Should you do a detox?

We come into contact with toxic elements daily.

One in particular, Bisphenol A (BPA), a known carcinogen, has been linked to hormonal imbalances in men and women. BPA has been shown to lower testosterone in men, elevate estrogen in women, and affect overall fertility. (1).

According to the CDC, 1 in 5 American women are unable to get pregnant after 1 year of trying (2).

Suggesting BPA has something to do with that is really just the tip of the iceberg. However, for any health concern, it is imperative to know that toxins can aggravate or cause major health issues.

Arsenic, uranium, mercury, aluminum, and many more, are all levels tested on a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). This is a test I offer for my clients, you can read more about it here.


Why do I offer HTMA as part of my practice?

For one, it tests thyroid function, adrenal function, and basic mineral support in our tissues rather than blood. Balancing these can be life changing.

And most importantly, there is a link between mineral imbalances and toxic element status and the development of diseases such as:

Alzheimer’s Disease (3)

Arthritis (4)

Prostate Cancer (5)

Parkinson’s (6)

Hyperactive Children (7)

Autism (8)

There are many more, but that’s a good place to start.

The interesting thing about toxic element build up, is that their presence can greatly alter the balance of other minerals in our body. Which in turn greatly affects our well-being.

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For that reason, it is imperative that we have habits in place to support our body’s beautifully intricate detoxification process.

Every day, our lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, heart, and lymphatic system all are working to support balance in our body. One way to support balance? To eliminate things that don’t belong.

However, just like pipes in a house, this elimination process can become backed up leading to an accumulation of toxic elements.

Here are 3 things we can do to support our body’s detoxification process rather than doing a 10 day blood sugar roller-coaster juice cleanse.

1. Support your lymphatic system:

We often forget about our lymphatic system until we feel a swollen lymph node. However, it needs support. One of the worst things for it is a sedentary lifestyle.

Just like a puddle of water that sits stagnant and starts to grow algae and smell, our lymphatic system requires movement to keep things going along.

What should you do? Exercise. Regularly.

Getting your heart rate up, even slightly, stimulates lymphatic movement. A great place to start? Walk. Daily.

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2. Support your liver:

One concern I have with most juice cleanses is the blood sugar roller coaster they cause. And blood sugar spikes and falls aren’t great for your liver - the body’s ultimate detoxification organ.

In fact, an individual’s blood sugar balance over a 3 month period influenced whether or not they would develop scarring in their liver. (9)

Scarring in the liver is one way to slow down its ability to detoxify, let alone, it can lead to liver failure.

If we want to have a healthy system that eliminates toxins, we must think about our liver. A simple way to support it: balance blood sugar.

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3. Support your gut:

Gut issues are on the rise. If you don’t have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you likely know someone who does.

Another big gut health problem, leaky gut. This is when the lining of the gut becomes compromised, causing contents in the intestines to leak into the bloodstream, or into areas those contents shouldn’t be. This in turn causes a major inflammatory response.

The greatest risk with these gut health issues, in my opinion, is their ability to delay and alter bowel movements. If we want to get toxins out, we have to have a healthy gut.

One of the best ways to support your gut is to follow an anti-inflammatory approach to diet and life, filled with nutrients and minerals. For myself, and my clients, this brings about the best amount of healing. Check it out here.

Every day we come into contact with toxins. However, rather than stress about it, we can do things to support our body to be healthy in spite of that exposure.

Need help? Click here to apply to work with me today.

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