“The human body is a combination of parts and systems that work together to perform the necessary functions of life. The body is composed of cells and extracellular materials that are organized into tissues, organs, and organ systems”. The human body is a complex assembly that is highly organized and made up of unique cells that work together to complete the specific functions needed to sustain life. However, our body has all it needs for detoxification.
If we are healthy then our body works well on detoxification, cleansing the body of toxins we ingest through food, water, air, or medicines. In our body, there are 6 organs responsible for detoxification and these are the liver, kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system, colon, and skin. All of these organs work on removing excess waste generated in metabolic processes. Detox is a continuing process that is naturally, constantly completed by our body and is an important part of our existence.
So, what do these organs do in order to detoxify our body?
The liver, the kidneys and the lungs
The liver is responsible for breaking down toxins that we ingest such as food additives, drugs, alcohol, and other addictive substances. The role of the liver is to keep these substances away from the bloodstream, break them down and prepare them for excretion through the intestines.
The kidneys filter our blood and execrate wastes like toxins, drugs, ammonia, and urea and produce urine that is excreted by the lower urinary tract. The role of the kidneys is also to ensure that the bloodstream is cleansed of waste and excess fluid.
The lungs constantly filter out carbon-dioxide waste and maintain every cell in the body with enough oxygen. The lungs also detoxify any heavy substances or harmful toxins that the liver or kidneys cannot eliminate. These toxins get picked up by the bloodstream and moved upwards, where they reach the lungs and are coughed up in the form of mucus.
The skin, The lymphatic system and The colon
The skin is a barrier between our inner body and the environment and is the first line of defense against microbes and external influences. It activates our immune system if any of the harmful bacteria pass through, and also eliminates toxins from our body through sweat. The skin also converts a number of chemicals that need to be removed into a water-soluble form and eliminates them through the pores. When we take in too many toxins into our system, it creates extra pressure on the liver and kidneys, and then the skin takes in toxins that these organs cannot eliminate and removes them through the pores. This can cause blockages that manifest as skin problems such as acne, blackheads, pimples, cysts, rashes, and the like.
The lymphatic system is the body’s “sewer system”, and controls and maintains fluid levels in all tissues. The lymphatic system removes all the excess fluid that leaks from the blood vessels and returns it to the bloodstream. Its primary function is to transport lymph that contains infection fighting white blood cells throughout the body. It also removes body waste. Lymph nodes filter the lymph and help the immune system to build the immune response necessary to fight a threat or disease.
The colon is an organ that belongs to the digestive tract in the human body and is known as the large intestine or large bowel. The colon plays an important role in eliminating waste and toxins. Food travels from our mouth through the esophagus to the stomach, then to the small intestine, and then to the large intestine and rectum. Each of these organs plays an important role in breaking down the food we eat and in absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste.
Why is detoxification important?
All our organs are part of the complex system that makes up our body and they are all connected. A healthy diet is good for overall health while physical activity and healthy habits are the best support we can give to our body daily. If for any reason a problem occurs with any of these organs, it affects the other organs and the body as a whole. The body usually gives a sign in a form of discomfort, pain, itching, flushes, diarrhea, skin rashes, etc. to show us that something is out of balance. These symptoms are a sign that our body or any organ needs our attention and help. This is the time to seek expert opinion and do some analyses or scanning.
A healthy body detoxifies easily, but what happens if the body is not healthy, or strong enough? What goes wrong?
A modern lifestyle that includes sedentary activities, lack of movement, staying awake late into the night, snacks, and a diet rich in unhealthy fats and sugar contributes to our body losing the ability to detoxify to the necessary extent. The amount of toxins introduced into the body is much higher than it should be which creates additional pressure on the organs responsible for detoxification. This creates blockages that lead to various diseases.
What are the symptoms of toxins in our body?
There are numerous symptoms that indicate that there are toxins in our body and they include:
- Brain fog
- Hair loss
- Constant headache
- Fatigue
- Skin rush
- Brittle toenails
- Digestion problems
- Bad breath
- Nausea
- Body aches
- Weight gain
- Poor circulation
- Swelling;
- Depression and anxiety
- Arthritis
- Constipation
- Insomnia
What can we do?
Apart from the things we can do to prevent toxicity, there are also things we can do when toxicity occurs such as:
- Cut out caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
- Limit your intake of refined sugars and saturated fats
- Avoid processed food
- Eliminate fizzy drinks and sugary drinks
- Stay well hydrated; The best way to do this is to drink clean filtered water using the glass
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
- Drink warm water with lemon
- Get enough sleep
- Take probiotics
- Drink green tea, ginger and lemon tea, cinnamon tea
Detoxification process
The detoxification process can last from 1 day to weeks, depending on the type of detox you choose. By avoiding the intake of toxins, we give our liver space to process the toxins that are already in the system and release them into the lymphatic system, kidneys, and blood to be eliminated. The detoxification process can cause a variety of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, skin irritation, body aches, or flu-like symptoms. In addition, some experts advise regular cleansing of the liver and kidneys, which is also worth exploring.
Although the process of detoxifying the body is not easy – it is rewarding because when your body is cleansed of toxins, your overall health improves, your blood sugar levels drop, your blood pressure drops, energy levels rise, you get rid of headaches, your skin improves, digestion improves, you feel lighter and brighter and sleep better.
And let’s not forget: detox or not – physical activity is key to optimal functioning of our body and organs. Add to that positive thoughts, compassion, love, and laughter and your world will start to change – for the better – of course!
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➥ DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to replace medical treatment. The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.