The Skinny on Detoxification

There are toxins all around us, and there are toxins in us. The pesticides and cleaning products we use, the paint on our walls, the building equipment we use, the alcohol we consume and dirty air we breathe are all causing toxins to build up in our bodies.

The good news is our bodies are equipped for fighting toxins, and a lot of toxins are no match against our insides. The kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract work hard to abolish toxins after consumption and inhalation.

The master cleanse diet

As far as the detoxifying our bodies, the jury is still out. Some doctors do not believe detoxification diets do much good, while others highly defend their detoxification diets and make their cleansings a yearly or seasonal ritual.

Exercise

As society is evolving, the jobs that most people carry are also evolving. Far fewer people exercise manual labor in the workplace than in previous eras. Most office jobs force people to sit at a desk all day, sometimes further subjecting employees to toxins. With the change in occupations, exercise is now contingent on the amount of time we have outside of work, socializing, personal errands and relaxation.

Exercises that engage the whole body work to release and reduce toxins. People who swim, dance, run, walk or practice yoga use their whole bodies for exercise, meanwhile expelling some toxins.

Swimming is a beneficial exercise that works major muscle groups and increases cardiovascular health, but shared pools can possibly host bacteria and toxins as well, and chlorine is hardly what we’d call all-natural.

While sweating won’t release toxins such as metal from our bodies, sweat does have trace amounts of toxins, and every little bit helps.

Diet

Detoxification diets such as master cleanse, also called “The Lemonade Diet,” can be strict and potentially harmful to your body. If you’re young and healthy, your body will most likely be fine with this diet of water, syrup, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Many people swear by these detoxification diets, yet scientific evidence seems to be lacking.

Other detox diets use diuretics and herbal supplements to rid the body of toxins, although the evidence here is also inconclusive. A New York Times article from January 2009 examines the positives and negatives surrounding many detoxification diets. The article quotes Dr. Ronald Stram, the founder and Director of Delmar, NY’s Center for Integrative Health and Healing: “People are getting their info from the massage therapist or the clerk at the health food store who may not know the potential risks.” Dr. Stram tells the Times that he believes diets consisting of whole foods to be more effective than juice-only diets and fasting. However, the reporter also interviewed people who have actually gone on juice-only diets for detoxification that are very happy with their results.

If you’re interested in a detox diet, it would be wise to consult your doctor and hear what he or she has to say before starting. Doctors can recommend modifications, making your detox journey safer.

Small steps

Simple things you can do to release the toxins in your body include exercising regularly, staying hydrated and improving the air in your home. Cutting out alcohol, eating more vegetables and fruits, drinking water and eating adequate amounts of fiber can also help keep your body cleansed and decrease the toxins in your body.