What is detoxification?
De-toxification is the process by which our bodies rid themselves of ‘toxins'. This includes environmental toxins, drugs, hormones and other metabolic waste. It is primarily carried out by our liver & kidneys and and supported by our colon, lungs, skin and lymphatic system.
Should you detox?
This is controversial in the medical community. It is claimed that our organs are perfectly capable of detoxing on their own, yet a myriad of diseases are linked to inflammation and metabolic excess. We also live in an increasingly toxic world and process many chemicals that our bodies weren’t meant to come in contact with. I prefer having patients make long term lifestyle changes than extreme quick fix diets but a 2-4 week detox can kickstart a positive change.
5 ways to detox at home:
Drink 2-3 L water to flush your kidneys of water soluble waste
Add in fibre to ensure you’re having a bowel movement everyday (minimum 25g day)
Try dry brushing before showers to help move lymph: starting at your extremities and moving towards your heart
Get rid of the sugar! It’s highly inflammatory and processed similarly to alcohol in our liver. Try even a week without and see how you feel
Sweat once a day - don’t forget our skin removes waste through sweat
Don’t make any drastic changes to your diet or exercise plan without seeing your ND. Come see us for an evaluation and customized detox and reset your body for 2020!
Happy New Year!
Dr. Batting