How to Support Your Detox System

Last Updated on April 27, 2022 by Colleen

If you were a food, would you be safe to eat? Or is your body home to toxic chemicals and metals?

Many people have symptoms like resistant weight gain, headaches, brain fog, skin issues, or constipation.

If you have these, you may not need a steroid or antibiotic – you may just not be detoxing properly. And Dr. Mark Hyman, FMD has some tips to help you out, as he explains in his latest podcast, “What to Eat and Do to Promote Detoxification.”

We all know that toxins can cause a myriad of long-term diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s. And symptoms like these can be the warning that your body is not keeping up with the amount of free radicals, heavy metals and other toxins you are exposed to each day.

DETOX 101: EVERYBODY SHOULD POOP!

The natural end result of a well-functioning detox system is . . . pooping! In fact, doctors say a healthy person should poop 1-3 times per day.

ARE YOU AT RISK?

With the amount of chemicals in our food and environment, Dr. Hyman recommends all of us need to make active, everyday choices to support our detox system.

But to be sure, some people are more at risk of disease due to toxic buildup than others. This is true in particular if have made lifestyle choices like

• painting or crafting,
• chemically treating your hair regularly,
• getting tattoos,
• eating conventionally grown food.
  
  Or you may have made career choices like
  
• agriculture,
• construction,
• painting, and
• significant air travel.

Even if you haven’t had many of those exposures, you still need to be detoxing. You are regularly exposed to toxins that can leave measurable amounts of chemicals like flame retardants and other chemicals in your body, like

• mattresses,
• couches,
• rugs, and
• off-gassing glues and materials in your car.

SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A DETOX PROTOCOL?

There are so many people and companies selling “detox” protocols these days. And, to be sure, there are times in your life when you may want to consider these detox protocols. Consider working with an integrative medical professional to tailor one for you as opposed to buying one that comes across your Facebook feed. A detox protocol may be particularly helpful for certain people or after certain acute exposures.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TO DETOXING?

But the first step in detoxing is to remove sources of the contamination as best you can, for example, moving away from toxic mold or farms that use pesticides. And all of us benefit from  switching to safer versions of household cleaners and lawn and garden care.

HOW CAN FOOD CHOICES HELP YOU DETOX?

After you have removed the source (if possible), your next focus should be to support your natural detox system so it is working at top levels through what you eat and drink every day. In fact, you may have noticed that one of the most common aspects of any diet is drinking a significant amount of water.

What foods and nutrients should you be eating regularly? Here are Dr. Hyman’s recommendations. Be sure to choose organic foods whenever possible. You also may want to avoid foods that are known to have problems with fungus and mold, like peanuts and legumes, if you have symptoms. (Note: We test ZEGO’s Double Protein Oats for mycotoxins and they have no measurable amount!)

• Fiber (generally)
• Protein
• Phytonutrients in vegetables and fruit
• Cruciferous vegetables
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Arugula
• Alliums
  • Garlic
  • Onion

And, he recommends sweating. It’s yet another great way to detox.

WHAT ABOUT SUPPLEMENTS?

Once you remove as much of the source of your toxic exposures as possible and start adopting , your health care professional (particularly functional medicine and naturopathic doctors) can help you with testing and specific supplement that, for example, promote glutathione.

Here’s to your health!