4 Practical Steps to Detoxify Your Life Every Day

By Melanie DesChatelets, BSc(h), ND • April 4th, 2011 • 15271 Views

This article is the second part of the detoxification series.  These are four practical steps one can take to live a more detoxified life!  To understand the definition of a toxin and how our body’s detoxification pathways work please read my previous article What are toxins and what does “Detox” really mean?.   

Step one: Decrease your toxic exposure

•  Eliminate toxic household cleaners and opt for healthier alternatives.  Check out these green cleaning recipes.

•  Eliminate toxic personal care products.  Consider what you are absorbing through your skin. Check out What are you soaking yourself in? What everybody should know about personal care products.

•  Canadians spend an average of 90% of their time indoors! Indoor air tends to be of poorer quality than outdoor air.  Weather permitting open a window even if it is only for 5-10 minutes.

•  Include plants that improve air quality such as:

Spider plants Chlorophytum comosum

  Boston fern Nephrolepsis exatata bostoniensis

  English ivy Hedera helix

Striped dracaena  Dracaema marginata

•  Consider investing in the air you breathe by purchasing one of the leading air purifiers such as the IQAir.

Step two: Heal your elimination organs

•  Take a quality broad spectrum probiotic to support gut health.

•  Ensure you are having quality daily bowel movements.  Increase your dietary fiber or consider adding fiber supplements to your diet. 

•  If you have chronic digestive concerns consider visiting a naturopathic physician to complete a strategic hypoallergenic diet and heal the your gut- it is imperative to deal with the cause and minimize systemic problems that could ensue.

Step three: Nourish your detoxification system

•  Drink plenty of fluids such as herbal teas, green tea and lemon water. 

•  Eat at least 8 servings of vegetables & fruits

•  Consume at least one serving of each grouping daily, they have specific compounds important in detoxification:

Brassica foods:  Arugula, bok choy, broccoflower, broccoli, broccoli sprouts, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, collard greens, radish, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga, turnips, watercress

Thiols foods:  Saikon radish, onion, garlic

Liver and kidney support:  Asparagus, beets, artichokes, celery, celery root

Detoxifying leafy greens:  Beet greens, bok choy, chard, cilantro, collard greens, dandelion greens, endive, escarole, parsley, radicchio

•   Increase blood flow and lymphatic circulation by:

Exercising

Participating in heat therapy such as infra...

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Location:  Vancouver, CA

Mélanie DesChâtelets, BSc(h), ND, is a licensed Naturopathic Physician committed to recognizing and attending to the fundamental antecedents of illness. Using the synergistic power of groundbreaking scientificevidence and long standing historical evidence in natural medicine, Mélanie strives to empower individuals to...