Everyday detox – tips for hormonal health and planning a baby

Detoxing and cleanses are hot topics in healthy lifestyle. It is especially important for a woman planning a baby, so that the baby can start its life in the womb in the most optimal environment. Common ways to rid your body from toxins may include fasting for 1-3 days, or drinking fresh vegetable juices or teas, perhaps drinking water only. These detox plans can be very efficient but also hard to commit to. In fact you don’t need to go on a serious plan in order to make your body’s detoxification system more efficient. With the help of a few tips you can introduce everyday detox instead.  

What you should avoid

Firstly, let’s review the list of toxins that we burden our bodies with daily. You probably have already read about them many times, so let’s highlight only their most harmful effects.

• Alcohol consumption in large amounts increases the risk of cancer and stroke. Alcohol can damage the heart, liver, brain, pancreas and the nervous system. It can even weaken the immune system, making your body much more prone to desease.
• Caffeine is a stimulant, which can multiply the circulation of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, in the body. Constantly high levels of stress hormones are not good for an average person, and for someone planning a baby, it can even be a barrier to conception.
• Smoking. With each puff, you send 4000 combustion products to your lungs. Some of these chemicals can cause cancer, while others are poisonous. They can not only damage your lungs, but also pass into your blood and spread through your body, affecting every part of your body.
• Pesticide residues are on the surface of and in foods which we consume. They can cause many diseases, from allergies to cancer. Some pesticides can adversely affect reproduction and cause endocrine disruption.
• Air pollution can have long term negative health effects including heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and long term damage to the brain, kidneys and liver.
• Saturated fats burden your liver and increase the amount of free radicals in your body. Too much saturated fat in your diet can raise cholesterol in your blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Chemicals contained in personal care products, such as nail polish, hairspray, eyelash glue, perfume, make up, moisturizers, shaving cream etc. can be very harmful to your body. Avoid using these products and opt for organic and fragrance free options instead.
• Sugar, dairy, gluten, red meat, processed food, non-organic produce, food that contains fructose and artificial sweeteners, artificial flavours and colouring, fish containing mercury,, should all be avoided.
• Stress. When exposed to persistent stress, our body is constantly on standby. As part of this, stress shuts down the immune system and increases inflammation. Elevated levels of stress hormones damage critical parts of the brain such as the hippocampus. In addition, stress results in elevated cortisol levels, which can suppress reproductive hormone production.

Your very own defence team

Your body is well equipped against toxins. You have a defence team, all of whom are dedicated to cleaning up your system. Now let’s have a look at how they work together to prevent you from being poisoned by harmful substances entering your body.

• Liver is the most important member of the team. Your liver is like a filter that sifts the bad from the good. Here, the harmful substances become water-soluble and travel further to the kidneys or intestines. Then with a good chance they land in the toilet.
• Fatty tissues. When your liver is overloaded and can no longer process toxins, it directs them to your fatty tissues, where they can cause the least harm to you. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other toxins are stored in fatty tissue, which can prevent its build-up in other organs.
• Kidneys filter water-soluble toxins from your blood into urine.
• Intestines. The function of the intestines is to eliminate the digested but unused materials from your body. However, if you are constipated frequently, toxins can be reabsorbed from stagnant residue.
• Lungs remove toxins from your body through every breath.
• Skin is your detoxifying organ with the largest surface area. The skin can detoxify by reducing the penetration of toxic substances.

You can detox most effectively if you support and not hinder the work of your little team. This is not an easy task, as most of the foods we eat nowadays are addictive, so we crave them all the time. And the same foods – sugar, for example – that sometimes bring you heavenly pleasures when eaten, are overwhelming your defence team. So it’s worth thinking of your defence team when you make your food choices. 

Detox foods

There are plenty of foods recommended by health experts when it comes to supporting the body’s detox processes. Below I have collected a few that if eaten regularly, can help your little defence workers with their daily work.

1. Apples contain antioxidants that lower your cholesterol. And the fiber contained in it binds heavy metals.
2. Asparagus helps the kidney and bladder cleanse itself. Asparagus also has high levels of B vitamins and inflammation-fighting antioxidants.
3. Avocados cleanse the liver due to their healthy fats and micronutrients. They also help the body produce glutathione, a compound that helps the liver remove toxins. The high fat and fibre content of avocados leads to feelings of satiety which helps to regulate appetite.
4. Banana promotes healthy gut flora and thanks to its significant mineral content, including potassium, it supports daily detox by sweeping the intestines clean.
5. Beetroot is a favourite super food packed with magnesium, iron and vitamin C, supporting liver detox. Additionally beetroot stimulates blood circulation, increases oxygen uptake by your cells, and it strengthens your intestinal system. Its active ingredients also bind toxic metals.
6. Berries can make an enormous impact in flushing toxins from your liver. Raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are particularly rich in antioxidants that aid in preventing or slowing down damage to cells caused by free radicals. Berries are also an excellent source of fiber, which can improve digestive health.
7. Cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables are effective detoxifiers. Cabbage contains a sulforaphane, which helps the body fight against toxins. Cabbage also supplies the body with antioxidants that help improve the detoxifying function of the liver.
8. Carrot helps lower cholesterol levels and the elimination of heavy metals.
9. Garlic. This pungent food is antiviral, antibacterial, antibiotic, and good at detoxifying the body. Its active ingredient can bind artificial versions of the estrogen hormone, which enter your body with food.
10. Ginger can help improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas. In addition, ginger is high in antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system.
11. Grapefruit and lemon are packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for fighting disease-forming free radicals. Furthermore, they can boost the immune system and the fiber in the fruit will help cleanse your colon and digestive tract, eliminating digestive problems.
12. Kale is not only a great source of fibre, but it is high in minerals, antioxidants and Vitamin C, which strengthen the immune system. Kale is a powerful detoxifier, able to break down and remove toxins from the body.
13. Kiwi acts a strong antioxidant, is high in dietary fiber, vitamin C and B9. Kiwi is low in calories therefore ideal for losing weight. Furthermore, the edible acid content burns fat faster than any other alternative food item.
14. Plum and its dry version, prune, are metabolic stimulants. Their active ingredients speed up bowel function, and as a result, less poison can be absorbed in your body.
15. Soya products like miso, tofu and edamame can help in the detoxification process as they help flush out impurities through the kidneys in the form of urine. And last but not least, you can make delicious meals swapping out meat for soy-based alternatives.

When making a weekly meal plan you can pick and choose the right ingredients to ensure you support your body’s natural cleansing. With the right combination of the above listed fruit and vegetables, you can make your liver, kidneys and intestines work more efficiently. And don’t forget to add some trendy super foods like Chia, goji berries, camu camu, moringa and so on. Check out Cosmopolitan’s top list for 2022 here.

Drink water

And finally, a crucially important thing is water. Without water, no matter what you do, the toxins will not leave your body. Toxins literally have to be “washed out” of your body, which you can only do with water. Health experts recommend that an adult should drink at least 2 litres of clean water per day. If you live in a hot climate you will need even more water. It is best to prepare it in a bottle in the morning, and you should sip it throughout the day even when you are not thirsty.

Exercise regularly

Now let’s see what else is required for a well-running natural detox function. Exercise is not only important to avoid gaining weight. It also plays a major role in detoxification.

• Regular exercise can keep your body’s natural defence system, including the liver and kidneys healthy.
• While working out, your breathing speeds up and with each exhalation your lungs expel carbon dioxide.
• It makes the lymphatic system accelerate, the circulation of lymph fluid increase, helping you flush out toxins and bacteria more effectively.
• As a result of exercise, your digestion speeds up and you give the toxins less chance to be reabsorbed.
• During exercise you sweat, and sweat can contain toxins.

In addition, regular exercise helps maintain bone strength, boost the immune system, and reduces stress levels. Read my blog on the Importance of exercise for health and wellbeing.

Would you like to naturally support your fertility?

If yes, then it would be worthwhile for you to focus on everyday detox. When the body doesn’t have to deal with an overload of toxins, it can support your hormonal balance and fertility more. This way your body will be more ready to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. If you follow the tips above you don’t necessarily have to radically transform your life in order to be healthier and more fertile.