We often feel the need to purify ourselves, especially at certain times of the year. But how many of us know what toxins are and what the effects of their accumulation in our bodies are? Let’s find out together.
What Are Toxins?
The term toxins means those waste products of the body’s metabolic processes (endogenous toxins). Sometimes, however, waste can come from outside, for example, due to incorrect nutrition or environmental pollution (exogenous toxins). Our body eliminates waste and toxins through feces, urine, and sweat, thanks to the action of the liver, kidneys, intestines, and skin.
It is advisable to avoid overloading these organs; an accumulation of toxins can strain the liver and kidneys, slowing down the metabolism and making it more difficult to absorb vitamins and mineral salts, which are precious to our health. The following symptoms often manifest an accumulation of toxins:
- Swelling,
- Tiredness,
- Heachache,
- gastrointestinal irritations,
- skin rashes,
- dull complexion,
- Excess sebum or dry skin,
- Dandruff or hair loss.
But how do we eliminate toxins? Let’s find out together.
Nutrition To Purify The Body
We have good news for you if you’re wondering how to cleanse your body naturally. Although there are no detox foods (watch out for false myths and those who promise miracles), a healthy and balanced diet is essential to prevent kidney and liver fatigue and can support their purifying action. At the table, therefore, we make room for the following:
- Seasonal fruit and vegetables (preferably organic ones),
- whole grains,
- Spices with antioxidant properties, such as ginger and turmeric,
- Seeds rich in fatty acids, such as flaxseed and pumpkin seeds,
Ingredients that support digestion are also excellent allies against the accumulation of toxins. In our V/EEase supplement, you will find, for example, lemon balm Bluenesses, which promotes regular gastrointestinal motility, and affron saffron, which stimulates the secretion of gastric juices, promoting proper digestion. Furthermore, lemon balm positively affects mental well-being and relaxation, just as saffron guarantees an improvement in mood.
On the other hand, limiting stress and lousy attitude is essential to alleviate the action of the liver, which, in cases of overload, would have more difficulty disposing of toxins. For this reason, choosing the right supplement for relaxation and mental well-being is essential to recognizing even seemingly secondary effects, which prevent the accumulation of toxins in the body through the reduction of anxiety and stress.
Hydration is also essential: I prefer natural water, herbal teas, warm water, and lemon juice. On the other hand, fried foods, fast food, and, in general, processed foods, often with a high content of refined sugars, should be avoided. Alcohol is a natural toxin; the liver disposes of it without providing our body with nutrients. This means that alcohol only slows down the natural detoxification function of the liver, overloading it in cases of excessive consumption.
The Five Foods That Will Help You Eliminate Toxins
Fennel
It is rich in water, and fennel also has purifying and diuretic properties. Furthermore, it stimulates digestion and liver function, proving to be an excellent ally in a diet to eliminate toxins. You can make a superb fennel detox digestive tea to sip hot or cold or a fennel and orange salad.
Apples
Who doesn’t know the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Well, this is not a legend: apples are also among the diuretic foods, helping us to eliminate toxins from the body. Furthermore, they contain pectin, a polysaccharide that helps control cholesterol and stimulates bowel regularity.
Ginger
Ginger is an excellent purifying food with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It accelerates metabolism, thus promoting the absorption of essential nutrients and the elimination of waste. In this case, you can also make a lovely ginger and lemon herbal tea. You can also make excellent detox water with lemon, ginger, and cucumber, which is also high in fibre and water.
Carrots
Carrots are excellent for eliminating toxins; as allies of the liver, they help it in its natural detox function. Perfect to be enjoyed as a snack, together with hummus, but also in centrifuges or salads.
Lentils
Lentils fight to swell, purify the body, and eliminate toxins. Their high fibre content triggers a purifying and detoxifying process in the intestinal tract.
Detox And False Myths
In recent years, especially at certain times of the year (after Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners), the so-called “detox diets” have returned to significant popularity. However, we want to clarify again that no detox foods will miraculously cleanse the body of toxins. Let’s see the two most common false myths about diets that promise to eliminate waste:
- After dinner, you need a detox diet. One or two huge dinners will not lead to a significant accumulation of toxins in your body. This is because, as we have seen, in optimal conditions, our body can expel waste without resorting to diets made up of continuous restrictions or only liquids. On these occasions, if you feel weighed down, try a digestive herbal tea instead.
- The detox diet will make you lose weight. Detox diets often rely on diuretic foods and drinks. Therefore, if you see the scale needle go down in correspondence with these diets, it will most likely be due to the liquids your body has lost.
It is, therefore, essential to develop a healthier relationship with food. Food is not the enemy to fight but rather an excellent ally to keep your body healthy and robust, supporting it in its vital functions, including eliminating toxins! Therefore, we try to prevent deficiencies and pathologies through a balanced diet, slowly introducing foods that nourish our bodies from within. Without forgetting that even achieving a good state of well-being and mental relaxation helps our body perform the function of eliminating waste and toxins more appropriately, avoiding tiring it with other concerns of psychological and emotional origin.
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