Detoxification

Detoxification For Better Health

Detoxification is very important since exposure to toxins is virtually impossible to avoid in this day and age. We live in a toxic environment that extends from our homes, to the workplace and in many instances to the outdoor air we breathe. Detoxification helps to eliminate the toxic chemicals that are used to spray the foods we eat, the cleaning products in our living areas and the fumes that pollute the air we breathe. Those are just a few of the types of pollution that assault our body each and every day. Even our water supply contains chemicals and environmental pollutants like acid rain. It is no wonder that our bodies need detoxification.

Our overall health has been negatively impacted despite the adjustments our bodies have made to deal with pollution. Asthma and breathing problems are on the rise especially in the youngest generation. We know more about health and wellness than previous generations and yet we accept that old age and compromised health go hand in hand.

Detoxification is a way to help the body eliminate the toxins that are making us sick. The body has many organs that play a role in cleansing the body from the inside out. The liver, kidneys, gastric system, the skin, lymphatic system, our lungs and even the skin all have a part to play in filtering out harmful substances from the blood stream. Good nutrition is essential to keep the filtration systems working efficiently.

The Liver

The liver is the primary processing organ in the detoxification and filtration process. It literally works to detoxify all harmful and potentially harmful substances from the body. When the detoxification process is complete, the substances can then be eliminated by the bowels, kidneys and lungs. The liver has thousands of enzymes that require certain nutrients in order to be effective in filtering out the toxins from our body.

Cruciferous vegetables, brightly colored fruits and vegetable and foods like onions, garlic and lemons that contain sulphur all help the liver to fulfill its vital function.

The Kidneys

The kidneys filter the blood, remove excess water and soluble toxins that are then eliminated in the urine. Drinking plenty of water helps the kidneys to work more efficiently at diluting and excreting the toxins.

Water, all fruits and vegetables, herbal teas and parsley leaf all help the kidneys to detoxify.

The Gastric System

The stomach filters out harmful substances and sends them to the liver to be processed before they can be absorbed into the body. Fiber helps to mop up some of the toxins before they get to the bowels. The bowels excrete processed toxins in the feces. If the bowel function is sluggish, the feces linger there and it is possible that the toxins will be reabsorbed into the blood stream.

All fiber rich foods like fruits, vegetables. Flaxseeds, beans, lentils, oats and barley help the gastric system in the detoxification process.

Skin

The largest organ in the body is the skin. Skin plays a huge role in ridding the body of toxins. Harmful substances are eliminated in your sweat, your skin oils and in the process of shedding dead skin cells.

Foods that keep your skin healthy and help in the detoxification process include water, fruits, vegetables, and foods containing essential oils like pumpkin seeds, flax and walnuts.

The Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is essential a drainage system comprised of tiny vessels that run into all areas of the body. Nutrients are transported to all areas of the body in a liquid called lymph. The lymphatic system also removes waste from the body. Toxins that are too large to be absorbed into the bloodstream are processed in the lymph nodes and returned into the bloodstream where they can be taken to the liver for detoxification.

Water is the main food that helps the lymphatic system function effectively. Epsom salt baths, dry skin brushing and lymphatic drainage are said to support the lymphatic system and help to detoxify the body.

Lungs

The lungs are complex organs responsible for bringing oxygen into your body and to expel the of carbon dioxide gas waste. They can also trigger coughing and sneezing to rapidly expel chemical irritants such as noxious fumes, cigarette smoke, dust, pollen or water.
Foods that provide nutrients beneficial to lung functioning include fruits, berries and vegetables.

The human body has a sophisticated and very intricate built in system for complex detoxification. Our body the ability to eliminate and excrete not only the toxins and the waste products the body produces each day but it also helps to detoxify the substances that assault us from the environment. The detox process can be very slow and the body can be quickly overwhelmed by continual contact with toxins. Cleansing programs, with the supervision of your physician, can speed up detoxification.