You are Exposed to 250 Pounds of Toxins Daily – Ways to DETOX

Do we really need to detox or is it simply a fad?  Experts in the field think a little bit of healthy detox is a good thing to do. Unfortunately most of the world’s water sources are polluted to some degree with pesticide runoff and other dangerous toxins contaminate our soil, our air, and our everyday living spaces as well. Studies testing umbilical cords of newborn infants for pesticides and plastic residues suggest that accumulation of these toxic substances is a reality, even for the unborn.  It is estimated that the average American today is exposed to that upwards of 250 pounds of toxic chemicals a day!

Where does all those toxins go? Research by toxicology experts, Dr. Warren Yu at George Washington University, Dr. David Carpenter at University of Albany and the Department of Defense, Dr. Choyke at the National Institute of Health, and researchers Dr. Roy Walford and Dr. John Lester, indicate that most of the toxins we absorb gets stored in our fat tissues and tends to concentrate in the body fat that surrounds the stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas, and the brain. This may be the primary reason that carrying extra body weight is linked with increased risk for things like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancers, even a shortened lifespan.

The full effect of these stored toxins is not yet entirely clear, but there is speculation that they may trigger a host of common ailments such as, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and possibly autoimmune disease. Dr. Yu and Dr. Carpenter worked to help detox rescue workers from 9/11 and Gulf War veterans exposed to agent orange. They found that the two greatest areas where we can eliminate toxins are from our skin and GI tract. Skin is our largest organ and toxins can be sweated out. Engaging in activities that make you sweat and then rinsing off with cool water can provide significant detoxification. A high-fiber diet, i.e., 40 grams of fiber a day or more is another way to help move toxins out through your GI tract.

Here are some of the strategies that help to detox:

• Intense exercise that stimulates sweating and increased breathing
• Dry skin brushing (removes dead skin cells and toxins)
• Infrared sauna 2 to 7 times a week for 40 to 60 minutes (helps stimulate sweating and mobilization of fat tissue)
• Weight loss (releases stored toxins in fat tissues)
• Drinking a lot of water helps flush toxins out the kidneys
• Eating leafy greens (the minerals in greens help carry out toxins in the GI track)
• Very high-fiber diet of 40 or more grams or more a day (40 grams a day would be equal to 5 servings of fruit; 4 cups of vegetables; 1 oz of nuts or seeds, and a ½ cup of legumes)

In the case of people who are exposed to higher levels of toxins — hair dressers, people with a lot of tattoos, or people who work with chemicals and solvents — they may need to add other detoxing strategies. Dr. Yu and Dr. Carpenter, when detoxing 9/11 rescue workers, used Vitamin B₃ (Niacin) to stimulate sweating and charcoal tablets to aid in detoxing the GI tract. However, you should consult your physician before trying these two strategies as they may interfere with certain medical conditions or medications.