Cleansing: A Path to Healing + Radiant Health
“The simple truth is that we are living in a sea of toxins and it is destroying our bodies and brains.” ~Dr. Hyman
Cleansing is a Lifestyle. Cleansing is not a fad, rather it is an essential element of healing and creating radiant health. Something I have observed in the wellness space is the cleansing trend. While I agree that cleansing is important I don’t agree with a majority of the widely promoted cleanses that exist.
So many of these cleanses are not actually cleansing the body in an effective and safe way, rather they are creating more harm and creating stress on the body. I have seen cleansing portrayed as a one time or an infrequent endeavor, assuming that the body is able to cleanse itself despite the pervasive toxicity that exists in our environment. There is a misconstrued idea that if you cleanse once you can resume your normal lifestyle once complete with the cleanse. Cleansing is ongoing. While the body has its own innate intelligent cleansing pathways and processes it needs additional support.
Everyday we are exposed to chemicals, toxins, toxic heavy metals, and pathogens that compromise our health and impact our bodies. Exposure to these chemicals, toxins, and heavy metals happens daily– through the food we eat, water and beverages we consume, products we use, the air we breathe, and the environment we live in… These toxins, heavy metals, and chemicals accumulate in our bodies and can perpetuate symptoms, conditions, and the progression of illness over time. Cleansing and detoxing our bodies of these harmful materials is vital to reverse and heal the symptoms, conditions, and illnesses that are rising exponentially. An essential part of healing and creating lasting radiant health is cleansing and detoxification. The more we eliminate toxins from our lives and minimize our exposure to these toxins, chemicals, heavy metals, and pathogens by becoming more aware the more we support our body and begin the cleansing process.
Cleansing and Detoxification is multifaceted. Cleansing impacts you physically, energetically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. There are many elements involved in cleansing: food, hydration, supplementation, wellness practices, specific cleanses, etc. There are certain health hindering foods that prevent cleansing and health promoting foods that promote cleansing in an efficient and effective manner. Hydration is a vital component of cleansing as it promotes the flushing and purging of toxins from the liver and lymphatic system. The more hydrated your body, the more it is able to cleanse and eliminate the toxins. Specific supplements also support the body in cleansing as well as strengthen the bodily systems to enhance the body’s cleansing capabilities.
The world has changed so much in the last few decades. Where we once lived in harmony with the Earth, attuned to the natural cycles, we now live a bit more disconnected from the Earth and natural cycles. This has huge implications for our health and wellbeing. The rise of profit and product focused industries and systems that are creating toxins, pollutants, and chemicals has wide ranging effects on planetary and human health. These toxins and chemicals disrupt the homeostasis and harmony within the body. We have become surrounded by toxins, synthetic chemicals, and toxic heavy metals that increase our toxic load, compromise our health, and contribute to the symptoms and conditions we are experiencing.
Cleansing and detoxing our bodies of these materials is vital to reverse and heal the symptoms, conditions, and illnesses that are rising exponentially. It is vital that we become more aware and more empowered when it comes to our health and wellness so that we can heal and experience radiant vitality and health. While I know this can feel overwhelming, infuriating, and discouraging I want to inspire you to know that we hold more power to reclaim our health than we may have realized. Knowledge is power, especially when we take aligned action. When we know better, we can do better. The intention in sharing this is to inform and empower you. The more you know, the more you can take aligned action so that you can heal, reclaim your health, and live a fulfilling life.
There are so many ways you can support your body, heal and reverse the symptoms, and create radiant health. Cleansing is one of the most powerful tools that will support you in reclaiming your health and maintaining radiant health in the time to come.
Ways to support your body’s detoxification:
Eliminate Health Hindering Foods
Incorporate Health Promoting Foods
Focus on Hydration
Supplement Support
Wellness Practices
Health Hindering Foods to Eliminate + Avoid:
Eggs — feed pathogens like Streptococcus + EBV, contain a high fat content which prevents cleansing and clogs the lymph
Dairy — high in fat, clogs lymphatic system + liver, dairy feeds pathogens that cause health symptoms, conditions, and illnesses
Gluten — feeds Streptococcus bacteria and other viruses, promotes inflammation, and contributes to digestive issues
Canola Oil + Other Processed Oils (soybean, safflower, etc.) — creates inflammation, free radicals + oxidation, high fat content burdens the liver and slows the lymphatic flow
Alcohol — dehydrates the body + skin, creates acidity, taxes the liver, and promotes premature aging
Caffeine — dehydrates the body and skin, accelerates aging, creates acidity, taxes the adrenals, + hinders collagen formation. Caffeine compromises the adrenals, liver, and lymphatic system
Detoxifying + Health Promoting Foods to Incorporate:
Organic Food — the conventionally grown foods contain toxic pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide residues that disrupt the hormones in the body, contribute to a high toxic load, perpetuate health symptoms and conditions, and are less nutrient dense due to farming practices
Fruit — the most healing food on the planet— fruits are incredibly healing, cleansing, and detoxifying. Most of us do not eat enough fruit… Eating healing fruits like pineapple, apples, wild blueberries, is going to amplify and accelerate our healing and remarkably transform our health
Leafy Greens — contain the most bioavailable and assimilable form of protein, they are rich in antioxidants and help remove toxins from the liver and lymphatic system
Veggies — veggies are powerful detoxifiers, they contain essential minerals and nutrients that nourish the body on a cellular level and provide support for the organs of the body
Hydration:
Hydration plays a pivotal part in the detoxification of the body. The more hydrated we are, the more we can cleanse and flush toxins out of our bodies that have been contributing to the health symptoms we may be experiencing. The vast majority of people have bodies that are chronically dehydrated. When we are dehydrated the body holds onto the fluid, and also the toxins more than it does when we are hydrated.
Celery Juice — antiviral and antibacterial it supports the elimination of pathogens, strengthens the immune system, cleanses the lymph and liver, and clears the skin.
Coconut Water — full of electrolytes and essential trace minerals, coconut water revitalizes the body, cleanses the liver, and supports the lymphatic system.
Cucumber Juice — deeply hydrating and nourishing, cucumber juice restores the liver, provides key nutrients to the cells and reduces inflammation.
Lemon Water — adding lemon to our water makes the water “living” and makes it more hydrating. It helps to detoxify the liver, cleanse the lymphatic system, and hydrate the body on a cellular level.
High Quality Supplements:
Supplementation plays a foundational role in detoxifying the body as well as providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients
Ashwagandha — an adaptogenic Ayurvedic herb; meaning it helps the body’s response to stress thus minimizing the damaging impact of stress. It supports the liver and adrenals which further supports and enhances detoxification processes
Cat’s Claw — a powerful anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial herb that supports the body’s immune system
Barley Grass Juice Powder — contains vital nutrients for the body, detoxes heavy metals, supports the removal of viruses and other toxins from the body
Chaga Mushroom — a powerful immune support that strengthens the lymphatic system, enhances liver and cardiovascular health
Lemon Balm — a powerful adrenal support that calms the nerves, supports the nervous system, liver and strengthens the body’s immune response
Nettle Leaf — an anti-inflammatory adaptogenic herb that supports the immune system, liver, and adrenals which optimizes the body’s ability to cleanse, detox and heal
Spirulina — removes radiation, detoxifies the body of heavy metals and other chemicals, abundant source of vital minerals and nutrients, supports the nervous system and muscle growth
Vitamin C — an essential vitamin, meaning our bodies don’t produce it on their own. It’s a potent antioxidant that counteracts the oxidative stress that results from stress. It also supports the body’s detoxification processes + pathways
Zinc — an essential nutrient that our bodies don’t make on their own. So we need to get it through the foods we eat and in supplemental form. It strengthens the immune system, neutralizes pathogens, supports the liver and promotes cleansing and healing
Teas:
Red Clover — a powerful lymphagogue- most incredible herb to support and cleanse the lymphatic system, it provides the body with necessary minerals and nutrients that may be deficient
Burdock Root — supports cleansing of the lymph and live, body detoxification, boosts metabolism, and supports weight loss
Ginger (try juicing ginger or making ginger water) — powerful anti-inflammatory that supports the immune system, flushes excess lactic acid from the body, and enhances the production of Vitamin B12
Rose Hip Tea — purifies the blood and nourishes the lymphatic system, strengthens the immune system
Wellness Practices:
Dry Brushing — an Ayurvedic practice that supports the lymphatic system; stimulating the lymphatic flow in moving toxins out of the body for elimination so that they do not accumulate in the lymph nor the tissues
Gua Sha — a Traditional Chinese Medicine Method that promotes lymphatic flow and detoxification, supporting the release of toxins, pathogens, and retained fluid from the tissues and the body
Infrared Sauna — supports detoxification on a cellular level
Red Light Therapy — a powerful , supports DNA repair, cellular health, detoxification
Movement (especially rebounding) — stimulates lymph flow, supports liver and heart health, encourages elimination and detoxification, cleanses the blood and body
Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie — efficiently and safely removes toxic heavy metals from the body
These are some of my favorite foods, ways to hydrate, supplements, and wellness practices that have supported me in cleansing and healing my body so that I could create radiant health. Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t. There is an abundance of support to choose from, there is no need to feel like you have to do it all. Take it one step, one breath, and one day at a time. And remember, you are powerful and strong. You can and will heal.
