A detox is a great way of giving your body a good clean and removing any toxins that may have built up. We ingest toxins in many different ways: through food and drink, via airborne pollutants such as exhaust fumes, and through applying cosmetics to our skin and dyes to our hair.

Our bodies expel those toxins through our bowels, urinary tracts and lungs. But if these exit routes are not working as well as they should, then the body will expel toxins through the skin and mucous membranes. If you experience skin breakouts and persistent catarrh then this is a good indication that you are suffering an overload of toxins.

Some practical ways to deal with this include getting out in the fresh air every day to clear your lungs. Drinking at least 1.5 litres of still water daily will also help to flush out toxins through your urinary tract. And taking fibre and psyllium husk will help your bowls to function properly.

However, from time to time, our bodies need to be cleansed from harmful build-ups in order to really function at their best. Even though we may be eating a healthy diet, exercising and taking good quality supplements, our bodies may still need to be cleansed from other toxins, such as the build-up of toxic metals. These can include mercury, lead, aluminium, arsenic and cadmium.

We are exposed to these toxins in all manner of ways, from receiving amalgam fillings at the dentist, to eating fish that have been contaminated with chemicals, being exposed to industrial fumes and eating food that has been sprayed with pesticides.

Symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, irritability, depression and anaemia are all signs that you could be experiencing a toxic accumulation of metals in your body’s soft tissues.

Let’s take a look at some ways to support the detoxification process.

IODINE

Restoring your iodine levels through supplementation may help to support the detoxification process. In addition, iodine has been found to be beneficial in detoxing the body of sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride can damage the liver and kidneys, weaken the immune system and may lead to symptoms that mimic fibromyalgia. It is added to many water supplies. Supplementation with iodine has been found to increase the excretion of sodium fluoride from our bodies via our urine in the form of calcium fluoride. However, it is recommended that this process is supported with calcium and magnesium supplements as the body’s calcium levels will be depleted. Lecithin is also recommended as an adjunct to using iodine for excreting fluorides. ^l The only natural source of iodine is via seaweed such as kelp and Kombu but you would need three portions per day to get the required intake. Look for colloidal or atomic nascent iodine as that is the closest to natural iodine that you can get.

CLAY BATHS

Clay baths are a simple way to help detox the body of metals and toxins such as lead, cadmium, mercury and aluminium. They have reportedly been safely used for centuries, the premise being that certain types of clays, like bentonite, are able to draw out toxins through the pores of the skin.

Clay baths help to stimulate the lymphatic system and cleanse the skin, which is of course the largest organ in the body. The benefits with clay baths are that they are inexpensive, do not require costly equipment and can save time and money compared to chelation therapy and other environmental detoxification programmes. They are also particularly good for relieving stress and the bath as it is believed that the more clay that is used, the more powerful the response.²

MAGNESIUM

Magnesium is necessary for the detoxification of the body’s cells in many different ways. Firstly, this vital mineral plays a major role in the production of energy or ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This energy is vital for the detoxification process. Secondly, magnesium assists with the cleansing of cells by stimulating the sodium-potassium exchange on the cell wall which regulates potassium levels inside and outside the cell. Thirdly, magnesium regulates the calcium content inside cells, thus preventing cellular calcification and premature ageing.

In addition, magnesium protects the body’s cells from oxidation by free radicals and protects the body from heavy metals such as mercury, aluminium, nickel, lead and cadmium. For this reason, magnesium is a useful means of protecting the body from chemical toxicity.³

Recommended Products:

CLAY BATH KITS

Clear Out Detox, Smokers Detox, and Environmental Detox all available.

ANCIENT MINERALS MAGNESIUM BATH FLAKES

Genuine Zechstein magnesium chloride bath flakes, use in the bath or footbath! Click here…