5 natural ways to flush environmental toxins from your body

Imagine having to spend eight, nine, or even 10 hours a day working in an environment filled with toxic chemicals.

Sounds terrible, right?

But these days, no matter what line of work you’re in or where you live, toxic exposure is a constant.

In the past few decades, environmental chemical usage has exploded; there are now more than 75,000 different synthetic substances registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and 4 billion pounds of toxins are released into the environment each year in the United States alone.

Some of these toxins turn up in everyday items like household cleaning products, home furnishings, some nonstick cookware, and clothing. Others are in our food, water, and air. Certain substances—mercury and lead, for example—are difficult to remove once they’ve gotten into the body.

The bottom line: there’s no escaping toxic exposure. Meanwhile, the number of people suffering from chronic degenerative diseases is skyrocketing.

Too Many Toxins

A few years ago, researchers tested a group of individuals to see how they had been affected by environmental pollutants.

Some of the participants lived in areas that you might think would be pollution-free, like coastal areas far from big cities. Other participants had eaten primarily organic foods for decades before the testing.

Despite that, researchers found an average of 91 different pollutants in blood samples. More than half of those substances are recognized as cancer-causing agents, like heavy metals, insecticides, pesticides, pthalates, dioxins, and PCBs.

Nonetheless, I want to make it very clear that we are not doomed. While you can’t always change your surroundings, you can change your behaviors.

And changing behaviors is key to flushing out harmful pollutants from your body.

5 natural ways to flush toxins from your body

Our bodies are designed to eliminate toxins in various ways.

One of the liver’s many jobs, for example, is assisting the body in toxin removal. Additionally, we eliminate toxins through sweating, urination, and bowel movements.

Considering the current overload, though, we should be doing everything in our power to support the process.

If you’re ready to clear your body of harmful toxins, here are 5 natural ways to detoxify your body.

1) Sweat more

If you have access to Far Infrared Sauna, that’s a great way to sweat away a fair amount of compounds that can lead to health problems. A regular sauna works, too, although it may be too hot for some individuals.

Fortunately, you can get similar results with exercise. Pace your favorite activity so that you break a sweat and maintain that level for several minutes (with your physician’s approval, of course).

There’s no need to exhaust yourself. If you’re out of shape, don’t worry — just gradually work your way up to a sweat-producing level.

2) Move more

Another often overlooked portion of detoxification is engaging the lymph system. The lymphatic system consists of small channels that are designed specifically to remove waste products.

There’s no “pump” to push lymph through the body the way the heart pushes blood, but you can stimulate the system by using your muscles.

Bouncing on a mini-trampoline, like a Rebounder, for just five minutes a day is a great way to get lymph flowing — in fact, this happens to be my personal favorite exercise.

If a mini-trampoline is out of the question, try briskly walking while swinging your arms.

3) Eat more

One of the most effective methods of detoxing is building meals around “clean” foods (i.e. organic and whole foods, especially vegetables). Hundreds of clinical trials have shown the benefits of eating from Mother Nature’s pantry.

Vegetables and fruits contain substances known as phytochemicals, which are recognized for their ability to protect us from cancer—one of the most commonly occurring diseases linked to environmental toxins—and heart disease.

One excellent way to start a dietary makeover is by adding more cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, bok choy, and cabbage) to meals. Research has shown that substances in these vegetables reduce the risk of developing cancer by stimulating production of detoxification enzymes. And that benefit occurs whether the veggies are raw or cooked.

Here’s another reason to eat your veggies—fiber! More fiber in your diet means better elimination, a real “must have” for healthy detox.

Mushrooms are another excellent detox tool. Once again, hundreds of studies have shown that mushrooms jump start the immune system, enabling it to attack cancerous cells.

Finally, my personal favorite is green foods. I start every day with a hearty portion of juiced greens — including kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, cilantro, and parsley—with a little organic coconut cream and raw honey.

Wheat grass juice is another excellent choice. In fact, research has shown that wheat grass juice helps reduce the toxic load caused by the common chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), found in plastics and the linings of most canned foods. BPA is a recognized endocrine-disrupting chemical, linked to such serious conditions as endometriosis, cancer, and much more.

Additionally, you may want to consider supplements for days when you are strapped for time. There are some excellent products that include assorted “greens.”

Beta-glucan, which contains extracts of medicinal mushrooms and other substances, is another supplement to consider. Remember, more is not necessarily better, so follow the dosage instructions on the product that you choose.

3) Love Your Liver

The liver works 24/7 to keep our bodies free of contaminants. These days, though, even this highly efficient organ can be overwhelmed by toxic assaults. That’s why I recommend a supplement called milk thistle.

Milk thistle has been used to enhance liver functions for more than 2,000 years. Today, it’s often recommended for individuals with cirrhosis of the liver and Hepatitis C, two diseases that can damage the liver quite seriously.

It’s also used to treat toxin-induced liver disease and prevent damage by toxins; so, it can be very helpful as an addition to the daily regimen for those who can’t really avoid exposure to harmful substances. We suggest looking for a product that contains 70 to 80 percent silymarin (active ingredient) content. Experts recommend 280 to 420 mg per day, preferably in divided doses.

4) Give it Time

Please forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but there’s no place for processed or fast foods in a detox diet. In an ideal world, we would all eat clean foods all the time.

However, I know that’s not possible for many people, for various reasons. So, when the question, “How long do I have to do this?” inevitably arises, the answer is, “As often as possible.” Just remember: the more often you eat well, the better you’ll feel.

For example, say you decide to eat whole foods for one week. You might think that even a week without a “fast food fix” would be a challenge.

But our hope is that you’ll find yourself feeling so much better that you’l decide to continue. Given enough time, the difference that eating whole foods regularly will make a difference for a lifetime.

This is Only a Beginning

Detoxification is becoming more and more popular, as people discover the benefits of cleansing their bodies of unavoidable toxic build-up.

Sweat therapy, more movement, changes to your diet, liver love, and patience are the keys to turning our bodies’ built-in detox mechanisms on high.

But it’s just the beginning. We’ve only touched on some of the most effective methods, though, so stay tuned. This is a huge topic, and one that will be revisited in the future.

In the meantime, take good care.

Disclaimer: Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Last Updated: August 8, 2020 
Originally Published: December 12, 2011