personal stories

Toxins and Detoxification

It is amazing how complex our bodies are. Most people (myself included) really fail to understand and fully appreciate the complexity of our bodies.

Our bodies are designed to naturally remove toxins in order to keep us healthy. The natural process of detoxification is remarkably complex, finely tuned and simply amazing. It is one of those things we don’t fully appreciate or respect until it is lacking.

Did you know “it is conservatively estimated that up to twenty-five percent of the U.S. population suffers from heavy metal poisoning to some extent“? (quote taken from the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine).

So how are we getting so much metal into our bodies?? The air we breathe contains lead (leaded gasoline contributes more than 600,000 tons of lead into the atmosphere that is inhaled or ingested), some dental fillings contain mercury, antacids and cookware contain aluminum and the list goes on.

Unfortunately it is virtually impossible to avoid toxins since they are in the air we breath, the food we eat and the utensils/ pots we use to cook. Toxins are also produced in our bodies as we break down foods and chemicals. They are also present in the intestines and stomach as we digest food.

People with liver or kidney problems are especially cautious to avoid toxins because their bodies often cannot remove the toxins effectively. For the rest of us it is important maintain our bodies natural ability to remove toxins. Our bodies remove toxins in a number of ways. The best-known ways are through bowel movements, urination and sweating.

So how can we keep our finely tuned natural detoxification system working?

  • Staying well hydrated will help your body eliminate water-soluble toxins via urine.
  • Getting plenty of fibers will allow your body to eliminate toxins through regular bowl movements.
  • Maintaining a well balanced diet and avoiding excessive toxins whenever possible will ensure our bodies do not become bogged down.

If you are looking for ways to aid in detoxification the following foods, herbs and vitamins are helpful: cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, curries, oranges, tangerines, Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, caraway seeds, dill seeds, vitamin E, calcium, garlic, legumes, onions, eggs, pears, oat bran, apples, artichokes, beets, carrots, dandelion, turmeric and cinnamon (just to list a few).

Take multi-vitamins, drink tons of water, eat healthy and stay active that is the easiest way to stay healthy. It is much easier to take a proactive stance regarding your health than to continue bad habits until problems arise. Often times when the problems do arise it is to late to go back.


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