No need for pricey juice cleanses or restrictive detox programs. Our bodies naturally get rid of toxins and chemicals through our all-mighty organs and immune system. The first line of defense is your skin. While it’s good to go as natural as possible when it comes to skin care, rest assured knowing the skin acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses and chemical toxins. As soon as we eat anything, our digestive tract is ready to push heavy metals and chemicals out through waste. We also have lymph nodes in the small intestines called Peyer’s patches that prevent foreign substances from being absorbed into the blood stream. Think of your kidneys and liver as Brita filters. The kidneys are great at filtering out waste and toxins while the liver takes care of eliminating heavy metals, drugs and alcohol. Lastly, you can’t forget how hard your immune system works at fighting off any and all bad guys that may be lurking around.
Yes, the human body is incredible, but we can support our body’s natural detoxification by drinking plenty of water, eating a well-balanced diet of WHOLE foods, moving your body every day and managing stress levels. Take these steps and you and your body will be unstoppable.
Written by: Mandy Pelletier, Wellness Workdays Dietetic Intern. Learn more about the Wellness Workdays Dietetic Internship. Sources: 1. Nature International Journal of Science 2. Harvard Health 3. Nutrition Stripped