The world we live in now is filled with more environmental toxins than ever before.

The consequences of this can easily be seen when we look at the amount of toxins babies are born with at this time of day.

In addition to that…

A study by the Environmental Working Group found an average of over two hundred chemicals and pollutants in the cord blood of newborn babies found in the Unites States (Source).

For Weight Loss, Detoxing Is Key – But First Avoid Toxins!

Toxins can be found almost everywhere nowadays. Many toxic chemicals can also be found many of the products that we use every day – not just in food, but also found in personal care products, cleaning products, plastic cookware, air fresheners etc. 

View more common sources of toxins here.

Common sources of toxins: diet, drugs, alcohol, smoking, artificial sweeteners, enviromental exposure, poor water quality

The ‘Detox’ Fad

The terms ‘detox’ and ‘cleanse’ are buzzwords that are used inaccurately.

In addition to that.

There is a lot confusion and misinformation about the idea of detoxification.

The term toxin refers to substances inside the body and mind that are insufficiently digested and/or are located in their current form in places they should not be.

For example…

…waste can back up and get stuck in the lymphatic system or in the colon, or undigested proteins can leak through the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.

Put in another way:

Things that are perfectly healthy in one part of your body can become toxic when they get in the wrong places.

symptoms of toxicity: weight gain, issue acne, fatigue, pains and aches, headaches, digestive issues

Symptoms of toxicity:

  • Weight Gain
  • Issues Acne
  • Fatigue
  • Pains and Aches
  • Headaches
  • Digestive Issues
  • Acne

Click for more Common symptoms

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification is the process by which the body neutralizes or gets rid of unwanted materials or toxins (Learn More).

Note:

This is done by decreasing the amount of toxins we expose our body’s while supporting our body’s natural detoxification and elimination systems.

Toxins and Weight Gain

Studies are now showing that obesity is almost always associated with toxicity.

Many of the toxins we ingest are stored in our fatty tissue.

When we lose weight, we reduce our fat, and as a result reduce our toxic load.

Which in turn means…

…with exercise we also turn fat into muscle which further helps with detoxification.

This is why the workout plans in our online personal training programs (View Our Programs) include a combination of resistance training and aerobic exercise, to build muscle while losing weight, which work together to facilitate detoxification.

6 Steps to Start Detoxing Now for Weight Loss!

  1. Supplement with NAC

N-acetyl-L-Cysteine (See: NAC) is the precursor to glutathione, the master antioxidant and a power detoxifying agent.

The point?

Glutathione is very effective at removing toxins, including heavy metals, from most of the body’s organs.

Specifically, it is known for driving the detoxification of the liver.

  1. Sweat! Sweat! Sweat And Wipe!

Sweating is a great way to eliminate toxins from the body (Read More).

But the whole point of sweating is defeated when you are putting all the toxins you just pulled out, right back in.

When you sweat your pores are opened up and your body eliminates toxins, so it is very important to wipe off the sweat, or you are simply reabsorbing the toxins.

And don’t forget to..

dry off after a sweaty session.

  1. Lemon Water Each Morning

Start your day with a glass of water and half a squeezed lemon on an empty stomach.

The benefits of lemon water provide our body with something called citric acid.

Citric acid is an inhibitor of toxins that enhances your body’s ability to naturally flush out unwanted toxins.

Lemon water is great for:

  • Stimulates detoxification by the liver
  • Increases the secretion of bile from the liver, which is a carrier of toxins

  1. Take Hot-Cold Showers

A great way to stimulate the movement of lymph in the body are contrast showers.

Lymph carries the toxins in the body we so want to get it moving and towards the detoxification centers in the body (lymph nodes), which are mostly in the underarm regions.

So end your shower by going under hot water for 30 seconds (just body), then sudden contrast to 30 seconds cold.

Cold enough to take your breath away.

Start from your legs..

then work your way up, up your arms and into your chest, back, and underarms…

towards the major lymph nodes in the body.

  1. Consume Lots Of Fiber

Eat: more fruits, vegetables, and legumes – aim for about 30g each day.

Fiber binds with the harmful toxins in the intestine so they cannot be absorbed.

This toxic-bound fiber eventually leave the body in a bowel movement.

Without adequate fiber, your body reabsorbs the toxins found in your intestines.

  1. Avoid The Following Foods:

  • Baked goods
  • Sweets
  • Refined foods
  • Fried foods
  • Fatty foods

The following table can be used as a guide to help us detoxify and bring us into better overall balance:

Toxicity & Detox Guide

Potentially TOXIC
More detoxifying
Drugs, Allergenic Foods, Hydrogenated fats, Alcohol
Fried foods, Processed Foods, Refined Foods
Sweets, Milk, Sugary drinks
Nuts, Seeds, Oats
Rice, Quinoa, Potatoes
Vegetables, Legumes, Rice, Potatoes
Fruits, Greens, Filtered Water

6 way to start detoxing now: drink lemon water, supplement with NAC, sweat, hot-cold showers, eat fibre, avoid sugary foods

We should always strive to be in a state of detoxification and the first step is understanding how.

We hope this article has increased your understanding on how to detox and you are able to the tips we have suggested. If you would like to more information on how we can work together to make a detox plan just right for you, please contact us.

[content name=cta]