4 Surefire Ways To Cleanse Your Body Inside and Out

Your Organs of Detoxification

Your body is an incredible biological organism capable of regenerating itself, eliminating toxins and healing. However, modern life has handicapped some of these abilities making it more difficult than ever to stay healthy. It is a bit of a paradox that we are in a world that is safer from threats than ever before but simultaneously so removed from the natural world that the real threats hide within us.

​We are exposed to countless environmental chemicals on a daily basis ranging from parabens, phthalates, toluene, xylene and styrene to name a few. These are extremely toxic and can be found in body care products, fuel additives, paints, carpet glue and so on. The effects include neurological damage, endocrine (hormone) disruption, DNA damage (free radical/oxidative damage), kidney and digestive damage.

Your primary organs of detoxification are:

• Liver - Phase 1: neutralize substances and convert chemicals into forms that are more readily removed. Phase 2: transform the intermediate substances and conjugate them for removal.  
• Colon - gut bacteria break down toxins, molecules and medications as well as a role in removal of heavy metals.
• Skin - skin aids in the removal of waste via sweat and is particularly helpful for the excretion of the heavy metal Aluminum.​

​Below are 4 ways that you can effectively support your body's ability to detoxify from our modern world. Of course be sure to check with your doctor before trying any of these methods.
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1. Infrared Sauna

One of the most effective ways to detoxify your body is to use an infrared sauna. The optimum infrared sauna uses the full spectrum including near infrared, middle infrared and far infrared light. Near-infrared (NIR)  is the shortest infrared wavelength and penetrates the skin’s surface most effectively. When delivered through an infrared sauna, NIR promotes skin renewal, cell health, wound healing, and tissue growth. Middle-infrared (MIR)  is a longer wavelength that can penetrate deeper into the body’s soft tissue where inflammation occurs. MIR helps expand blood vessels and increases circulation, so more oxygen can reach injured areas of the body. This reduces pain and speeds up the healing process. Far-infrared (FIR) is the longest wavelength. It can reach deepest into the body where toxins are stored. FIR stimulates the sweat glands, resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat. 

Below are some benefits of using an infrared sauna:

• ​Detoxification 
• Decrease inflammation
• Increase circulation
• Relieve pain
• Burn calories
• Sleep better
• Collagen production; cellulite reduction

You can find a spa near you that offers infrared sauna or you can buy your own home infrared sauna.

2. Dry Skin Brushing

A primary function of the skin occurs through the activities of its pores. Every square inch contains hundreds of these pores, all of which are made up of tiny muscles that must be exercises to assist the body in getting rid of these toxins. Below are some of the benefits of skin brushing:

• Remove dead skin cells
• ​Cleanse the pores
• Stimulate the hormones and oil-producing glands of the skin
• Keep the skin soft, supple and youthful
• Improve circulation
• Help control cellulite
• Assist the body in the removal of toxins

Download Skin Brushing Protocol

3. Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of pure filtered water to flush out the colon of compacted waste and undigested food in order to improve the health of the tissues of the colon as well as increase detoxification capacity and improve nutrient uptake. Hydrotherapy can be done in a number of ways and of course you should check with your doctor first. Certain conditions of the colon such as colon cancer, hemorrhoids and diverticulitis are possibly unsafe to perform this type of therapy.

Colon Hydrotherapist: this is the best place to start for anyone who has never done anything like this because it provides professional support as well as high end equipment to ensure the most effective cleanse possible. I recommend this to many of my clients when they embark on a healing program.

Colema: This is a do-it-yourself at-home procedure which is a combination of a colonic and an enema. It gets the water deeper than a basic enema but requires more equipment to perform. Many find this to be an effective procedure to be done 3-4 times per year. Here is an example of a colema board used over your toilet.

Coffee Enema: while it may seem a bit out there to insert coffee instead of water, this process was first used in the early 1900's and was found to have so many benefits that it made into the Lahey Clinic in Boston. There are a number of potential benefits from using coffee enemas including: pain relief, bile flow stimulation, dilation of blood vessels of colon, promotes peristalsis and enhance glutathione s-transferase production. You can read more about the origins and benefit of coffee enemas here.

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4. Laboratory Testing for Detox Supplement Recommendations

One question that might be on your mind is whether or not you have any toxins in your system. The quick answer is yes, of course you do but how much, which ones and are you capable of mobilizing and removing them are the more relevant questions. It can't hurt to try any of the above methods for supporting your body's natural detoxification capacity but to really maximize detoxification it is necessary to test and determine which toxins need to be removed. This is where functional lab testing can be extremely beneficial so that you can know which supplements or detoxification procedures will be the most beneficial.

​Here are 4 of the most important detoxification tests that I recommend. They are all tests that can be completed in the comfort of your own home with the exception of one which requires a blood draw:
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1. ​GPL-Tox from Great Plains Laboratory - a toxic non-metal chemical profile that screens for the presence of 173 different toxic chemicals including organophosphate pesticides, phthalates, benzene, xylene, vinyl chloride, pyrethroid insecticides, acrylamide, perchlorate, diphenyl phosphate, ethylene oxide, acrylonitrile, and more. This profile also includes Tiglylglycine (TG), a marker for mitochondrial disorders resulting from mutations of mitochondrial DNA. These mutations can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, infections, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies.
2. Mercury Tri-Test & Blood Metals from Quicksilver Scientific - The Mercury Tri-Test is the only clinical test that utilizes blood, hair, and urine to measure excretion abilities and exposure of inorganic and methyl mercury. Unlike common “Challenge Testing”, the Mercury Tri-Test separates methyl mercury (mostly from seafood or amalgam-based mercury) from inorganic mercury (the most toxic form) and measures each directly.The Blood Metals Panel screens for a broad range of elements to show elevated exposure to toxic metals or imbalances of nutrient elements in whole blood.Nutrient Elements: Calcium, Copper, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, Zinc. Potentially Toxic Metals: Antimony, Arsenic, Cadmium, Cobalt, Lead, Mercury, Silver, Strontium
3. Organix Comprehensive Profile from Genova Diagnostics - Organic acids are metabolic intermediates that are produced in pathways of central energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter breakdown, or intestinal microbial activity. Marked accumulation of specific organic acids detected in urine often signals a metabolic inhibition or block. The metabolic block may be due to a nutrient deficiency, an inherited enzyme deficit, toxic build-up or drug effect. Several of the biomarkers are markers of intestinal bacterial or yeast overgrowth. The reason I recommend this one is because it help identify nutritional gaps which can play a major role in your body's ability to detoxify itself.
4. GI-Map from Diagnostic Solutions- The Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) is an innovative clinical tool that measures gastrointestinal microbiota DNA from a single stool sample with state of the art, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology.  The GI-MAP was designed to detect microbes that may be disturbing normal microbial balance or contributing to illness as well as indicators of digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune function.

Having the right information about what is going on in your body will set the stage for making the most informed decisions about which supplements and detoxification strategies may be best for you. Take a look at the special offer below to save money on your own customized detoxification program.