11 ways to help detoxify from exposure to toxins
Becca Crawford
Given the ubiquitous toxicity of our urban environment, our bodies ingest and inhale toxins all the time, sadly. From the “food” we eat, the tap water we drink, the air we breathe, what we lather on our skin and hair, to what we use to clean our homes. But sometimes, an isolated incident occurs that might expose you to a whopping amount. It might be exposure to mould, leaded paint from a reno, your mother-in-law well-meaningly spraying perfumes or ‘air fresheners’ throughout your house, your partner spraying Mortein in every nook and cranny of your apartment, your grandma dousing your clothes with moth balls, your landlord insect bombing the whole building with pesticides, too much alcohol and not-so-clean food eaten on a recent holiday, or heavy metal exposure from an old bath containing lead. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are numerous, varied and include both man-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. Some are more toxic than others and can have long-term health effects.
Ok, so you’ve inhaled, ingested or absorbed a bucket load of toxins in higher concentrations than usual. What now? You need to detoxify these compounds from your system as quickly as possible. How quickly you can detoxify largely depends on your detoxification pathways. In particular if you have gene mutation MTHFR (determined through a simple blood test) you won't be able to detoxify as well and may need extra support from a naturopath or holistic health care provider.
This is what I recommend to help you detoxify naturally:
1. Continue to eat nutrient-dense whole foods especially bone broth from pastured or wild animals, fermented foods and drinks, leafy green veggies, and coconut oil – all of which have a detoxifying effect on the body.
2. Drink plenty of filtered water with a pinch of unrefined salt (you can read about why I add unrefined salt to my water in my previous blog here). In terms of water filters, I recommend a reverse osmosis water filter system from The Water Shop. Simply call them, and mention that I referred you for 20% off.
3. Avoid all dietary and environmental toxins as much as possible to not overload your already taxed system. The main offenders are refined sugar, industrial seed oils, refined gluten, unfermented soy products (e.g. soy milk), and all conventional household and personal care products. I discuss all this in great detail in my one on one health coaching sessions. In terms of personal care and household cleaning products, the upshot is less is more! If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin! If it’s not natural or doesn’t biodegrade- don’t use it in your house!
4. Spend as little time as possible in offending area (if there is one). This might mean quarantining the area, or temporality moving out.
5. Get out into fresh air as much as possible and have the windows in your house/ apartment open as much as possible with fans on to get good air flow and ventilation all the time. Eat meals outdoors, go for walks in nature or along the coast.
6. If air quality is affected, diffuse (not burn!) the essential oil blend called Purification from Young Living. Purification is a blend of powerful essential oils that, as the name suggests, purify and clean the air you breathe. If mould specifically is the issue, I recommend following the 4-step procedure in my Mould Protocol which I put together with a building biologist which incorporates the Young Living Thieves range of products. For information on, or to access, my Mould Protocol or how to purchase Young Living products, please fill out the contact form on the essential oils page of my website and we will contact you to answer all your questions. Note that if your room/house is very damp/humid (or subject to mould), use a waterless diffuser (eg Young Living Wanderful diffuser) which diffuses oils neat into the air without adding further moisture. This is excellent for mouldy areas or damp rooms with little ventilation.
7. If air quality is affected, buy an air purifier like this one. I wrote about this in my recent mould blog. These machines purify the air. They break up the particles and create negative ions which bind to the toxins. You can move the air purifier around from room to room and especially put it in the offending room to quickly purify the air.
8. Get support from a holistic practitioner like Emily Rose Yates. There are detoxifying therapeutic grade essential oils, teas and herbs and other things like charcoal that draw toxins out of your system. If you are pregnant mention this as some oils and herbs may be contraband during pregnancy.
9. Oil pull. Oil pulling is a powerful detoxifier by drawing toxins out of your body. Read my previous blog post on this here. I’ve been doing it every single morning for 15 minutes upon rising for eons while showering or getting dressed etc.
10. Sweat it out in an infrared sauna. Sweating detoxifies the body and research shows that infrared saunas get greater results than ordinary saunas. You can buy your very own one and keep it in your home like half my friends do ;-)
11. Young Living Ningxia Red. This unique drink (made from pureed goji berries, pomegranates, plums, cherries, blueberries, and citrus essential oils) is the world’s highest antioxidant food source according to the ORAC scale. Antioxidants powerfully detoxify the body by mopping up free radicals that can cause illness and disease. Citrus oils (found in Ningxia) produce glutathione which is the most powerful internal antioxidant. The recommended dose is 50-60ml daily (neat or diluted in water). The most economical way of purchasing is to purchase a Ningxia Red starter pack and then a 2 pack of Ningxia Red monthly thereafter. To purchase simply fill out the contact form on the essentials oils & low tox page of my website and I will be in touch.
I hope these suggestions help. What other tools do you have to detoxify? I’d love to hear.
