Our Detox Systems Need Support Clearing Modern Toxins + How To Help

Detoxification is a complex, multifaceted process that involves several organs (e.g., liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, intestines) and physiological systems (e.g., digestive, lymphatic, respiratory).

While these intrinsic cellular pathways are quite intricate, the ultimate goal of detoxification is cut and dried: "'Detox' simply means metabolizing key compounds to remove them from the body. This process happens automatically and consistently at the cellular level. Daily bowel movements, sweat secretions, and urination are indicators that we are removing toxic substances," explains Deanna Minich, Ph.D., CNS, FACN, IFMCP, functional-medicine-trained clinician and author of Whole Detox. 

In a perfect world, under perfect circumstances, healthy detoxification pathways would operate at peak performance and wouldn't require any support. Unfortunately, our modern world is filled with toxins and stressors that can overburden your intrinsic pathways and keep detoxification from running smoothly. It becomes a real balancing act.

"With the environment becoming increasingly contaminated with everything from heavy metals to plastics, we naturally increase our toxin load," explains Minich. The more toxins we take in, the harder our detoxification organs need to work in order to keep our cells healthy, clear, and functioning optimally. When left unchecked, pollutants, chemicals, and other toxins from the air, water, and yes, even our food can build up in our bodies and have major health implications over the long term.

"Not everyone has an issue excreting what they take in, but some people do. They may not have full capacity of their gut, liver, kidneys, or skin due to circumstances related to their environment or from having key genetic variants for enzymes necessary for efficient metabolism of these compounds," Minich says.

1. Reduce toxin exposure

"Most offending substances come in through food, water, packaging, and air, so helping your body do less work by choosing organically grown foods, using air and water filters, and avoiding plastics of all types would be a step in the right direction," says Minich.

Some toxins—such as pollutants in the air and water—can be more difficult to avoid. Make changes where you can, like swapping any chemical-based cleaning agents, hair and skin care products, makeup, and fragrances (like perfumes, candles, and sprays) for nontoxic alternatives with clean ingredients.

This process can be overwhelming at first, so start small and know that each swap makes a big difference in your body's detoxification. (If you're ready to really dive into clean living, mbg has a class for you!)

2. Support your detox organs

Next, it's important to bolster the health of your organs of elimination (e.g., the liver, kidneys, skin, and lungs). "Ensure the proper elimination of waste by supporting bowel regularity, doing activities to generate sweat, and remaining hydrated to support urination," suggests Lise Alschuler, N.D., FABNO, professor of clinical medicine at the University of Arizona. 

Additionally, Alschuler recommends giving your primary detox organ extra care and affection: "The liver is considered one of the most important organs of detoxification, and the detoxification pathways in liver cells require adequate vitamins and minerals, as well as natural antioxidant compounds found in plant foods,"* she explains. This brings us to our next tip...

3. Stay hydrated & eat well

A whole-food, plant-focused diet will help provide many nutrients needed to support healthy liver function. Taking a focused supplement like mbg's daily detox+—which features premium ingredients like glutathione, milk thistle, NAC, selenium, and acerola fruit vitamin C to promote antioxidant activity—is another way to bolster the liver's everyday detoxification efforts.*

According to Brian Day, Ph.D., professor of medicine at National Jewish Health, eating a clean diet to support detoxification efforts can be quite challenging, as the typical Western diet doesn't provide enough antioxidants to protect against our ever-increasing exposure to environmental pollutants. "This is especially true for individuals of lower socioeconomic status that have less access to fresh fruits and vegetables and tend to live in more polluted environments," he explains.

4. Sweat it out

Our bodies have built-in detoxification systems that work hard around the clock to get rid of unwanted toxins, but this system can get bogged down thanks to ever-increasing exposure to modern chemicals and pollutants.