Toxic Overload: 13 Ways You Can Detox Naturally
Today’s modern lifestyle is a minefield of toxins. There are chemicals and pollutants in our air, our food, our drinking water and even the products we apply to our skin. Although there are ways to minimize the amount of toxins we encounter, the truth is that they’re almost impossible to avoid completely.
Unfortunately, these toxins can have a catastrophic effect on your body. Everyday toxins accumulate in the body over time, building up to dangerous levels. They’re absorbed by your cells, muscles, and soft tissues. Eventually, they weaken your entire immune system.
Research has shown that chemical pollutants can suppress normal immune function, increasing your susceptibility to infections and diseases. Considering 70 percent of your immune system is in your gut, this increases your susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria, fungi and yeast – such as Candida overgrowth.
The good news is that there are many ways to detoxify your body naturally, through diet, supplements, and your daily habits. Make these techniques a regular part of your daily lifestyle and you’ll be on your way to a toxin-free, healthier you!
Table Of Contents
Natural Detoxification Through Diet
Here are some simple, detoxifying changes that you can make to your diet today.
Increase your water intake
Water helps flush toxins out of your body in the form of sweat, tears, and urine. Choose pure, filtered water from a safe source.
Cut the sugar
Sugar not only increases calorific intake, but can cause inflammation and feed candida. Artificial sweeteners are no better – they’re also toxins!
Eat organic
Many commercially-produced fruits and vegetables contain dangerous pesticides and chemicals, while meats contain antibiotics and hormones. Organic food has more nutrients and fewer pesticides.
Cut processed foods
These often contain preservatives and artificial flavorings that are not only toxic, but increase your appetite.
Add fermented foods and drinks to your diet
These are an excellent source of probiotics which help fight pathogens and yeast. Probiotics also strengthen the immune system, and improve digestion and detoxification.
Sauerkraut is a good source of calcium glucarate, a powerful detoxifier. Research has shown that calcium glucarate helps prevent cancer of the breast and colon.
Natural Liver Detoxification
The liver is the largest organ in the body. It’s also the organ primarily responsible for detoxification: flushing out the various toxins we encounter in our diet, lifestyle and environment. Every one of our body systems is dependent on the liver for ‘cleaning’ the blood of impurities.
The more toxins we ingest, imbibe, and encounter, the greater the burden on the liver. Signs of an overloaded liver include fatigue, headaches, digestive issues, skin problems, and weakened immune function.
A number of supplements can support liver function, including:
Milk thistle
This herb is famous for its active ingredient, silymarin. Silymarin is an important antioxidant and nature’s very own liver nurse. It supports and protects the liver by optimising liver function and detoxification as well as repairing damage done to liver cells caused by disease, alcohol and drugs.
The active ingredients in milk thistle act like your liver’s own personal gatekeeper. It binds to the outside of the liver cell and when toxins enter the body, it fends them off by blocking entry to the liver cell.
Silymarin also takes care of toxins that have already found their way into the cell, seeking them out and neutralising them. Neutralised toxins are then either removed from the bloodstream or converted into water-soluble forms which can be sent out of the body as harmless waste (through the bowels, in your urine or in sweat).
Clinical studies have shown that these mechanisms help to maintain liver health and significantly reduce the risk of long-term liver damage.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is a mineral naturally present in many foods. It’s especially important to the liver in flushing out toxins.
Molybdenum is required for helping the body make several detoxification enzymes, including aldehyde dehydrogenase and aldehyde oxidase. These enzymes work to neutralize acetaldehyde, a harmful metabolic byproduct of alcohol, yeast and fungi.
Candida overgrowth often leads to an excess of this neurotoxin, causing it to build up in the blood, liver and other tissues. This seriously burdens the immune system.
Molybdenum also helps the body synthesize enzymes that oxidize the sulfites in preservatives, as well as neutralizing toxins involved in protein metabolism. In addition molybdenum is involved with expelling excess copper from the body and preventing dental cavities caused by minerals stored in tooth enamel.
Most importantly, molybdenum also helps rid the body of toxins that accumulate when Candida yeast cells die. The die-off process (or Herxheimer reaction) can deplete molybdenum stores very quickly, so it’s important to replace them during your detoxification.
Look for a supplement that contains molybdenum glycinate, as this is the most bio-available and best-tolerated form. A good example is Liver One by Balance ONE.
Pantethine
A derivative of vitamin B5, pantethine is vital for healthy detoxification. Pantethine also benefits Candida sufferers by supporting healthy metabolism, particularly when it comes to breaking down acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a nasty chemical that affects your metabolic, endocrine, neurological and immune systems. It’s produced by the Candida yeast during your Candida infestation, and it is also released by yeast cells during die-off.
Pantethine helps to flush this poison from the body by working with other bodily functions that make co-enzyme A, a nutrient required for metabolic function. Acetyl Coenzyme A is the active form of pantothenic acid, and it is formed when coenzyme A combines with the acetate in your cells.
Regular intake of pantethine can lower overall acetaldehyde levels in the body. A study in Japan showed that the pantethine prevented a rise in blood acetaldehyde in people who had ingested alcohol.
Natural Detoxification Habits
Go Chemical-Free
Reduce the toxic load on your body by switching to organic, natural personal care and household products. Natural alternatives to chemical-laden products are now widely available and better for the environment, too!
Another great tip is to make sure that you air out your house regularly. Try to open a few doors and windows on a regular basis. That fresh air will help to eliminate the VOCs that are off-gassed by carpets, furniture and paint.
Reduce stress
You can’t avoid all of them, but you can learn to manage them more effectively. Daily exercise such as jogging or yoga is a good start, as is mind-body exercises such as deep breathing. Stress can directly affect your digestive system.
Exercise
Exercise activates your lymphatic system and increases the level of oxygen in your bloodstream. This helps to optimize immune function, reduce the Candida colonies in your gut and boost digestive transit time.
Sauna
Sauna treatments increase body temperature, which restricts the survival of viruses and other pathogens. Saunas can also help to increase blood circulation, which oxygenates your cells and assists the removal of toxins from your bloodstream. Not only that, a sauna will open your pores and keep your skin’s elimination pathway running smoothly. Sweating helps to remove toxins and can help to relieve some of the symptoms associated with Candida.
Skin Brushing
This helps to clear away toxic metabolites by stimulating the lymphatic system. Firm but gentle brush strokes across the skin will boost blood circulation, allowing for faster elimination of toxins. Use a brush with natural bristles and start from your feet. Use slow, gentle, circular movements and move up your body, brushing towards your heart.
Detox Yourself Of Candida – Everyday
Detoxification is one of the most important elements of a successful anti-Candida program. With all the toxins we face in everyday life, our body’s natural detoxification pathways can sometimes fall short. That’s why it’s hugely important to give our liver, skin and blood a helping hand!
Reducing the toxic load on your body is a start, but there are real benefits in supplementing body with quality nutrients through diet and supplements. And anyway, who doesn’t love a good sauna?
For more tips on reducing your toxic load, beating Candida, and recovering your health, check out our Ultimate Candida Diet program.
3-Month Candida Elimination Kit Start Your 3-month Candida Cleanse
This Candida Kit contains all the supplements recommended on the Candida Diet:
- LIVER ONE to process and remove the toxins created by Candida.
- CANDASSIST to inhibit and weaken the Candida colonies in your gut.
- PROBIOTIC to replace the Candida yeast with probiotic bacteria.
Plus... the CANDIDA DIET RECIPE BOOK with 50+ low-sugar recipes
I have suffered with candida for over 35 years. Found a doctor who diagnosed me and treated me and I got better but to this day have never gone back to eating breads because of yeast. The last 10 years have had a terrible flat up again. Since my Dr who treated before has since died, I cannot find a doctor (affordable) that will even acknowledge the problem I’m having with candida. The fatigue, brain fog and chronic coughing is horrible. Lost my husband of 50 years, in 2015. Hate cooking for just myself, can’t seem to stick with a good candida diet and need encouragement and help.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I know it’s hard to feel the energy or the want too.. but you are worth it, you are looking for change, you are wanting better. You can and will do it for YOU… just push foward.. best wishes 🙂
You got this girl! You’re inspiring me to stick with the diet – if you keep up with it so will I! I think all the recipes on here seem awesome, and maybe find a good online site to order from (I’m gonna try thrive and imperfect produce) to help deliver groceries when times get busy or rough, its a great pick me up and who doesn’t love getting a package 🙂 xoxoxo keep it up!
I’m sorry for your loss.
I understand not being able to get help.
I think I’ve been suffering with this for many many years myself I’m 55 and probably have been suffering with this since I was 25. I’m so tired of feeling sick all the time. You are not crazy and what you’re feeling is real. Keep searching for answers. Take care of yourself.
Big hugs!