Today I am going to share with you 4 of the best ways you can cleanse, or detox if you prefer that terminology, your body. If you want to feel all cleared out, fresh and free of allllll kinds of bacteria, keep reading!
So, of course I am kind of kidding. Social media is bogged down these days with all kinds of people selling you the idea (and a product) that you have the ability to cleanse your insides which are full of toxins. There are supplements, teas, shakes, and foods that claim to be detoxifying, but the truth is most of these products are just diuretics. And when you take them and go to the bathroom, you think that’s your body getting rid of unwanted toxins. But it’s really just your body on a diuretic!
There are no products on the market that you should be taking to help you “cleanse.” Please do not waste your money. If you are following a healthy eating pattern, you should not have a “build-up” of “toxins” in your system at all. I feel like I have to keep using quotation marks because these buzzwords don’t really mean anything! But you know what I mean when you read them.
Why don’t we talk about ways you can actually make sure your body is filtering out unwanted substances, harmful bacteria and keeping your insides healthy.
- Have a working liver.
Your liver will filter a LOT for you (including alcohol, an actual toxin, and things like excess vitamins, medications), and it processes nutrients from our blood and sends them to storage or for excretion. Think of the liver like the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Everyone is going through there to get somewhere else.
- Have functioning kidneys.
Your kidneys are also hugely important for filtration. So important that if you have nonfunctioning kidneys you need to be hooked up to a machine to filter your blood for you (dialysis). Think of the kidneys like going through airport security. You are finally one step away from reaching your destination, but the blood goes through one more checkpoint.
- Use your lungs when you breathe.
Lungs filter toxins from the air we breathe. Without functioning lungs, we would be unable to regulate our oxygen and carbon dioxide balance, and particles would get caught in our lungs likely causing infection.
- Hopefully have a functioning digestive tract.
Your intestines are really where it’s at in terms of keeping “bad” stuff out. Our intestines are well-lined and only let certain substances through that lining. Though it’s not the main organ that is involved in filtration, having a functioning GI tract makes sure that things are moving along as they should. The large intestine houses our gut microbiome, which if you do a quick Google search will tell you that’s important for almost everything under the sun, from skin health to immunity. That’s where our friendly bacteria live.
No fancy products needed! Of course, if you have an issue with any of these organs that’s a different story and you are likely under the careful watch of your physician to have your situation monitored and attended to. But focusing on keeping those organs healthy is a sure way that the majority of the population can make sure that they are cleansing/detoxing daily!