, please check in with your health practitioner before starting any type of diet!
Foods - Removing inflammatory foods, processed foods and sugar are the first steps towards aiding your liver to detox. Adding in nutrient dense foods like dark green veggies, dark berries, tart berries, and vegetables full of fiber will support your body as you detox.
Liquids - sipping organic bone broths, dandelion tea and lots of filtered water will provide hydration, nutrients and specific support to detox your liver. Dandelion is a diuretic that specifically aids the liver, colon and kidneys with detoxification. I love sipping organic dandelion tea and using organic bone broths when I make soups. Milk Thistle is not considered a detox herb but it can be taken as a liver protector and regenerator. Again, please check with your health practitioner before adding any new supplements to your diet, especially if you are taking medication.
Fiber - It is important to eat fiber-rich foods in order to have bowel movements. Your liver dumps it’s waste into the colon to be eliminated. If you are constipated for too long, your body can reabsorb the toxins. So consistent, daily bowel movements are essential for good health. It is important that you eat fiber-rich foods instead of relying on a laxative. Your body will become dependent on laxatives, which you don’t want. Be sure you are drinking enough water if you find yourself constipated. Also, listen to your body when it is trying to eliminate.
Protein - be sure to eat high quality protein. Grass-fed, grass finished meats, wild caught seafood, and organic or locally farmed eggs (not fed GMO corn, antibiotics etc) are great proteins to choose. These proteins help your liver function properly. You can also get good protein from organic legumes, beans, nuts and seeds.
Remove Toxic Products - Switching to products that are eco-friendly will help take a huge load off your liver and detox systems. You can decrease the toxins in your environment just by switching to toxin free, eco-friendly products for your laundry, cleaning supplies, personal care products, and even cosmetics.
Medications - are you taking too much Tylenol or Advil? Any drug you take will be processed by your liver. Check in with a Holistic Health Coach to see if you can cut down on any medication or use an alternative nutrition. Again, work with a knowledgeable practitioner and your doctor on this if you decide you want to cut out medications or use a more holistic approach to medication. Many times, just by providing your body with a whole food diet will allow your body to restore so that you can cut back on and even eliminate some medications. It is amazing what real foods can do!
In closing, it is important to remember that our liver affects our whole body. It is considered the “General” of our bodies as it interacts with so many systems. If it is working poorly, it will affect our whole body from lack of energy to the accumulation of toxins that can cause extensive damage to our health. Our goal should be to keep our liver healthy so that our bodies can use its own natural detoxification pathways to eliminate the toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis.
Waller, Pip (2018). Deeply Holistic: A Guide to Intuitive Self-Care. North Atlantic Books.
Lipski, Elizabeth, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP (2020). Digestive Wellness. McGraw Hill.
Groves, Maria Noël (2016). Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care. Storey.