Though our bodies are designed to naturally detoxify, with a few lifestyle changes, we can help aid the process, providing us with energy to spring into a new season. Remember, always check with your health care practitioner before trying a new supplement.
The liver
One of the largest organs in the body, the liver has more than 500 important metabolic functions, including helping with detoxification.
Detox helpers
Using alcohol responsibly is important as is maintaining a healthy weight. Both are linked to fatty liver disease. Liver cleansing can be supported by herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion root.
The kidneys and bladder
One of the most important functions of the kidneys is to filter and then secrete waste products through the bladder by way of urine. To do this our kidneys rely on adequate hydration, so drinking plenty of water is essential to kidney health.
Detox helpers
Being aware of risk factors for kidney disease is important. The leading cause is diabetes, so maintaining healthy weight and blood sugar levels is important. Herbal detox supporters include parsley, dandelion, and goldenrod.
The lungs
While our lungs breathe in life-giving oxygen, it also filters out the unwanted CO2 along with fumes, mold, allergens, and airborne toxins. Our lungs naturally detoxify when we breathe and exhale deeply.
Detox helpers
Prevention is an important start:
- quit smoking (and avoid second- and third-hand smoke)
- avoid artificial scents (air fresheners, candles, and many household cleaners)
- get outside in nature to breathe fresh air
Purify indoor air by changing the filters in your house’s ventilation and furnace systems and cleaning your vents.
The lymph system
Miles’ worth of lymphatic vessels run throughout our bodies, between our tissues, and around all our important structures. These vessels help to gather and remove cellular waste, keep fluid levels in check, and transport much-needed nutrients to their destinations.
Detox helpers
The lymphatic system relies on the pumping action of muscles and vessels nearby to help move the lymph along. It’s important to keep moving—staying physically active and maintaining muscle movement helps to move lymph efficiently.
Dry brushing is often recommended as a naturally relaxing way to stimulate movement in the lymphatic and circulatory systems. Lymphatic drainage massage can be used to push stagnant lymphatic fluid out of an area and ease the swelling.
The colon
Part of the body’s cleanup crew, the colon takes out water from the food we eat after it’s been partially digested in the small intestine. The colon then further breaks down the food in preparation for elimination.
Detox helpers
Following a healthy, fiber-rich diet with lots of raw vegetables and staying hydrated with plenty of fluids is a must for colon health.
Probiotics help to create a more diverse bacterial environment in the colon which helps to smooth out the final digestion processes. Probiotic-rich foods include yogurt, kimchi, kefir, and pickled vegetables, and natural health stores carry a wide variety of probiotic supplements.
