How To Safely Detox Your Liver & Gut
We are surrounded by more toxins than any generation before us. Chemicals are everywhere in our air, water, soil, and food, not to mention in our cosmetics and household products. In the United States, modest estimates suggest that we’re exposed to over 700,000 different chemicals each and every day! Many of which have been invented or synthesized in just the last decade.
With this huge influx of environmental burden, it’s no wonder that we’re seeing rates of chronic diseases skyrocket. All of us either have, or know someone who has, conditions like chronic fatigue, IBS, autism, allergies or asthma, migraines, anxiety, or other common issues. This is the sad reality that we are facing, in our modern world. And this is why it’s so important to know how to detox your liver and gut in a safe, healthy, and sustainable way.
Toxin Exposure
Most scientists and holistic medical practitioners agree that the huge rise in environmental toxin exposure is closely correlated with the rise in chronic diseases. It seems that our bodies, which evolved perfectly to thrive on fresh air, clean food, and natural habitats, are struggling under the weight of industrial chemicals, pollution, EMFs, and other byproducts of civilization. So, while we can’t necessarily change the course of humanity, or completely control everything we’re exposed to, what we can do is help our bodies detoxify. This is how we can empower ourselves to be as healthy as possible, no matter where we live.
Detoxification is a word that’s thrown around a lot lately, but few people truly understand how this process works in the body. Too many people get caught up, buying dietary supplements or cleanses that don’t actually work, because they don’t address the proper detox pathways. But thankfully, understanding detoxification doesn’t have to be complicated!
Our bodies have one main detoxification powerhouse, the liver, and four main elimination pathways: the gut, the lungs, the skin, and the kidneys. Out of all of these, the gut may be the most important, mainly because this is where most people have trouble with proper elimination! The liver is central to all detox processes, which is why it’s recommended to work with both the liver and the gut at the same time. Let’s explore why this approach is the most effective…
The Liver
Your liver is the largest internal organ that you have, and for good reason. It is responsible for carrying out over 500 different biochemical processes, each and every day. The liver sits nestled just under the right side of your ribcage, and is technically both an organ and a gland. The health of your liver affects many things, including your digestion, your skin, and even your mood. Every single thing that you ingest or are exposed to- food, drinks, drugs, pollution, pesticides, etc - is filtered and processed by the liver.
The GI Tract
The biggest and arguably the most important superhighway in the body is the digestive tract. While it’s technically not IN the body (it’s a big tube that runs through the body), it forms a huge part of our body’s innate defense system. Most of us know that the things we eat and drink affect our health, and it is the state of our digestive system that determines how well we are able to break down, assimilate, and utilize the nutrients we take in. This is done by our microbiome- the entirety of our microbial (mainly bacterial) population. When our gut health is off, often due to toxins, stress, or other poor lifestyle factors, our microbes aren’t healthy. And when our gut microbiome is out of balance, we start seeing signs of disease.
What are some of those signs of disease? Here are a few ways that you can tell that it’s time for a liver and gut cleanse detox:
- Headaches or brain fog
- Mood swings
- Bloating or cramping in gut
- Increasing food sensitivities or intolerances
- Fatigue or malaise
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Worsening anxiety or depression
- Difficulty losing weight
Your body is always doing its best, to keep up with the toxins you’re exposed to, but sometimes it could use a helping hand! First, it’s recommended that you reduce the chemicals in your environment, as much as possible. Make the switch to natural cleaners and non-toxic beauty products. Take an inventory of your space and reduce or eliminate things like chlorine bleach, artificial fragrances, Teflon-coated pans, and other toxins. This can reduce the risk of chemical exposure, and support your overall health. The Environmental Working Group has good resources on this.
The next step is to find the best liver detox supplements and gut cleanse detox supplements on the market, from companies that you can trust. Contrary to some messages out there, you don’t need to do anything too complicated, or put yourself through a miserable experience, trying to detoxify. Just one or two targeted, natural products can support your body immensely!
Let’s start with the gut.
How To Detox Your Gut
One of the main ways that toxins and allergens enter the bloodstream is through tiny openings in the gut lining. This intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, places your entire body at risk, and this condition has been linked to dozens of major health issues including autism, autoimmune disease, allergies, and more.
Detoxifying the body must include an emphasis on healing the gut lining. When the gut lining is strong and healthy, toxins won’t leak into the bloodstream. You’ll also be able to fight off pathogens and digest your food better. Plus, the vital connection between the gut and the liver will be supported. So, how can we best support our liver detoxification?
When it comes to liver detox, sulfur is your best friend. This important molecule, and its derivatives and precursors, is involved in many of the detoxification pathways. You may have heard that sulfur-rich foods like onions, broccoli, garlic, and leafy greens are good for the liver, and this is why!
Supporting the sulfation and methylation pathways is essential, and is why so many people supplement with glutathione. This is known as the body’s master antioxidant, and helps your body flush out things like heavy metals, pesticides, bacterial toxins, and more. Low levels of glutathione have been associated with conditions like Parkinson’s Disease, autism, and some cancers.
To safely detox your liver and gut, you want to find a natural supplement that helps mend the intestinal lining, as well as boost glutathione levels. Thankfully, Our Botanicals has you covered!
Healthy Guts is a comprehensive immune and detoxification support for the GI tract, and features the following ingredients:
- Biotin
- Glucosamine
- Chondroitin
- MSM
- N-acetyl cysteine
- Calcium D-glucarate
- N-acetyl glucosamine
- D-ribose
- Slippery elm
And for the best glutathione support on the market, Herbathione has you covered. This all-natural, alcohol-free formula is packed with herbs that support liver health and boost glutathione. It is made with:
- Ashwagandha root
- Burdock root
- Astragalus root
- Fennel seed
- Ginkgo biloba leaf
- Gotu kola leaf
- Gymnema sylvestre leaf
- Mild thistle seed
- Chinese sarsparilla
- Schisandra berry
Whether you take these two separately or together, your body will appreciate the detox assistance, and you’ll be feeling the difference! If you are wondering how to detox your liver, or do a gut cleanse detox, make sure you invest in the best detox supplements that can support you along the way. Our Botanicals formulas are made with the cleanest, most effective ingredients available, and we know you’ll be happy with the results.