PREMIUM
Basic guidelines for detoxification
Foundational Health Series
Written by
Brian Leddy
Detoxification requires you to eliminate or reduce exterior stressors in your life. Stress comes in multiple forms:
- Mental / Emotional (Perceived) note: discussed in the "Relaxation & Recovery" section
- Biomechanical / Trauma (Physical) note: discussed in the "Alignment" section
- Chemical / Biochemical / Environmental
As it relates to emotional and environmental stress, it's easier said than done, but you should be continuously and actively ridding yourself of many toxic or inflammatory products and people.
Chemical / Biochemical / Environmental Detoxification
There's no such thing as being fully detoxified. Every food, breath of air, and cup of water that we drink has some tiny trace of toxicity. It's a fact of life. Our bodies are built to detoxify very efficiently, within limits. Our quest should be to mitigate prolonged toxic exposure. Key reasons for lowering toxicity and oxidative stress in the body include:
- Supporting organ function
- Boosting energy levels
- Supporting weight loss
- Improving digestion
- Enhancing mental clarity
- Supporting immune function
Strategies and Tactics to Consider
There are various tests available to measure oxidative stress in the body. Whether you test high or in the preferred range, the following tactics should be implemented to support your body's ability to detoxify.
- Creams and products: Assume any substance that touches your skin will penetrate and make its way into your bloodstream. Any skin care products, shampoos, household cleaners, laundry detergent, and creams that you rub on your body or hair, if toxic, will have to be addressed by your detoxifying organs, mainly your liver. Avoid toxic substances in general.
- ewg.org is a great resource for understanding the toxicity of a given product.
- Hydration: Drinking plenty of water, preferably filtered water, helps flush toxins out of the body through urine and sweat. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water a day, or more if you're physically active or in a hot climate. (refer to the Hydration section)
- Healthy diet: Stick to the recommendations listed in the above Diet & Nutrition section.
- Herbal teas: Certain herbal teas, such as dandelion root, ginger, turmeric, and green tea, have detoxifying properties and can support liver function and digestion.
- Regular exercise: Physical activity helps stimulate circulation, lymphatic drainage, and sweating, which are all important for eliminating toxins from the body. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise and/or sauna most days of the week.
- Infrared sauna (preferred) or steam room: Sweating is a natural way for the body to eliminate toxins. Spending time in a sauna or steam room can help promote sweating and detoxification through the skin. Two or more sessions per week of at least 30 minutes is preferred.
- Breathing exercises: deep breathing – or techniques such as yoga and meditation – can help reduce stress and support the body's natural detoxification processes.
- Limiting alcohol and caffeine: Alcohol and caffeine can tax the liver and interfere with detoxification processes. Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks, and opt for water or herbal teas.
- Use Non-Toxic Cookware: Non-toxic cookware is any cookware made without the use of nonstick coatings, like PFAS. This means any cookware that is made of stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel—essentially any cookware that doesn't have a coating—are the least toxic products available on the market
- Use Glass over Plastic for food and beverage storage: Glass containers offer a safer alternative. Glass is non-porous and doesn't release any harmful chemicals into your food. So, by switching to glass, you are adding a layer of safety to your and your family's meals and not worrying about potential health hazards associated with plastic containers
- Adequate sleep: Getting enough restful sleep is essential for overall health and detoxification. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support your body's natural repair and detox processes.
- Supplements: There are various supplements that can support your body in accelerating detoxification, further discussed in the Supplement section.
- Bath water: Ideally you bathe using filtered water. As mentioned in Hydration, tap water in many U.S. counties contains toxic levels of arsenic and certain metals. Your skin will absorb this in some capacity and these toxins will reach your bloodstream. While it may only be trace amounts, they still can be harmful and add stress to your detoxification system.
- EMF - Wi-Fi radiation is a stressor on the body. There's a lot of debate about the degree of its impact. BodyStack will continue to review the research on electric and magnetic fields.
- As a matter of caution, consider turning off your router at night to give your body some Wi-Fi EMF reprieve.
- While it's impossible to know how much EMF blockers can reduce harmful cell phone and WiFi radiation to your body, you may want to consider EMF blocker chips for your electronic devices.
Dental Considerations
- Consider getting any metallic fillings or caps replaced by a biological dentist
- Previous root canals have the capacity to cause significant health problems (due to risk of infection).
BodyStack will be inviting a biological dentist to contribute more information on this topic in the near future.
Foundational Health - Basic Guidelines Series:
