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We’ve talked about where toxins come from and how they are eliminated (sweating, stool, urine), but what happens when they get “stuck” and recirculate? Did you know most toxins are fat-soluble and stored in adipose tissue (fat)? In fact, fatty tissue acts as its own organ, releasing certain hormones that regulate appetite and the ability to burn calories.
These toxins must be converted to water-soluble substances for easy excretion. The liver is one of the major organs to help convert these fat-soluble vitamins to water-soluble, through a series of processes. These pathways are like a complex machine with gears and switches that all need to be functioning properly to operate optimally. So, what if a gear isn’t working or a switch is turned off?
How can we flush toxins from fat cells???! Adipose tissue can store toxins AND, toxins can increase the growth of adipose tissue. Ahhhhhhh! It’s a vicious cycle. When we exercise, these fat cells break down and release stored toxins into the bloodstream for the liver to convert and prepare for elimination. So how can we support this process to evict these toxins for good, prepare for elimination, and lose weight?
Remember our challenge…..lots of veggies?!!
Brassicas, which are the cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, radishes, and bok choy, all help with hormone detoxification.
Leafy greens are full of detoxifying chlorophyll, which has the ability to bind with a variety of toxic substances for removal.
The thiols in garlic, leeks, onion, and scallions provide sulfur which is the building block for making glutathione – our body’s master antioxidant.
Most importantly, eating a rainbow will ensure that your body is getting the phytonutrients that it needs. Who’s laughing at my kale salad now? So in addition to exercise, check out some of the great detox foods below.
DETOX TIP: Detoxifying foods: Cruciferous veggies, leafy greens, thiols, green tea, ginger, lemon, apples, beets, artichokes, dandelion greens
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