These days, "detox" related products are everywhere, such as charcoal water, detox foot pads, and detox shampoos. People spend lots of money to participate in this detoxing trend. Such products are the byproduct of diet detox and cleansing programs, a standard practice among those seeking to live healthier.
People love these programs. Diet detoxes and cleanses are a fantastic way to reset healthy eating habits and cut back on sugar. But when it comes to detoxing, are these programs getting the job done?
They're hailed as methods that help your body's natural detox pathways work better. However, they don't address the toxins that we expose ourselves to, which is what we're trying to "detox" from to begin with.
We aren't saying that diet cleanses and detoxes are pointless, it's just that to "detox," we must also deal with the exposures we're getting.
Three ways to detox more powerfully:
When we reduce our exposure to toxins, their levels in our bodies decrease.
1 GO ORGANIC.
A study published in the journal Environmental Research in 2014 found that adults who consumed a mostly organic diet were able to reduce the metabolites of a particular class of pesticides by 90% in one week.
Another study in 2008 found similar results in children. After five days of eating mostly organic food, the metabolite levels of some pesticides were negligible.
2 LOOK AT YOUR SKINCARE
Did you know that by switching to safer products, you're also making an immediate impact on your levels of harmful chemicals in your body?
In 2016, a study by the Environmental Health Laboratory of the California Department of Public Health found that when teen girls swapped their personal care products with ones that didn't have hormone-disrupting chemicals, the levels of those chemicals in their urine declined by 27-44% in only three days.
3 AVOIDANCE
An expert in the field of environmental medicine, Dr. Walter Crinnion, outlines five essential steps to dealing with toxins:
- Avoidance
- Avoidance
- Avoidance
- Supplement
- Detox
Avoidance is our best chance at eliminating high levels of toxins in our bodies. When we combine avoidance with detox-boosting foods and functions, that's when we're detoxing in the real sense!
Four simple ways to improve your body's ability to detox
1 EAT FIBER-RICH FOODS
Poop is one of our primary means to detox because it's our body's version of taking out the trash. Consuming foods rich in fiber helps to remove that waste from our bodies.
2 DRINK MORE WATER
Water helps our kidneys to filter minerals and fluid in our bodies. Without adequate hydration, the kidneys do much more work to carry out their roles, which include flushing toxins out through our urine.
3 SWEAT
Many people think that sweat contains water and minerals only. However, our bodies remove many toxins through sweat, including heavy metals. Allow your body to sweat, ditch the antiperspirants.
4 EAT MORE SULFUR-RICH CRUCIFEROUS VEGGIES
These include Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and kale. They're not only great sources of fiber but can also help support your liver in breaking down and eliminating waste.
Three ways to reduce exposure
1 AVOID PLASTIC
All kinds of plastics release chemicals that mimic our body's hormones. When our hormones go out of balance, this can lead to numerous health issues. Since it's not possible to eliminate all plastic, aim for those that are in direct contact with your food. Use glass and stainless steel containers to store your food.
2 SAFER SKINCARE
You're reading this on the Sole Toscana blog, so you're already ahead of the curve! But ensure your safer skincare purchases cover all your personal care and beauty products-nail polishes, deodorants, shampoos, shaving creams, etc. Look for safety certification labels to be sure you're using safe, toxin-free products.
3 DITCH THE SCENTS
Are you a fan of air fresheners, plug-ins, scented candles, or incense? These synthetic fragrances contain hormone-mimicking chemicals that can harm your body in the same ways plastics do. Go fragrance-free, or use high-quality, plant-based essential oils.
Conclusion
"Detoxing" shouldn't be something we do a few times a year for a week. Instead, we should do it every day by reducing our exposure and supporting our body's natural detox pathways.
With love,
The Sole Toscana Beauty Team
