We can choose a healthy lifestyle day to day yet still come into contact with toxins in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, our cleaning supplies, makeup products, lotions and facial cleansers, the mattress we sleep on, the clothes we wear, the carpets in our homes and even in some of the supplements we take.
These toxins can be very harmful if they continue to build up in your system. An overload of toxins in your body has been linked to weight gain, cancer, Alzheimer’s, autism, diabetes, fatigue, heart disease, allergies, candida and infertility. New York Times best-selling author Dr. Mark Hyman says, “If you are struggling to lose weight despite eating well and exercising … toxins may be interfering with your body’s metabolism.” So it seems that detoxing your body could play a very important role in keeping your body healthy.
God designed your body to detox naturally by neutralizing, transforming and processing unwanted materials and toxins. Therefore, when we talk about detoxification, we are talking about improving and optimizing existing functions of our body’s own detoxification system. We can do this by decreasing the toxins we put in our bodies while at the same time supporting their detoxification and elimination systems with the nutrients they need in order to function properly. In doing this, I believe we can optimize our health.
Listen to Your Body
Your body will probably tell you when something is off balance. A lot of times, people are so used to feeling sick that they don’t realize their symptoms are actually a cry for help. Here are some signs that your body may need to detox:
1. Fatigue: In general, feeling tired isn’t necessarily abnormal, especially with busy schedules and lack of sleep. However, if you struggle with extreme fatigue and feel that it takes every ounce of energy to just get out of bed, you may be due for a detox. This is normally not because your body is worn out from having to keep you awake and alive, but rather because it may be overworking from trying to eliminate toxins that are overloading your system.
When they reach this point of exhaustion, many people reach for more coffee and energy drinks, which only add to the problem. Toxins can cause your immune system to get worn down, which may lead to repetitive illness, which then can lead to more fatigue—an unfortunate cycle.
2. Weight fluctuation: If you are eating a clean, healthy diet as well as exercising, but you still can’t seem to lose weight, then an overload of toxins could be the culprit. The main focus of a body saturated with toxins becomes the need to eliminate them, which means that weight loss will be last on its list of priorities.
3. Halitosis: Bad breath is often not a symptom of poor oral hygiene but rather of an imbalance in the digestive system. Some link halitosis to the liver, which is the main organ that eliminates toxins. Sometimes people will use gum to try to mask their bad breath, but most brands of chewing gum on the market are loaded with more toxins, like artificial sweeteners, which means that the attempt to mask the problem may make it worse.
4. Constipation: This is a condition that we all want to avoid. Not only does it make us uncomfortable and irritable, but it can also cause upset stomachs, headaches, muscle pains and fatigue. When an excess of toxins gets caught in the intestines, it then can cause your digestive tract to get clogged up. My advice is to eliminate all processed foods and to make sure you eat plenty of living foods. Drink good, clean water to help keep your digestive system regular.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett 
