Looking to Give Your Body a Reset? A Cleanse Can Help
Detoxification and cleansing are used to stimulate and support the body’s means of processing and eliminating hormones, chemicals, and other substances that we are exposed to on a daily basis. A poor ability to detoxify may contribute to illnesses like allergies, chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue; digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease; hormonal issues such as PMS and menopausal symptoms; or skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
And it’s not a question as to whether you’ve been exposed to toxins – the question is whether or not these exposures are significantly impacting your health. So how does your body clean up itself from this mess?
The body removes toxins (and other naturally occurring metabolic wastes) primarily via the liver in a process known as metabolic detoxification. For the liver and intestines to carry out this important activity, they require both energy (i.e. calories) and as well as specific nutrients (things like amino acids, vitamin C, B-vitamins, magnesium, copper, zinc and others). If you want to nerd out on the details of this process, you can find a detailed explanation in the first link listed under “Resources” at the end of this post. Before any of that can happen though, the toxins stored in body fat need to be released into the blood for filtering. Additionally, after the liver has done all that work, the bowels and kidneys need to be able to efficiently excrete these waste products so that they don’t get reabsorbed (though the lungs and skin also play a minor role in this through respiration and perspiration).
Whew, sound like a lot? Don’t worry! There are a wide range of options to support you with this. One of the easiest ways though is through the use of a detox formula, which can help support the detoxification process to help clear toxins from the body, support energy levels, and set the foundation for overall wellness. It’s worth noting that a cleanse can sometimes place additional stress on the body, so if you have any questions or concerns about your personal ability to tolerate this, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider beforehand. We do offer pre-made kits with detailed guidelines that allow you to take home and start right away, or you can consider a more tailored approach by meeting with one of our doctors.
If you’re just looking to decrease your toxin exposure and not quite ready for a cleanse at the moment, the Environmental Working Group offers some great resources for reducing your exposure pesticides and other toxins. Reviewing their lists of the Dirty Dozen (foods that contain the most pesticides, and should only be eaten organic) and Clean 15 (foods that contain minimal pesticides even when grown conventionally) is a great place to start, but they also have additional information on things like safe sunscreens, beauty products, water filters, and lots more! Check out the second link at the bottom to learn more.
And if you’re looking for support in implementing a cleanse or other natural ways of supporting your health, our Naturopathic Doctors are here to help! Our team of licensed primary care providers offer holistic solutions to your healthcare needs, and you can call us today at (707) 840-0556 or visit us at https://www.ncnatmed.com/ for more information.
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