Supporting your body's natural detox pathways

In order to safely and effectively detoxify your body, it is necessary to optimise the functioning of your detox pathways. Our bodies have organs and systems that are designed to eliminate some of the toxins we encounter on a daily basis. When considering a detox plan, it is important to ensure these organs and systems are working effectively in order for your detox to be safe and successful. Unfortunately, lifestyle factors, pollution, diet and stress can all slow the efficacy of these systems making detoxification less effective. When we actively detox, stored toxins are mobilised and released in the body ready to be eliminated through the skin, liver, colon and lymphatic drainage system.

If these systems are not functioning optimally, they will not be able to eliminate the toxins effectively. The toxins will then remain in the body and get reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms such as brain fog, headache, sleep disturbances, eczema, body odour, diarrhoea, vomiting sneezing or coughing fits, frequent urination, sore throat, heartburn, nasal congestion or runny nose (from mucus overproduction).

What are your body’s detox pathways?

1. Skin

Small amounts of heavy metals and BPA from plastics can make their way into our sweat, because these pollutants dissolve more readily in water and therefore, to optimise the skin as a detox pathway it is important to sweat. Exercising for 30 minutes a day is a great way to elevate the heart rate, stimulate blood flow and break a sweat. Infrared saunas are also a great option here for releasing the skin of toxins and stimulating the lymphatic system. Although it is best to avoid toxic products all together, it can be difficult to know which products actually contain toxins. When purchasing cosmetics and deodorants, choose options that do not contain aluminium, parabens, propylene glycol, triclosan or phthalates in the ingredient list.

2. Liver

To help support the liver as a detox pathway, it is important to not over burden it so avoiding alcohol is necessary during this time. Eating a nutrient dense diet and eliminating processed foods will help support the liver in doing its job better.

Milk Thistle is a supplement that can help protect the liver against toxins like amatoxin (which is toxic to your gastrointestinal tract). Milk Thistle has shown to help improve liver function and reduce damage to the liver caused by free radicals so perhaps considering this supplementation would be beneficial.

Additionally, coffee enemas are a detox method which purge the liver of toxins relatively quickly. Coffee enemas can help eliminate parasites, improve the digestive systems and also boost energy and reduce brain fog.

If you experience digestive issues and acid reflux, you may also want to support the gallbladder. Ox Bile capsules can assist with the production of bile in the gallbladder which helps with the elimination of toxins out of the body.

3. Lymphatic system

The Lymphatic system is the body's drainage system. Stimulating the lymphatic system daily can help eliminate toxin build up and also help reduce instances of illness and disease in the body. Sipping water or tea throughout the day is recommended as it helps with lymphatic flushing.

Dry body brushing is one of the best ways to stimulate lymphatic drainage and remove toxins (read our dry body brushing blog).

Daily sweat sessions, whether it be through exercise, infrared sauna, rebounding or skipping, are all great ways to support this detox pathway.

A simple and gentle way to support the lymphatic system is to lay on the floor with your legs up the wall for 5 minutes to help drain the lymphatic flow from your legs.

Remove unsafe cookware and plastic containers from your kitchen. This includes Teflon pans, aluminium foil, and plastic containers, all of which can leech unwanted substances into your food. Try stainless steel cookware and glass storage options instead. Finally, avoid using harsh cleaning products in your home and switch to more natural cleaning products instead. Natural cleaning products and cleaning products without nasty chemicals are becoming more popular and readily available in supermarkets. Be sure to read the label.

4. Colon

Supporting your gut health is paramount to supporting your colon. Keeping hydrated throughout the day and consuming a fresh plant rich diet is key. Opting for a diet rich in foods like fermented veggies, bone broth, collagen, prebiotics and probiotics. Avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners which can make the digestive system sluggish and inflamed. Also, regular use of a gentle gravity colon hydrotherapy has been noted as an effective way to clear out built up faecal matter in your colon. It can help support the colon, digestive tract, eliminate bloating and clear up skin conditions.

5. Kidneys

Supporting the kidneys in preparation for detox is predominantly food focussed. Consuming a diet which is low in sodium and free from processed meats will greatly help the kidneys prepare for detox. Avoid cigarette smoke, vaping and diuretics such as caffeinated drinks. during this time. Additionally, drink plenty of clean filtered water to stay hydrated.

6. Lungs

Practice 5-10 minutes of daily breathwork. Follow a Wim Hoff breathwork lesson or David Palmen guided breath session from youtube. These are also great for a boost in energy for the day ahead.

It is important that the air you breathe into your body is clean which can be difficult with indoor air quality often being worse than outdoor air quality. Address indoor air pollution by purchasing air cleansing indoor plants such as Peace Lily or Bamboo Palm. Even purchasing an air purifier for your home or office can help remove toxins such as volatile organic compounds and mould spores from the air.

Bottom line

Avoiding toxins where you possibly can (cosmetics, kitchen cookware, plastics, smoke, alcohol, mould, processed foods) is the most important first step you can take to support the body’s detox pathways. It is very difficult to avoid all toxic exposure completely and thus staying hydrated with clean drinking water, nourishing yourself with nutritious plant rich foods and moving your body daily are very beneficial and tangible ways you can further help keep your body healthy and avoid being overburdened by toxins.