Live Well

Do These 10 Things to Naturally Detox Your Body

January 5, 2023

Have you changed your diet, added more exercise to your routine, improved your sleep hygiene, and yet still feel lousy? There may be an unseen culprit: Toxins. These invisible chemicals bombard us from every angle – from the water we drink and bathe with to the air particles we breathe. They leech into our bodies from personal care products, cookware, plastics, and even the food we eat! They are, simply put, unavoidable.

Our bodies were not designed to cope with the high amounts of chemicals we are exposed to daily. Unfortunately, long-term exposure to toxins increases our susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. In fact, toxins are often the root cause of common heart conditions such as AFib, high blood pressure, and heart failure.

You must detox your body naturally to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease or reverse your current health ailments. There are many natural detox strategies, and we share ten of our favorites today.

Are our bodies smart enough to detox naturally?

At any given moment, our bodies are naturally detoxifying in an ongoing process that keeps us alive. While sleeping at night, exercising, and even when reading a book, our bodies are constantly “cleaning house.” Natural detoxification occurs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Various organs, including the liver, kidneys, digestive system, lungs, lymphatics, and skin, manage this highly efficient process.

However, despite our bodies being incredible machines, most can’t keep up with the inundation of toxins in our world today. Overloaded with chemicals, the work becomes too great for the liver and supporting organs. Much like a sewer system, the toxins get backed up, clogging up the body and impacting all bodily functions. The buildup of chemicals in the body is called toxic load or burden.

When the toxic burden becomes too heavy, symptoms begin to appear. Instead of one big event, illness is most often the result of many years of accumulated stress and toxic exposures.

How do I know if I need to detox?

No one is immune from the chemicals that surround us. Even those who live a very healthy lifestyle are subject to the toxic impact of life. Therefore, everyone in today’s world would benefit from following a natural detoxification plan.

However, each of us is biochemically and genetically unique. Some can efficiently rid their bodies of toxins and waste, but others have more difficulty.

Some signs that your toxic bathtub is quite full may include:

Low energy
Headaches or brain fog
Poor sleep
Excess weight
Digestive system feels “off”
Achy joints
Bloating
Nasal congestion
Bad breath or body odor
Sugar cravings
Rashes or skin disorders
Anxiety or depression
Hair loss
Food allergies

Benefits of detoxing for the heart

Detoxification doesn’t magically cure disease. Instead, it optimizes the body’s ability to perform the natural functions required to achieve and maintain health. Essentially, detoxification lightens the body’s workload, lowering our susceptibility to illness and keeping unwanted diseases at bay.

When the body is congested with toxins such as pesticides, heavy metals, molds, plastics, and other chemicals, it directly impacts the heart. For example, studies have found a link between environmental pollution and the development of atherosclerosis. Further research concludes that exposure to heavy metals increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Detoxification cleanses the body of unnatural substances, thus lowering the amount of inflammation in the system. As a result, the heart can function at maximum capacity by removing harmful chemicals from the body.

10 ways to naturally detoxify the body

There are many natural strategies to remove toxins from the body. These are ten of the most effective ways to get and stay clean.

Drink high-quality water to stay hydrated

Water is the most natural detoxifying agent available to humans. It flushes the liver and kidneys, keeps the intestines smooth and flexible, and helps move food and toxins through the body. Without enough water, the body has difficulty moving waste from cells and the colon out of the body. Water also transports waste products through breathing, sweating, and urination.

While hydration may be the most critical tool for detoxification, it is only effective if you drink high-quality water. After all, what good is it to reach your daily water goals if you are pouring additional chemicals into your body? Drinking only pure, high-quality water free from environmental and chemical toxins is the key to healthy detoxification.

The best way to check your hydration status is to evaluate your urine color. When adequately hydrated, urine is pale yellow with a barely noticeable odor. If your urine is dark or smells strong, you are likely dehydrated. Though water consumption will vary depending on the person and the activity, aim to drink about a gallon of filtered water daily.

Keep in mind that you can also eat some of your water. Many vegetables and fruits are high in water content with the added bonus of nutrition. In fact, cucumbers, zucchinis, tomatoes, and watermelon are all over 90 percent water.

Get a high-quality water filtration system here.

Eliminate sugars, artificial sweeteners, and processed foods from your diet

Many toxins enter our bodies through the food that we eat. Non-organic food is loaded with pesticides and other chemicals that wreak havoc on our health. In addition, diets high in sugar, processed foods, preservatives, and pesticides put tremendous strain on the liver, making it work harder to remove the toxins.

While one would think that fatty foods increase the liver’s workload, studies have found that excessive carbohydrates are the real problem. For example, researchers in this study found that after eating high levels of simple sugars for three weeks, the subject’s weight increased by 2 percent, but their liver fat skyrocketed by 27 percent.

Unfortunately, most Americans consume vast amounts of sugar that the body cannot metabolize, resulting in toxin buildup throughout the body, including the cardiovascular system. So stay away from added sugars and watch your consumption of natural sugar.

Moreover, foods that come in cans, jars, bags, or boxes are generally best to avoid. The longer the food shelf life, the more it can harm your health. In addition, packaged foods often contain GMOs, trans fats, added sugars, and chemicals that negatively impact your body.

Focus on eating an organic, fiber-filled diet

Organic, whole, nutrient-dense food helps the body to push out toxins. Therefore, consume only an organic, locally sourced diet rich in vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds stimulate the digestive tract, helping to eliminate toxic waste.

Keep in mind that liver detox pathways also require protein, so eating pasture-raised poultry and eggs, grass-fed beef, and wild-caught seafood is essential for detoxifying the liver.

Moreover, many of these high-protein foods are high in omega-3s. Omega-3s have a powerful effect in preventing liver inflammation. Multiple studies have found omega-3s, such as those in fatty fish, to aid liver health.

Purchase quality, grass-finished meat here. Check out Lummi Island Wild for the best wild-caught seafood.

Other foods that help natural detoxification include:

Fiber-rich foods that naturally bind and remove toxins and keep the gut moving
Pre and probiotic foods that help maintain a healthy microbiome
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts
Pungent foods such as mint, ginger, horseradish, dandelion, and chamomile
High-antioxidant foods combat the damage caused by toxins. Asparagus, cilantro, and beets are all excellent foods that help the detoxification process. Additionally, sulfur-rich foods like broccoli, eggs, and garlic help enhance the function of antioxidants in the body.

Sweat, sweat, and sweat some more

Many people are surprised to learn that skin is the largest organ in the human body. Toxins are often stored in the excess fat tissue that lies just below our skin. When we perspire, chemicals stored in our body are excreted out of the body through our pores via sweat. Sweating purges excess salts and other nasty poisons from the body.

Infrared saunas are an excellent option for therapeutic detoxification. The more you safely sweat by heating your core, the more toxins you expel. Moreover, studies have found sauna therapy improves exercise tolerance and is associated with improvement in endothelial function in patients with chronic heart failure.

Sunlighten Sauna is one of our favorite infrared sauna brands. Purchase yours here.

If you don’t have access to an infrared sauna, don’t sweat it (pun intended!). Exercise is another way to support the liver through perspiration. Elevating your body temperature through working out achieves multiple goals.

Finally, detoxification baths are another great way to detoxify naturally through sweat. Soak in a hot bathtub for 30-40 minutes or to tolerance. Consider adding Epsom salt, which is loaded with magnesium, or essential oils to your bath for added benefit.

Get the sleep your body needs

We all know that sleep is essential for health, but did you know that the brain literally flushes out toxins during sleep? Studies show that the space between brain cells increases during sleep. So during sleep, the brain flushes out toxins that build up during waking hours.

While we are sleeping, our liver works hard on the detoxification process. Like the rest of the body, the liver also follows a circadian rhythm. Studies have linked sleep disturbances to an exacerbation of liver disease. Without sleep, the liver can’t perform adequate detoxification.

There is also a strong connection between ongoing sleep deficiency and an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Getting proper rest is essential to maintain proper body function. Aim for nightly 7-9 hours of sleep to give your system a chance to detox naturally.

Visit our Sleep page for more information on sleep and detoxification.

Get moving

Exercise is an excellent way to naturally massage the lymphatic system, which is the body’s built-in sanitation center. The lymphatic system assists in detox by filtering out waste products from cells, tissues, and organs. Unlike the heart, which has a pump, the lymphatic system requires movement or massage to keep the fluids flowing. Exercise boosts lymph flow, which is essential for transporting toxins out of the body.

Exercise also increases blood circulation, bringing more oxygen to the cells while removing waste. Additionally, the lungs help detoxify the body with every breath by removing carbon dioxide. Therefore, the more you exercise, the more waste is removed.

See a chiropractor regularly

Toxins have a sneaky way of storing themselves in the body. One common storage place is in the joints, such as the spine. If the spine is misaligned, toxins have difficulty exiting the body. A trained chiropractor can help the body restore alignment in the spine, thus opening the natural detoxification pathways.

To learn more about the benefits of chiropractic care, check out our Chiropractic page.

Replace that second (or third) cup of coffee with green tea

Coffee has some excellent heart-health benefits, but too much can send your body into a state of over-stimulation. So instead of reaching for another cup of joe, try switching to green tea.

Green tea is packed with polyphenols that are incredibly helpful for cleansing the body. Polyphenols assist the body’s natural detox pathways by supporting the liver and fighting free radicals.

Moreover, green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine in green teas boosts the body’s glutathione levels. As one of the essential antioxidant molecules, glutathione helps naturally detoxify the body.

If you choose to enjoy coffee, always choose a high-quality, organic brand such as Cardiology Coffe. Purchase it here.

Fast for one or two days

Giving our internal organs time to rest and rejuvenate is incredibly healing for the body. Studies have found that fasting increases the upregulation of several key detox enzymes. Fasting also helps to limit unpleasant side effects that sometimes come with detoxifying. When a body is fasting, it does not have its usual access to glucose. As a result, it burns fat for fuel. This process, also called ketosis, releases toxins stored in fat cells.

There are various ways to fast, and the best approach depends on your toxin level. Fasting daily every two months is an excellent way to help the digestive system relax and purge toxins. Instead, replace food during this time with an organic green drink.

Use natural methods to take care of yourself whenever possible

The world that we live in is incredibly toxic. While we can’t eliminate toxins entirely, we can help the liver by reducing exposure whenever possible. By avoiding certain products and chemicals, we can help reduce the burden on the liver.

Your goal should always be to use natural methods to look after your body. In certain life-saving instances, medication may be necessary. However, it should never be your first choice. Toxins and poor nutrition cause disease, so eating the right foods and avoiding chemicals should be your first defense against illness.

Take a good look at the products you use in your daily care routines, such as shampoo, lotions, and soap. Many of these products contain harmful chemicals that absorb through the skin and scalp and make their way to the liver. Additionally, consider the products used around your home, such as candles, cleaning supplies, and homeware. Wherever possible, remove unhealthy toxins from your life.

Next steps: finding the starting point

Not a single person in the world wouldn’t benefit from a cleansing. However, since some individuals have more robust health than others, we all have different starting points.

Testing is the only accurate way to know how heavy your toxic load is. The Triple Toxin Test offers the most comprehensive testing regarding toxins, analyzing 31 mold mycotoxins, 30 environmental toxins, and over 20 heavy metals.

Individuals with high amounts of toxins may benefit from following a CellCore Foundational Protocol. This protocol helps individuals move through detox with more ease, energy, and clarity.

No matter how well you take care of yourself, you will still feel sluggish if chemicals live in your organs, tissues, and cells. So now is the time to detox and live your best life.

Eat well, Live well, Think well

Medical Review: Dr. Lauren Lattanza 2023