Honestly, don’t we all love a good party. What’s not to enjoy with good drinks, great food, and some close friends and fun people? And yet our body can feel so exhausted and miserable after having so much fun. The good news is we don’t have to give up a fun-loving lifestyle to enjoy improved health, we just have to learn how to get rid of toxins that we absorb so they don’t hang out and wreak havoc with our health. Sadly we are already collecting toxins just from the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we put on and in our bodies.
Why Get Rid of Toxins
Our bodies were designed to function beautifully. We are filled with intricate little systems that all feed on and work together. Our bodies were also created with some incredible organs and systems to get rid of toxins that can interfere with that function. But with the sheer number of toxic substances we’re exposed to every day, our body’s natural detox systems (like our liver, kidneys and lymph system) can get overwhelmed and not be up to the job at hand. When this happens detoxifying through food, supplements, and modalities can support our body’s optimal function and performance.
It’s important to note that products and modalities don’t replace our body’s natural detox processes and abilities. Instead, they work to support our body to get rid of toxins more efficiently that are causing us harm.
Constant exposure to harmful/toxic substances can lead to long-term health problems. Some common health problems we see linked with a toxic overload include:
- High blood pressure
- Digestive problems
- Liver disease
- Certain types of cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Weakened immune system
- Chronic bronchitis
- Increased risk of chronic mental disorders
If you have any of these problems, and/or to reduce your risk of developing any of these diseases, detoxifying is essential.
The Need to Detox or When to Seek Help
There are some general physical signs and symptoms that can indicate a need to detox and cleanse our body / mind. They include:
- Red eyes
- Fatigue, especially if you feel exhausted after getting plenty of rest
- Dry mouth
- Difficult or awkward physical movements
- Headache
- Poor sleep quality, including repeated awakening or difficulty falling asleep
- Gastrointestinal symptoms including stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea and constipation
- Increased thirst
- Generalized Weakness
- Vomiting and/or stomach pain
- Muscle aches
- Rashes, acne, a dull complexion, and/or other skin irritations
- Signs of decreased immune function, like frequent colds and other illnesses
- Cognitive symptoms such as difficulty focusing and concentrating
- Mood swings and irritability, depression, and loss of interest in activities and hobbies
For mild to moderate signs of chronic toxicity from an excessive lifestyle, or over-exposure, detoxifying with specific nutritional supplements, a change in diet, and/or use of an ionic foot detox bath or sauna may help you feel much better. There are many wellness benefits to detoxifying, including improved energy, enhanced mental focus, and more regular bowel habits that we can experience once we get the garbage out of our system.
Measuring Toxicity Levels
Measuring toxicity levels in the body is not about making you feel guilty about your lifestyle choices but rather we do it to help understand how much has accumulated and what steps are needed to get those built-up toxins out so we can continue to enjoy vibrant health and vitality.
Common blood tests can be used to check for toxicity issues in the body such as:
- Levels of liver enzymes
- Tests for C-reactive protein, a marker of harmful inflammation and oxidative stress within the body
- Cholesterol levels
- Blood sugar levels
- Tests for metabolites such as uric acid and bilirubin
There are also specific tests which can be used to check which toxins are present – heavy metals, chemicals, mold and/or mycotoxins.
Your medical doctor or integrative healthcare practitioner may do any of these tests as part of a routine checkup or order them when you have unexplained symptoms such as those described above.
How Long a Detox Lasts
Keep in mind there are different timelines associated with each type of detox program — short-term vs. long-term. The length of time tends to correlate to the level of toxicity you have to cleanse. Just imagine the difference between a spring cleaning done each year vs. every 5-10 years. The amount to detox will determine the length of time needed in your protocol to safely remove the built up toxins. If we try to speed up the process too much we can end up making ourselves feel terrible by releasing too much into the system at one time. So it is best to go slow and be through for the best experience and outcome.
In the Center we have protocols and modalities to help with the detox process. It is hard to get a body/mind vibrant and healthy when it is full of toxins. So what would a protocol in the Center look like? Depends on you. We have some that do a 10 day food cleanse because they are pretty healthy to begin with. We have others that have never detoxed before and with them we make diet changes, add supplements to assist the detox organs, and have them use the ionic foot detox bath or infrared sauna for 6-10 sessions. There is not really a “one size fits all” to detox. Finding the right protocol will produce the best outcome.
Detoxing is a regular way that we help our clients recover and maintain vital health. If you think you may have an issue then give our office a call for help. We can help in-person or via telehealth to get you going on a program that cleanses your body/mind and leaves you feeling energized, dynamic, and full of Vitality.