Supporting Your Body's Natural Detox
Detoxing your body with teas and juices sounds really tempting, right? Or, maybe you think detoxing your body with products you see Instagram models using is best because they all have flat tummies and toned thighs. Well, guess what?! Your body has its own way of detoxing itself through your kidneys and liver! Detoxification is the process of removing harmful substances or toxins from the body. The detoxification process occurs under two major categories: endotoxins, which come from particles made in the body such as urea and waste products from bacteria in our guts, and exotoxins which enter the body by eating, drinking, absorbed by skin, or from simply breathing.
Detoxing can be very misunderstood, but now that you know your body has its own detoxification system. Below I want to show you 8 simple ways from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on how to support your body's natural detox:
Maintain adequate hydration with clean water. (Aim for 64-128 oz. a day)
Eat five to nine servings of fruit and vegetables per day. (Having a hard time getting in fruits and vegetables? A fruit/vegetable smoothie is a quick way to get in at least 2-3 servings of both.)
Consume enough fiber each day from vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
Eat cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, etc.), berries, artichokes, garlic, onions, leeks, and drink green tea. (These foods support detoxification pathways.)
Consume adequate protein, which is critical to maintaining optimum levels of glutathione, the body's master detoxification enzyme.
Consider taking a multivitamin to fill any gaps in a healthy diet, since certain vitamins and minerals enable the body's detoxification processes to function.
Eat naturally fermented foods such as kefir, yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut — or take a high-quality probiotic — to help the body manage toxins from microbes that live in the gut.
Maintain bowel regularity.
I will not lie and say I do all of these every single day. What I do know is that doing some or all of these can help initiate and aid in your body's natural detoxification process. If you are interested in a detoxification plan, it is so important for you to check with a registered dietitian nutritionist. Dietitians are very knowledgeable and highly trained in this area. In my opinion, dietitians understand the body's detox capabilities better than any other health professional. Dietitians can also help you evaluate the products or plans that are best for you. All in all, make sure you are eating a well-balanced diet full of whole foods and drinking lots of water, and your body will detox exactly as it needs too.
Reference: eatright.org
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