Happy New Year!
The new year is a perfect time to reflect back on the year, and look forward in the coming year on how we can improve or make changes.
At Live Well, the new year is a time to reset. Detox is a great way to counteract the effects of eating processed foods, drinking alcohol, and other unhealthy habits that we can develop throughout the year. Especially during the holidays!
Toxin Sources
We hear the word thrown around a lot, and to different people it can mean different things. When I speak of toxins, I’m talking about the substances in our daily lives — chemicals, heavy metals, plastics, pesticides, preservatives — that can be harmful to our bodies. Toxins can be found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the products we put on our skin.
I saw an interesting fact that in 1939, there were 32 active pesticidal ingredients registered with the federal government. Now, approximately 75,000 chemicals are in common use. The point is not to scare you — it’s to urge you to be aware and thoughtful about what you put your body through. We are far from the natural way of life our great grandparents grew up in.
How Our Bodies Naturally Detox
Our bodies are naturally equipped to cleanse through various organs and processes — your liver, kidneys, digestive system, skin, and lungs all play a role. There are things you can do daily to support this natural detoxification, such as: drink lots of clean water, move your body and sweat, and focus on antioxidant and fiber-rich food that supports proper digestion and liver function. If you’re not caring for your body in these ways regularly, over time — and depending on the types and quantity of toxins we put in (or on) our body — it can slow down our detoxification system.
This time of year we often find ourselves looking for that “reset.” We feel sluggish — we’ve been eating poorly, our stress level is up, our physical activity and fresh air time is down.
What We Can Do to Support Detox
There is a wide range of options when it comes to detoxifying your body. You can make small steps, such as drinking more water (it helps your body eliminate toxins) or bigger challenges such as going on an elimination diet like the Whole 30 which is a tool to eliminate processed foods and decrease sugar cravings.
If you’re looking for support, we have 10-day detox kits at the Live Well office in Chanhassen, which are designed to support your body’s natural metabolic detoxification processes. The kit guides you in what to eat and drink and in the end leaves you feeling refreshed. If you’re looking to feel lighter and more energetic, ask your doctor for further guidance on a detox program that would work best for you! Book an appointment today.
