When you think about detox, the concept might seem kind of abstract at first. You might think, doesn’t the body do a good enough job of internally detoxing on its own? And what, exactly, are we detoxing — and from where? Well, the short answer is: We live in a toxic world. Post-industrialization, particularly into the 20th century and beyond, our environment and food supply have been flooded with newly formulated toxic substances, many of which are not adequately tested for safety before release for public use. From pesticides to dry-cleaning chemicals and food additives — not to mention toxin exposure from mainstream personal care and cleaning products — our bodies have never been more overwhelmed with toxic burden than they are today.

The body is a resilient mechanism, and it does all it can to keep you going — even when burdened by years of constipation, problematic food choices, rampant toxic chemical exposure, and stress. All things considered, it’s no wonder that so many of us struggle with weight and health issues. Without adequate support for the body’s innate detoxification processes, your system simply gets overwhelmed. Over time, unaddressed toxic burden can lead to breakdown of your mental and emotional well-being, as well as full-blown physical illness. Simply put, detox protocols have their roots in ancient health care practices, and there has never been a point in history when they are more urgently needed.

Scientists at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) say that of the thousands upon thousands of chemicals registered for use with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “the agency has regulated only a few,’ according to Molly Miller writing for the UCSF news center. When the body’s detoxification processes get overloaded by toxic burden, excess waste from chronic constipation, and pollutants from toxic substances, get pushed into the tissues — particularly fat tissues — of the body for safer storage. This is why it can be tough to lose weight if your body is toxic.

While there are lab tests that can help measure your body’s toxic burden, we also advise a common sense approach to dealing with toxicity. If you struggle with fatigue, weight you can’t budge, skin issues, nagging health symptoms, and chronic digestive problems, it’s safe to say that your body is overwhelmed and needs support. And while you should absolutely partner with your doctor if you manage a diagnosed mental or physical health condition, there are also powerful lifestyle adjustments you can make that can help ease the effects of toxic burden on the body.  

Dry brushing, infrared saunas, a whole foods, plant-centered diet (choose organic when possible), raw green vegetable juices, enemas, and regular colon hydrotherapy can all help you turn up the dial on your body’s innate healing and detoxification processes. While you can feel better surprisingly quickly once you start helping your body clean up the internal pollution, know that achieving optimal health is a process that can take time. If you’re coming to this work for the first time at age 30 and beyond, your healing process may require some patience. The good news is, there’s a lot of power in your hands when it comes to alleviating toxic burden on your body. While you can’t necessarily control environmental factors, by choosing healthier products and utilizing sound detox support protocols, you can help protect your body from the effects of a toxic and polluted world.