6 Easy Ways To Detox for Autoimmune Disease
Exposure to toxins is one of the root causes of autoimmune disease, but the best way to detox from these health-destroying chemicals doesn’t have to be difficult. I find that when my patients try these easy ways to detox, their autoimmune health dramatically improves. Here are six simple ways to detox your body:
Best Way to Detox #1: Stay Regular
Having good and regular bowel movements is critical to remove toxins from the body. I recommend two or three bowel movements per day, but if I’m working with a patient who normally only had one bowel movement per week I’m thrilled if they now have only one per day.
One of the issues with constipation is that it makes it easy for toxins to go back into the body , instead of leaving the body the way they are supposed to. This process is known as fecal reabsorption of toxins. Constipation can lead to higher levels of an enzyme known as beta-glucuronidase, which promotes the recirculation of toxins, hormones, and drugs back into the body and increases the formation of carcinogens in the bowel.
To keep toxins moving out of your body and have regular bowel movements, eat lots of fiber and take a good probiotic supplement. You can also take a magnesium supplement, which can get things moving. If you have any serious digestive issues, work with a functional medicine provider to improve your digestion.
Other ways to reduce constipation include:
• Drink more water.
• Find out if you have a microbial overgrowth that is causing methane production and slowing down your bowels.
• Reduce your stress by meditating, exercising, and taking time for relaxation.
• Evaluate the timing when you’re eating. You want to make sure you’re giving your gut enough rest between taking in food.
Best Way to Detox #2: Drink Lots of Water
The kidneys are as much of a detox organ as your liver. Your kidneys filter out the toxins from the blood so that they can be excreted in the urine. The kidneys help expel unwanted products of metabolism, hormone metabolites, and toxins that have gone through liver detoxification. The kidneys also excrete industrial toxins such as heavy metals. Unfortunately, kidney function tends to decline as we get older, so that older people have a weakened ability to rid their bodies of many toxins.
Best Way to Detox #3: Sweat More
Anything that causes sweating is a sign that you’re moving toxins through the lymph nodes and blood. For this reason, exercising is a great way to detox as it causes sweating and increases circulation. Researchers have found that exercise clears toxins that are produced in our bodies and reduces inflammation. Saunas or Epsom salt baths are two other ways to boost sweat production.
Best Way to Detox #4: Get the Right Type of Nutrients
Based on their genetics, some people need a certain form of a nutrient to kickstart a process known as methylation. This process is critical for detoxification, so if you’re not methylating properly, you’re not removing toxins from your body. Methylation requires a special form of folate known as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). However, a large number of people have a genetic mutation that stops them from making enough 5-MTHF. The best remedy? Make sure your multivitamin or B-complex vitamin uses the 5-MTHF form of folate, rather than folic acid.
Best Way to Detox #5: Minimize Toxin Exposure
Of course, the best way to detox is to avoid toxins from the get-go. Some toxins like bisphenol-A (BPA) may be involved in the development of autoimmunity. In addition, phthalate exposure in pregnant mice led to an increased susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in the offspring, which is why detox for rheumatoid arthritis is a good idea. The sooner you can eliminate your exposure, the better.
In today’s chemical-loving world, it’s not possible to avoid all toxins. But you can be mindful of everyday exposures and try to reduce them. Use personal care products, food containers, and cleaning products at home and work that don’t contain parabens, phthalates, or BPA.
Remember that these toxins can lurk in unexpected places. For example, BPA is even found in cash register receipts, so decline a receipt when you’re shopping or ask the clerk to place it in a baggie.
You can minimize the toxins you take in every day by improving your air quality and water quality. Buy a good water filter for your house, not only for drinking water but also for showering and bathing.
In addition, eating organic foods can reduce your toxic burden and play an important role in an autoimmune detox diet. Research shows that organic produce has higher antioxidant levels and lower levels of the heavy metal cadmium. Pesticide residue was also four times higher in conventional crops compared to organic.
Best Way to Detox #6: Detox with Glutathione
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps defend against toxins. Glutathione for detoxification is one of the best ways to get heavy metals out of the body. It binds toxins in the liver to remove them from the body. Glutathione may also defend against oxidative stress and inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
What Natural Remedies to Use to Detox Your Body
You can increase your glutathione levels by supplementing with liposomal glutathione or taking N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), which the body turns into glutathione. Gotu kola and milk thistle also can support healthy levels of glutathione. You can read more advice on how to raise glutathione levels in my blog post about this important antioxidant.
Best Detox for Autoimmune Disease
As a functional medicine provider, I can help investigate if toxins are a root cause of your symptoms. Sign up for a free 15-minute discovery consultation with the Caplan Health Institute so we can talk about your health concerns and what is needed to resolve them. Once you come on board as a patient, I can order tests to see which toxins are causing you problems and the best detox for autoimmune disease. We’ll work together to get rid of your most concerning autoimmune issues, whether it’s joint pain, fatigue, or other common autoimmune problems. With diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations, you’ll be feeling like your old self again with energy, joy, and vitality.
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