Detoxing is Empowering, Not Restrictive
/Often, it feels mentally restrictive to “eliminate” certain foods or beverages, even with intention to feel better. Many people express hesitation to work together because they aren’t ready to “give up” coffee, alcohol, gluten, sugar. In truth, I don’t require anyone to restrict anything against their will (though we discuss the attachment). Readiness is key. When we’re ready to feel better, we’re ready to try letting go of what may not be serving us.
Learning about the role and burdens of our vital organs can change the way we consider our habits. Besides gut and adrenal function, nourishing detoxification pathways is my favorite way to help people understand the connections between consumption and our bodies. Our liver, lymph nodes, kidneys, colon, skin, and blood vessels are designed to filter foreign compounds, bacteria, harmful contaminants.
We are always “detoxing.” Yet even “healthy” people are inundated with the toxic burdens of modern life. We roll our eyes about talk of food dyes, sugar alcohols, preservatives, and processed foods (though these harmful substances are pervasive, and policies do not protect us from them). We turn our backs to topics about forever chemicals, endocrine disruptors, metabolic disruptors, cardiovascular disruptors, obesogens, diabetogens… It’s overwhelming, scary.
Yet ~25% of global diseases relate to environmental factors, with toxic substances comprising one-fifth of the underlying causes of death in the United States in 2000 (notably, 25 years ago).
What’s changed? More chemicals. Less accountability. Increased complacency.
Seems crazy to talk about toxicants when there are other concerning events happening in our country and abroad. Still, a growing contingency of people are challenging the status quo of food our broken food system. They demand better choices for our people, updated regulations to match other countries, increased responsibility to keep us safe from harmful compounds. We discuss these same issues in my clinical work: how to be informed, make choices that benefit our mind-bodies, and commit to our food values.
Why then, in our sick world with in influencers on a mission to improve health, are they being chastised, demoralized, and unfollowed?
It will be an uphill battle to ban 1600+ chemicals already illegal in other developed nations, change policies, conduct ethical research. Meanwhile, we must be personally responsible for our own health with guidance, knowledge, and intentional changes in what we consume (and what we don’t). Diet and lifestyle play a massive role in our health, y’all! Just as some diseases can be reversed by changing food, beverages, habits and behaviors, we can offset disease risk by reducing exposures and supporting our inherent detox systems. (Skeptical? Read the research.)
It’s relatively simple to clean up our diets (uncontaminated foods!); increase water consumption (intracellular hydration!); ensure proper elimination (ideal poops!); improve exercise (more sweat!); shift toxic energies (understand triggers!); make key changes to our environments (Teflon! Parabens! Phthalates! Glyphosate! Methylmercury! Arsenic! Electromagnetic frequencies!). In doing so, we feel, sleep, and think better. We want to commit to our choices.
It’s empowering (not restrictive) to possess knowledge of what contributes to our wellbeing. When tuned in to our behaviors, how our bodies feel after committed changes, and our resiliency despite “all the things” affecting our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, it’s easier to say, “no thanks” to foods, drinks, and products containing ingredients that make us feel crappy.
Do your detox pathways need support? I’ve created a 5-week, self-paced program you can start any time! And, you get a 1:1 consult with me after the program. Click HERE to learn more.
Reference
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(11)00374-6/fulltext