Toxins are naturally eliminated from our body through our liver. The liver converts many (but not all) of the harmful chemicals we ingest or absorb into water-soluble molecules. These are flushed out in our urine or feces.

Whenever we decide to begin a detoxification regimen, we need to remember to start when we are healthy, not sick. We need to establish a healthy lifestyle and dietary habits FIRST. This gives us a reserve that our body can draw on to allow our liver to do its job properly and not become overwhelmed which in turn, can make us very sick.

The Weston A. Price diet recommendations includes these timeless guidelines:

• Eat foods that are natural, unprocessed, and organic (and contain no sugar except for the occasional bit of honey or maple syrup).
• Eat foods that grow in your native environment. In other words, eat locally grown food.
• Eat unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk) and fermented foods.
• Eat at least one third of your food raw.
• Make sure you eat enough healthy fats, including those from animal sources like omega-3 fats, and reduce your intake of omega-6 from vegetable oils.

Dr Mercola stresses that it is important to understand that if we’re deficient in essential metals, your body will actually use toxic heavy metals as “stand-ins” instead.

For example:

• Calcium is replaced by lead, which deposits primarily in bone, and disrupts the formation of red blood cells. Lead contributes to poor bone health such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
• Zinc is replaced by cadmium, which tends to accumulate heavily in your kidneys. Cadmium overload is associated with peripheral neuropathy.
• Magnesium is replaced by aluminum, which, among other things, induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s.
• Manganese is replaced by nickel, which is carcinogenic.

Thus, it is important to cleanse the body but also nourish it. An important way to nourish the gut is to eat fermented foods such as kimchi and sauerkraut. Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions cookbook has a variety of simple recipes for fermented foods, including kimchi, that you can make at home. Good bacteria help break down the foods. A good probiotic supplement can do the same.

Our bodies eliminate toxins through the skin as well. One beneficial detox method for the skin is using an infra-red sauna, particularly for slow metabolizers. It heats the tissues several inches deep, which can enhance the natural metabolic processes. It also enhances circulation and helps oxygenate the tissues.

Lastly, the best way to protect our health is to limit our exposure to pesticides and herbicides. We can do this by buying organically grown foods. If cost is an issue, buy organically grown animal meat first. Animals will have the largest amount of toxins. Then choose organic for the fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticides. Refer to the shopping list from http://www.ewg.org  Drinking, cooking and washing with filtered water is needed. If you don’t have well water than a good water filtration system is a good investment. Having a shower filter is important since the absorption of toxins through the skin and lungs can do much damage.  Avoid synthetic pesticides in your home and gardens, especially in the form of insect repellant, lice shampoo, pet sprays or otherwise. There are safe and natural alternatives for just about any pest problem.

Detoxing doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. The simple steps listed in my newsletter and this blog are a great place to start.