—by Somphorn Thammasouk, Naturopathic Medicine Doctor

Toxins affect our bodies in an insidiously cumulative way. When the detoxification & excretion mechanisms of the body are overloaded, the body begins to store toxins in fat & connective tissues. This can eventually lead to disruption of normal bodily functions.

There is a growing body of research that supports the impact endogenous & exogenous toxins have on the effectiveness & efficiency of an individual’s detoxification systems. The recent article in Neurologic Clinics titled “Toxin-Induced Movement Disorders” provides a summary of the research literature that evaluate environmental exposure to toxins and its association with conditions of abnormal motor control.

The general purpose of detoxification programs is to support the body’s built-in systems of removing toxins from the bloodstream & tissues. Internal cleansing and detoxifying can be done with a 3-5 day simple and effective diet detox.

Tips for starting a detox program:
• Start by eliminating refined & processed foods, caffeine & alcohol, sugar & artificially sweetened foods.
• Place emphasis on eating colorful vegetables such as kale, broccoli, spinach, carrots, beets as they are natural cleansers and are high in nutrients.
• Eat whole grains such as brown rice instead of wheat. Brown rice is effective in binding and excreting food additives and chemical substances from your body.
• Add fresh lemon juice to a small glass of warm lemon water first thing in the morning, before you eat anything else. This helps to stimulate the digestive tract, liver, and gallbladder and aids with food assimilation.

For more information about strategies for detoxification, refer to “Cracking the Metabolic Code” by James B. LaValle, R.Ph., C.C.N., N.D.

References:
Pappert, E.J. (2005). Toxin-induced movement disorders. Neurologic Clinics, 23(2), 429-459.

Caban-Holt, A. (2005). Neurodegenerative memory disorders: A potential role of environmental toxins. Neurologic Clinics, 23(2), 485-521.

Dr. Somphorn Thammasouk is a Naturopathic medicine doctor and she runs her private practice in Toronto, Canada.