The world we live in is becoming more and more toxic every day. Hundreds of thousands of new synthetic chemicals are introduced into the environment and consumer products each year without proper safety testing. It is clear that we cannot rely on so-called regulatory agencies to prevent dangerous chemicals from entering the world we live in.
It is therefore paramount to proactively educate ourselves about the potential sources of these chemicals, their health effects, and how we can avoid them – and how to eliminate toxicity. from the body once we have come into contact with it.
My name is Matt Bennett and I am a Holistic Health Educator with a passion for focus on raw food and detox. I have been practicing a raw vegan lifestyle, focusing on whole fruits and vegetables since 2011. During that time, I have seen amazing transformations in my body, mind, and spirit. .
I grew up in a small town in southern Minnesota, where we ate a pretty standard American diet of meat, dairy, eggs, processed foods, fast food and of course, some fruit. trees and vegetables. Since I was a child, I have suffered from asthma, eczema, constipation and frequent colds/hot flashes. As I entered my teenage years, I began to suffer from depression and toxic thought patterns, which greatly reduced my quality of life.
At the age of 24, I learned about the concept of fasting and detox juices to promote physical and mental health. I know very little about either of these methods, but coincidentally – just weeks before – I was given a traditional Jack LaLanne juicer that I hadn’t used up until that point. The next day, I went to the grocery store and bought all the fruits and vegetables I could find and embarked on a ten-day juice party.
What happens next will change my life forever.
By day 3, I slept better, had more energy, and had a clearer mind than I had in a long time. As the juice party continued, I noticed that my asthma symptoms improved dramatically and my toxic thinking patterns started to change in a more positive direction. After drinking all my juice on day ten, I switched to a completely vegan, plant-based diet, and 11 years later, I’ve maintained all of the original benefits plus to this day.
Through this experience, I realized the power of raw foods and natural life and their ability to assist the body in achieving its natural state of health. This is what I want to share with you today – that the body is a self-healing and detoxifying organ that can do wonders when placed in the right environment. And how we eat and live will largely determine how effectively our body detoxifies and maintains homeostasis – so let’s take a look at five ways to help the body in the process.
How to remove toxins from your mind and body
♡ Get at least 75% of your daily calories from raw fruits and vegetables.
This will provide the body with the vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, fiber and hydration needed to support the body’s detoxification process. Keeping the body hydrated with water-rich foods (and drinking plenty of water if needed) allows the body to transport toxins to the elimination pathways. Fiber binds with toxins in the digestive tract and pulls them out of the body through the intestinal tract.
♡ Sweat daily – ideally through exercise.
The skin is the body’s largest detoxification organ and plays an important role in reducing the toxin load on the body. Sweating isn’t just a way for the body to cool itself – it’s also used to transport metabolic waste and toxins from the environment out of the body. This is another important reason to avoid dehydration. Stay away from lotions and creams that clog pores and consider using a dry brush a few times a week to exfoliate your skin.
♡ Forest bathing
Spending time in nature helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is essential for healing and detoxification. Being around trees, fresh air, sunshine, and the sounds of the woods helps relieve the mental and emotional stress that can become chronic in today’s society. Even if you can’t get into the woods, spend more time outside – maybe in a park – and get direct sunlight onto your skin and fresh air into your lungs.
♡ Avoid synthetic chemicals.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article – synthetic chemicals are all around us. It’s unlikely that we can all avoid it, but we can do our best to reduce exposure as much as possible. Stop using synthetic laundry products, lotions, air fresheners, perfumes, perfumes, shampoos, beauty products, animal products, processed foods, tap water, drinking water from plastic bottles and anything else known to be a source of harmful toxins. These chemicals alter the microbiome, put stress on our organs and glands, disrupt our hormonal balance, and increase our body’s overall toxic load.
I recommend doing your research on the ingredients of any product you use in your home or on your body. Here are some alternatives that we feel comfortable using in our homes:
Deodorant: For store-bought deodorant, I like Schmidt . Natural Deodorant. However, I like to make my own by putting a few drops of jojoba oil, a few drops of lemon essential oil, and a few pinches of baking soda in one hand – rub hands together and apply to each armpit – works like a charm. .
Air cooler: Get rid of synthetic air fresheners in an instant! Instead, you can use an essential oil diffuser (research which ones are safe if you have pets) or you can even use a spray bottle with organic white vinegar to give your room a fresh look. Give your room a fresh, clean scent with just a few mists in the air. .
Dish soap: Conventional dish soap contains toxic ingredients that can stick to your dishes, get into your food and drink, and harm your gut microbiome. In our home, we eat a whole plant-based diet, so we usually just need hot water and a brush to clean our dishes. But if there is a need for soap, we use Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soap.
Toothpaste: We choose to avoid fluoride, because it is neurotoxic. My two favorite toothpastes are Earth Paste and Auromere.
Shampoo/conditioner: At our home, we use bath/shower products from a company called The Body Deli, which makes personal care products enhanced from fresh, organic superfoods . Check them out here.
Washing powder: I recommend avoiding most popular laundry detergents out there – even the “free and clear” versions. We use Molly’s Suds Detergent.
Clothes: You can wear clothes almost all day, every day – so you’re potentially exposed to the chemicals in these materials throughout your life. I recommend avoiding petroleum-based synthetic fibers as much as possible. This means choosing natural fibers like cotton or hemp when possible. And to go even further, if you can find affordable organic clothing that you like – that’s even better. This is a brand that we support.
Bedding: Sleep is when the body goes into a deeper process of detoxification and healing – you don’t want to be covered in chemicals that add toxins to your body. I recommend looking for organic litter if possible. At the very least wash your bedding with a non-toxic detergent, such as Molly’s Suds.
Water: We use distilled water from our home water distiller for drinking and cooking. Distilled water is a reliable and consistent way to know you’re avoiding harmful contaminants in your drinking water. See my blog post 5 reasons to own a water distillermy video My favorite water distilleror mine Distilled water playlist. If buying a distiller isn’t something you want to do, my next choice is to fill your own glass flask at a grocery store with a Reverse Osmosis dispenser – however, it is a much less convenient option.
♡ Don’t eat late at night.
As the sun sets, the body is preparing to enter an overnight healing, cleansing, and detoxifying phase. However, because digestion requires a lot of the body’s vital energy, if there is a meal that needs to be digested throughout the night, a lot less energy can be directed towards healing and detoxification. So not only are we preventing the body from detoxing as efficiently as possible, but we’re also reducing our ability to get a deep and restful sleep – which will negatively impact overall energy levels and systems. our immunity. It is best to stop eating at least three to four hours before bedtime.
With the tips listed above, you now have a good starting point to start supporting your body’s healing and detoxification efforts. However, this is just the beginning and there are many more steps we can take as we continue on this path towards a healthier and more holistic lifestyle. In general, it’s best to make changes gradually so you don’t feel overwhelmed. I recommend starting with the areas that you come into contact with most often – such as the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the water you drink, the chemicals and products you regularly use in your home.
If you would like to learn more about this topic and other holistic lifestyle information, please connect with me on my social media at Raw Intuition on YouTube and Instagram. You can also find my books, e-books on recipes, community newsletters and all my services at myrawintuition.com
Matt
+ follow this Coffee is full of fiber to really make things move.
++ learn how Drink more water Easily.
SHOPPING POST:
