Most of us take the time to clear clutter from our personal spaces on a regular basis. It is so satisfying to have a clean and ordered the garage, closet, refrigerator, or even an office drawer. It gives us a chance to start fresh, think more clearly, and hopefully be more productive. But how often do we give our bodies the same opportunity to clear the clutter and start fresh? We don’t think of our bodies as being cluttered, but that’s exactly what toxic buildup is: a backlog of toxins waiting to be dismantled and eliminated. As this accumulation grows the body’s defenses become more strained. This strain can manifest in subtle or extreme ways and vary between individuals. A health program designed to detoxify and cleanse can help ease this strain by decreasing the workload of the hard-working detoxifying organs.

If you stop to imagine the amount of toxins your body works to neutralize and clear everyday, the need for a detox becomes obvious. Our livers, kidneys, lungs, and skin are constantly breaking down the toxins that we breathe, eat, inhale, and absorb so they can be excreted and disposed of. The liver is the true star of the detoxifying process, by using highly specialized metabolic means to disarm toxins and send them on their way. But as toxins accumulate, the liver cannot always complete the process and toxins start to build up.

Sometimes partly-metabolized toxins are even more toxic than their original state. They are stored in the body’s tissues to be addressed later, but we all know what that kind of procrastination can lead to when you are already overworked! The poor liver falls behind deadlines and can never catch up. Meanwhile, the free radicals, or oxidizing particles, that are the byproduct of removing toxins, also continue to build up and can have direct damaging consequences to the cells and tissues of the body.

Scientists are exploring many theories regarding the consequences of the body’s toxic load. Among them is a growing school of thought suggesting that accumulation of hormones and pesticides within the body’s soft tissue is contributing to the obesity epidemic. Many experts believe the growing preponderance of thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune diseases are correlated with increasingly toxic environmental exposures due to a disruption of the body’s complex metabolic pathways.

A core practice of functional medicine is to address a range of common symptoms with a dietary and lifestyle detoxification. These symptoms include brain fog, fatigue, indigestion, skin rashes, acne, abdominal bloating, joint pain, and insomnia. It is interesting to compare this list of common symptoms with a list of the most purchased prescription and over-the-counter medications such as antacids, sleep-aids, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatories.

Where do these mounting toxins come from? Well, there are the obvious culprits: air pollution, pesticides and hormones found in foods, plastic packaging, medications, food additives, and heavy metals in the water supply, to name a few. Then there are those we are less likely to qualify as toxic: alcohol, fried foods, food with dyes or preservatives, constant exposure to screens and cell phones, frequent stress, and negative thinking.

Modern comforts and conveniences come at a price and we cannot eliminate many of these toxic sources from our lives. Nonetheless, we can minimize much of our toxic exposures by altering what we consume and how we consume it. Below are some recommendations to lower your toxic load and give your body the support it needs to stay healthy:

1. Try to eat organic, pesticide-free produce whenever possible.
2. Try to eat hormone-free, grass-fed meat and dairy products whenever possible.
3. Use BPA-free plastic containers for food and beverages. Look for BPA-free canned foods.
4. Avoid foods with preservatives and dyes.
5. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to stock up on antioxidants.
6. Stop using nonstick and coated cookware, this leaves toxic residue in your food.
7. Drink filtered water, and plenty of it.
8. Limit alcohol intake.
9. Take breaks from your computer, TV, and phone.
10. Take time for deep belly breaths and stress relieving activities.
11. Make time to get eight hours of sleep per night.
12. Get sweaty from exercise, hot baths or saunas.

These recommendations are general guidelines for leading a life with less toxic exposure. Consider joining Austin Preferred’s Detox 360 program if you’re interested in a more in-depth detoxification regimen. You can participate as a group or individual. The program includes meal plans, guidelines, informative articles, and gentle, plant-based supplements to aid your body’s natural detoxification pathways.

You can participate individually or as part of a group. There is no fasting as part of this deep cleanse, so participants can keep up their normal lifestyles. If you would like to learn more, call (512) 442-2727 or visit our South Austin location today!