Washington Co., WI – Detoxing. This has become a popular buzzword in the “dieting” world with new programs, shakes, smoothies, and diets regularly hitting the market all the time. The unfortunate thing is most of it is based on really bad nutrition misinformation designed to make businesses money, not to make you healthy.
Feeling confused? You’re not alone. Let’s get down to the basics.
The human body is designed to absorb the nutrients it needs to maintain homeostasis or a balance, and get rid of the rest. But when the body is not working properly, toxins, chemicals, and excess nutrients can stay in our tissues and cause damage, disease, or even death (such as with heavy-metal poisoning).
Several organs, such as the skin, liver, and kidneys, need to work together to filter everything and release the bad stuff before it becomes a problem. Sounds daunting, right? That’s why there are so many products out there that promise a “quick fix.” But you don’t need them.
What is the number one thing you can do to help your body detox naturally? Clean up your diet. Let’s take a closer look.
In general, we consume food at least three times a day, every day, for our entire lives. That means altering our diet can have tremendous effects on our health, either negative OR positive. Reducing exposure to toxins reduces the toxic load the body must work to eliminate.
Here are some simple changes you can make right away:
- Eat at least 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
- Choose organic whenever possible to reduce exposure to chemicals
- Eat foods that are high in fiber as fiber pulls toxins along with it out of the body. The best sources of fiber include legumes, split peas, chickpeas, and lentils.
With the short growing season in Southeastern Wisconsin, it’s helpful to have other ways of purchasing these healthful foods. Many local markets have great selections of produce throughout the winter months. Some local farms still have excess storage vegetables, such as squash and potatoes, available for sale.
Don’t overlook the frozen aisle at the grocery stores. Frozen fruits and veggies are harvested and then packaged at the peak of freshness and many retain much of their nutritional value. What else can you do to support the detoxification process?
Get at least 60 minutes of physical activity most days (perhaps at Jazzercise?!), work to manage your stress, drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep.
Lindsay Little is the Wellness Specialist at Jazzercise of Hartford/West Bend/Slinger/Dodge County. She became a certified instructor in 2016 and instructs classes at the Rec Center in Hartford. Lindsay holds graduate certificates in Holistic Nutrition from the American College of Healthcare Sciences and Essential Oil Coaching from the Essential Oil Institute.
Lindsay’s passion for health and wellness stems from the belief that health is much more than simply the absence of disease. Through her work, Lindsay hopes to inspire others to make small changes in their everyday lives that will positively impact their wellness journeys.
Lindsay was born and in West Bend and now lives in Juneau, WI on a small farm with her husband and four dogs.
References:
Haas, E.M. (2012). The Detox Diet. Berkley, CA: 10 Speed Press.
Pizzorno J. E. & Murray, M. T. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine (4th. ed.). St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone.