For those of you that are using all the Clorox, Lysol and Fabuloso right now because you are trying to keep your areas virus free, here are some tips for you to detox!
We are exposed to a variety of toxic substances in the air, in our water and food and even in our homes. Think about the herbicides sprayed on our lawns and flower beds to keep weeds out, insecticides sprayed in and around our homes to keep bugs away, laundry detergents and even the shampoos and body washes we use that are full of artificial fragrances and other chemicals. Household cleaning products such as Clorox, Lysol and many more are full of chemicals that interact negatively with our bodies systems. Medications and our water supply also carry toxins.
Our liver is the primary organ that detoxifies our bodies by converting toxic substances into nontoxic by-products and eliminating them through the kidney and intestines (which also do some work to detox our bodies, as well). Our liver also metabolizes compounds such as sugar, vitamin D, iron, cholesterol, fats, hormones and much more. It works to shuffle things from storing to actively using and breaking them down. When you have a buildup of toxins and non-toxins trying to be processed by the body, the toxins can cause a lot of damage to your body.
Here are some ways you can detox your body and support your liver for better health. Unclogging your liver may also help you lose weight, since your liver metabolizes fats and hormones as well as a host of other compounds!
Eat lots of cruciferous vegetables. These are vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, bok choy, brussel sprouts, garden cress and similar green leaf vegetables.
Limit alcohol. The liver detoxifies the blood from drugs and alcohol.
Limit acetaminophen. This OTC drug causes many cases of toxicity every year in the US.
Limit stress or practice some de-stressing techniques. Stress makes your body produce extra hormones, which can damage the body over time. If you feel like you just need a good cry, go ahead! This is another way our bodies eliminate extra hormones, otherwise the liver must metabolize them.
Try to choose as much organic food products as you can when shopping.
Eat a diet that supports your live such as organic fresh veggies (lots of cruciferous veggies), beans, legumes, drink lots of water, reduce your sugar or eliminate it, use healthy oils like olive oil, walnut, avocado oil or flaxseed oil.
Watch your caffeine intake. Your liver not only has to metabolic this, but the caffeine also mimics the adrenal system and can cause high levels of stress hormones to enter the bloodstream. Which the liver must metabolize.
Add dandelion leaves to your salad or try it as an herbal tea. Caution: dandelion leaf is a diuretic and it can interact with medications that interact with diuretics. Dandelion works to pull toxins from storage in fat cells. You may experience skin issues, headache, fatigue, brain fog as your liver pulls toxins from storage and releases them into the bloodstream to be eliminated.
Add Tumeric and Milk Thistle - these foods work as a liver protector. Tumeric stimulates liver detoxification and while healing and protecting the liver. Milk Thistle works as a liver regenerator as well as protecting the liver from being damaged by toxins.
Switch to green products for your laundry detergent, household cleaners, personal care products and cosmetics. This will help reduce the toxins that are directly absorbed by your body because they come in contact with your skin (your body’s largest organ).
I have been using toxin-free (green products) for a number of years now and find they work just as well as the other products. Message me if you’d like to know my favorite products that I use.
As always, send me a message if you have any questions!
The Disease Delusion by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland, Deeply Holistic by Pip Waller, Body into Balance by Maria Noël Groves