5 Ways to Naturally Detox by Dr. Ishani Patel
There are many approaches used in detoxification, but let me bust a myth for you. Detox does not have to be hard. You don’t have to take a bunch of supplements, be on a juice cleanse, or do cold plunges.
How do you know if you need to detox? You may be experiencing;
- Acne
- Fatigue
- Eczema
- Food sensitivities
- Brain fog
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Digestive issues
It can be easy to do with these 5 steps;
- High fibre diet: Eating a high fibre diet, with whole grains, vegetables, and fruit will help support your digestive health and reduce the toxin load in the body. Fibre specifically helps bind to toxins and eliminate them from the body, which reduces our toxin load. We also need to pay attention to removing foods that can affect our body’s ability to detoxify, such as processed/refined foods, alcohol, and caffeine. These foods make it hard for our body’s detoxification pathways (ex. liver) to eliminate toxins and chemicals from the body. Start off by focussing on foods that you should be eating; nutrient dense whole foods, fibre rich foods, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
- Regular bowel movements: Our bowel movements are a major route of toxin elimination. Our body eliminates toxins, chemicals, and waste products through our stools, which not only supports our digestive health, but many other parts of the body. When we are not regularly passing stools, these harmful toxins are sitting in our large intestines, which increases the likelihood of reabsorption. If toxins are reabsorbed, it can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, increase toxin load in the body, and affect organ functioning. Lifestyle factors that can affect stool regularity can include a low-fibre diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress/anxiety, inadequate water intake, and a poor sleep quality. One way to add fibre and support regular bowel moements is through ground flax seeds; Try consuming 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds with a sufficient amount of water.
- Movement: When we exercise, we quickly notice an increase in our breathing and heart rate, which helps promote blood and lymphatic circulation, as well as sweating. As blood and lymph are moving through our vessels quicker, our body is able to move the waste products and toxins out of our body more effectively. Did you also know that exercise increases glutathione activity, which is a key factor in our detoxification process. As a bonus, if you walk outside it provides a great source of oxygen to our cells and support lung health; our lungs are also involved in detoxification, so don’t forget to support our lungs.
- Adequate hydration: Keeping up with your hydration everyday is crucial in supporting natural detoxification pathways through your kidney and bowels. The kidneys help remove toxins in the blood, as well balance mineral and electrolyte levels. Your bowels help ensure you are eliminating waste and toxins regularly. Generally, adults are recommended to drink 2-3 L/day. If you are having trouble keeping up with your water intake, use a measurable water bottle to help you keep track, or try adding lemon or basil to your water to make it more enjoyable!
- Supplements: Supplements can be great, but they will never replace a bad lifestyle. If you are considering supplements, it is important to utilize them under the supervision of a health care provider to ensure they are safe for you to take. There are many supplements that can help support the natural detoxification process, as well as support all of the organs involved in detoxification (skin, lungs, digestive tract, kidneys, and liver). Some supplements that I have utilized in my clinical practice have been N-acetylcysteine, Glutathione, B Vitamins, and Vitamin C. In the day and age we live in, our detoxification processes may need a bit of help. Start off by listenening to your body, getting advice from a health care practionner, and picking options that work the best for you.
Dr. Ishani Patel is a board certified Naturopathic Doctor who has a clinical focus in women’s health, hormones, digestive health, and autoimmunity. She is dedicated to helping her patients determine the root cause of their health concerns, help them find balance in their life, prevent disease or a worsening of their health conditions, and help them live their optimal state of health.
You can connect with Dr. Patel through her website drishanipatelnd.com, by email at ishanipatelnd@gmail.com, or reaching out to her on Instagram @drishanipatel.nd.
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