The word “detox” is literally every where you turn in the health world. Detox Teas. Detox Supplements. Detox Shakes. Detox. Detox. Detox. I’d say it’s easily the most trendy buzz word in the health world right now. And, quite frankly, it’s frustrating, confusing, and many of these detox products are gimmicks. So, in today’s post, I’m going to clear up the confusion on how to detoxify (cleanse) your body properly without spending money on gimmicks plus I’m going to share 7 Warning Signs that your Body Needs to Detox due to toxic overload.
It’s true. The world we live in is getting more and more toxic. And, honestly, the question isn’t if you should do a detox; it’s when.
When it comes to toxins, we come into contact with them every single day. Just to give you an idea, I’ve listed some of the common ways we come into contact with toxins on a daily basis:
- Toxic Pesticides and Herbicides in/on our foods
- Highly Processed foods such as high fructose corn syrup, which can lead to a non-alcoholic fatty liver
- Artificial Sweeteners, such as Splenda, Sweet ‘n Low and Equal, which have been linked to Type 2 Diabetes.
- Partially Hydrogenated Oil, found in lots of pre-packaged foods, boost bad cholesterol, are difficult for the body to process, and are known agents of heart disease, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and cellular deterioration.
- Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) are food additives that have been associated with liver and kidney damage, hair loss, cancer, and growth retardation.
- Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite are additives found in processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, sandwich meat, etc. and have been linked to colon cancer. **Always look for nitrate and nitrite free when buying these meats.
- Endocrine-Disrupting Phthalates found in personal care products (i.e. skincare, body lotion, etc.) can lead to hormone imbalances.
- Fragrances laced with chemicals, such as Benzaldehyde, Camphor, Ethyl Acetate, etc. that can lead to dizziness, nausea, irritation, and even kidney damage.
- PBDEs found in many mattresses that may be associated with brain and reproductive problems, thyroid problems, and decreased sperm count.
I could go on and on listing these known toxins that we come into contact with on a daily-weekly basis and that’s not even including the toxic air we breathe everyday and the heavy metals found in nearly everything!
So, what’s a girl (or boy) to do?? Well, you can either live in a cocoon (ain’t gonna happen) or you can reduce your overall toxic load and give your body the natural foods it needs to allow it to cleanse itself on a daily basis.
You see, your body is designed to naturally detoxify and cleanse itself via the liver, kidney, and skin. However, because we’re bombarded with so many toxins daily, the body can become congested…. also known as TOXIC OVERLOAD.
And, although we can’t control the air we breathe and other factors, we can control the foods we eat, the personal care products we use, etc. So, the goal is to reduce your toxic load as much as possible while simultaneously incorporating more whole foods with a natural cleansing effect.
One great way to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle is by doing a 7-Day Detox where you eat only detoxifying foods for 7 whole days. This will not only cleanse out your colon very quickly, but it’ll also reset your tastebuds so you start to crave healthy foods again (and not processed, junk foods).
After jumpstarting your health with a 7-Day Detox, then I suggest including natural foods that have a cleansing effect and that support your overall detox pathways on a daily basis. This would include things like cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, lemons, ginger, turmeric, celery, carrots, sweet potatoes, grass-fed liver, pasture-raised eggs, wild-caught fish, green tea, flax seeds, chia seeds, parsley, cilantro, onions, garlic, etc.
Here are 7 Warning Signs that your body is over-burdened with toxins and could use a natural detox:
#1 – Constant Cravings (especially for sweets)
If you constantly crave sweets and refined carbs, such as candy, sodas, doughnuts, refined white pastas, chips, french fries, cakes, pies, etc., then it’s a sure sign you need to detox and reset your tastebuds.
Highly processed sweets and carbs can artificially stimulate dopamine (the feel good neurotransmitter) making you temporarily feel alert and energized. And, this instant spike in dopamine can become addictive. So, you get on this vicious cycle of dopamine and sugar spikes, which give you instant energy, only for you to crash a few hours later so you reach for more of these types of foods.
Instead, the goal is to have sustained, longterm energy without spiking anything or relying on anything with addictive qualities. One sure-fire way to quickly reset your tastebuds and escape this vicious cycle is to do a detox cleanse for at least 7 days. But, I will forewarn you… the first 2-4 days will be the most difficult as your body goes through sugar withdrawals! After you get through the withdrawals, you’ll feel like a brand new person though, so it’s worth it!!
#2 – Brain Fog (hard to focus)
If you have a hard time focusing for long periods and being productive, then this is another sure sign of toxic overload. Whenever your body can’t eliminate toxins fast enough, they can build up in the body and lead to inflammation, which can ultimately lead to damaging your protective blood-brain barrier, also known as Leaky Brain.
Brain fog can also be linked to heavy metal toxicity as things like Mercury like to hide in fatty tissues, such as the brain. So, a proper chelation protocol like the one by Andy Cutler is essential for getting rid of those heavy metals.
But, the take home message here when it comes to brain fog is that more toxins = more inflammation, which can ultimately affect your brain function. And, a detox can help to flush out those toxins thereby reducing overall inflammation.
#3 – Skin Problems
We’re talking anything from acne and eczema to psoriasis and rashes. When your detox organs, such as your liver and kidneys, are over-burdened with toxins, they become overwhelmed and those toxins overflow into the skin to try and be eliminated via your sweat glands.
And, this toxic overload can appear on the skin in a variety of ways, including those mentioned above. However, I will say that if you’re eating a super clean diet and still have skin problems, then I would also suggest getting your hormones and nutrient levels checked as skin problems can be linked to those as well.
#4 – An Increase in Food Sensitivities
If you’ve noticed that you’ve become more sensitive to certain foods as you get older, then it could be linked to Toxic Overload. This is especially true if you didn’t have a sensitivity to a specific food beforehand. For instance, if you never had a problem digesting nuts or dairy and now you do, then it could be toxic overload.
This is a sign that your gut flora has become imbalanced. Eating the Standard America Diet of refined carbs and sugars can lead to Candida Overgrowth, which can ultimately lead to a Leaky Gut. Overuse of antibiotics can also lead to Candida Overgrowth. Additionally, heavy metal toxicity can lead to it as well.
So, you want to eliminate all offending foods that could feed the “bad” gut flora (i.e. Candida) for a period of time in order to “reset” your gut flora. The two non-dairy based probiotics I swear by are: Thrive and Jarrow. Both of these specifically fight against Candida Overgrowth, help to control sugar cravings, and balance the gut flora. These are the only probiotics I recommend and personally use, currently. But, keep in mind, that you must also change your diet in order for these probiotics to really work their magic.
An increase in food sensitivities could also be related to your digestive organs not functioning optimally, including the Gallbladder, Pancreas, Liver, and Adrenal Glands. All four of these organs affect digestion.
If you suspect gallbladder issues, I recommend this Gallbladder Glandular. For pancreatic issues, this glandular is best. Of course, to support the liver, this Liver Glandular is perfect. And, for Adrenal Support (which also affect your energy levels and anxiety levels), I recommend my Adrenal Fatigue Supplement Plan, which is a game-changer if you struggle with low energy and anxiety.
***For digestive issues, using the gallbladder and pancreas glandular (mentioned above) will replace any expensive digestive enzymes you may be currently taking. In my experience, these glandulars are better than any digestive enzyme I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried nearly all of them). Btw, I’m not sponsored by any of these supplement brands. These are just the ones I personally use and trust.
#5 – Sore Joints
Toxic Overload leads to chronic inflammation and this can eventually lead to achy joints and tension in your upper neck and back. If I had problems with sore joints, what I would personally do in addition to the 7-Day Detox and cleaning up my diet would be to incorporate a magnesium oil, epsom salt baths, and a pastured-raised collagen protein powder.
This way you’re not only eliminating the toxins from your diet, but you’re also correcting any magnesium deficiency (which is common in those who have sore joints) and giving your body the building blocks it needs (with the collagen) to strengthen your joints.
#6 – You Struggle to Lose Weight
If you struggle to lose weight, especially in the belly area, then your liver could be over-burdened or your adrenals are stressed out… or BOTH.
The liver is responsible for metabolizing fat and filtering toxins. It’s the main detox organ. But, if it’s congested and overwhelmed, then it can’t perform its duties optimally, which can eventually lead to weight gain and even a non-alcoholic fatty liver.
Other than alcohol, enemy #1 to your liver is High Fructose Corn Syrup. So, by avoiding toxic foods like corn syrup and other additives and including liver-supporting foods, such as cruciferous vegetables, grass-fed liver, choline-rich foods (i.e. pasture-raised eggs), garlic, and leafy greens, you can avoid a fatty and sluggish liver.
Also, Candida Overgrowth can make it impossible to lose weight, so like I mentioned earlier (#4 Sign), be sure to reset your gut flora with the detox, a good meal plan, and the two probiotics I mentioned.
#7 – You’re Always Exhausted
Being in a constant state of exhaustion is not normal… it’s Adrenal Fatigue and/or HPA Dysfunction. Typically, if your liver is full of toxins, then it can eventually affect your adrenal glands, and stressed out adrenals can lead to chronic low energy, belly fat, digestive issues, and even thyroid dysfunction.
So, this is why it’s important to support overall detox of your entire body because it’s an intricate system where if one part is out of balance, it can affect other parts. It’s truly a domino effect.
Start by doing a 7-Day Detox and clean up your diet to see if that improves energy. If not, then you’ll want to focus on including liver-supporting foods and adrenal-supporting nutrients.
How to Start Detoxifying Your Body
To keep things simple, there’s only two easy steps to cleansing your body and supporting your detox pathways.
#1 – Reduce your overall toxic load as much as possible. You can do this by doing my 7-Day Detox and eating a whole foods diet (meal plan). Try to buy organic, grass-fed, and pasture-raised as much as possible, especially with animal products, to avoid added hormones found in conventional animal products.
I also suggest reducing chemical exposure as well by using natural cleaning products and beauty products. Get my FREE Guide on the Top 25 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Beauty Products + my Favorites Natural products.
#2 – Support your body’s natural detox pathways by eating foods that encourage detox, such as cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, green tea, garlic, pastured eggs, wild caught fish, grass-fed liver, onions, etc.
Jumpstart your detox and reset your tastebuds with my FREE 7-Day Detox. And, after you finish the detox, you’ll want to eat a clean, whole foods diet, as laid out in my Meal Plans.
I hope this blog post has enlightened you on how to get healthier and reduce your overall toxic load. Feel free to comment below with your feedback! Be sure to share on FACEBOOK! 🙂
