We’re all exposed to toxins every single day – do something about it with these 10 cheap and easy detox methods!
No matter how hard we try, we’re all touching, breathing, and ingesting man-made chemicals every day…and we have no idea how they are affecting our health.
In fact, many practitioners advise adding regular chemical detox protocols into your health routine simply as a “cost of living” in today’s increasingly toxic world. I’m beginning to agree.
Last week the city of Houston announced that military aircrafts would be used to drop the insecticide Naled (trade name: Dibrom) across 600,000 acres of our city following unprecedented flooding and mosquito swarming brought on by Hurricane Harvey. The image of a low flying military plane dusting the 4th largest city in the nation with insecticide like powdered sugar on strawberries didn’t sit well with me.
Apparently, I wasn’t alone. My Facebook feed lit up with fellow Houstonians who were horrified by the short notice and proposed timing of the drops – between 6-8pm, when many would still be out and about, and while high school football games and other events were scheduled all around the city.
You may not live in Houston, but odds are that your area faces its own large scale chemical exposures from time to time. In fact, the EPA reports more than 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the air, water, and ground every year in the United States.
What are the long term effects of occasional, acute exposures, especially when added to chronic exposures from everyday chemicals in plastics, cleaning products, fabrics, fragrances, etc? The truth is, no one really knows.
We have very good ideas of what individual toxicants can do to people. However, you cannot predict what the ultimate human health impacts might be from simply knowing what the individual toxicants can do. Mixtures can interact in ways that are unforeseen and give you toxic ramifications that are much greater than what can be predicted from the single exposures.
– Howard Hu, M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D., University of Michigan School of Public Health
As my 7 year old daughter recently said, “I wish we were in Little House on the Prairie times so we could just live in God’s nature and not have so many chemicals.” …Me too, honey.
But the reality is we live in a world of both modern comforts and modern risks. So we may as well have some tools to counteract chemical exposures, right?
Right.
10 Cheap + Easy ways to Detox from Chemical Exposure
1. Remember, Detox is a Process, not an Event
Our bodies were designed to detox. The liver, gut, skin, lymph, and immune systems are hard at work every day to detoxify our bodies from excess chemicals and other harmful substances. But, like any well-designed machine, they will fall behind if they are constantly bombarded with . The most effective, full body detox efforts will support each of these systems. Depending on the type and degree of acute exposure, effective detox can take weeks or months, not just a day or two!
2. Minimize Other Chemical Exposures
Now’s the time to be extra vigilant about additional toxins coming in through personal care products, plastics, pesticides on your foods, etc. This will help reduce the overall burden to your liver and other detox organs, and will minimize the risks of unwanted interactions between multiple chemical toxicants that Dr. Hu warned against above.
Need a few ideas about safer skin care? Check out my affordable, No-Fuss Natural Skin Care Routine and my favorite nontoxic makeup line.
3. Drink lots of Water
This may seem obvious, but drink plenty of water – this would be a great time to purchase a good water filter. We have this affordable under-sink water filter and love it! Fluid intake is a great natural tool to help flush out excess toxins more quickly since fluids also help keep the bowels moving, which leads me to…
4. Keep your bowels moving
The gut is the primary “exit route” for toxin elimination and the path should be free and clear to prevent build up and possibly even re-absorption of toxic byproducts due to slow moving bowels. Fermented foods, organic veggies, healthy fat, probiotic supplements, you know the drill. For 10 simple ways to get your gut health in order, grab my Zero Effort Gut Health e-book!
5. Sweat!
Sweating is a fantastic and completely free detox method. My preference is always to exercise outside but, if you’re avoiding outdoor toxins, check out these 25 free, 15-minute full body workout videos that can be done in your living room! If you have access to a sauna, that would be a great way to sweat out some toxins too!
6. Eat nutrient-dense whole foods
Give your body the nutrients required for proper detox. Plenty of fruits, vegetables, and high quality animal and marine products are essential.
Here are some superstar detox foods:
- Citrus fruits – vitamin C, fiber
- Leafy greens – vitamin C, B vitamins, fiber
- Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables – sulfur compounds, fiber
- Beets – vitamin C, folate, betaine, fiber
- Fermented vegetables – prebiotic fiber, probiotics
- Brazil nuts – selenium
- Pasture raised eggs and animal products – vitamins A and K2, zinc, choline
- Raw milk – vitamins A, D, and K2, glutathione, Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
- Wild caught fish – vitamin D, omega-3
- Cod liver oil – vitamins A, D, and K2, omega-3
7. Cut out sugar and processed foods
Sugar and processed foods are inflammatory, suppress immune function, and slow down the GI tract, all of which compromise detox. I’m all for enjoying occasional sweet treats, but now’s not the time.
8. Consider Herbs and other Supplements to Support Detox
Detox is a huge industry and, frankly, there’s a lot of hooey out there when it comes to teas, tinctures, and supplements that claim to magically rid the body of toxins. It’s true that some herbs and supplements are particularly supportive of detoxification, but some can be counterproductive too. Discuss specific supplement recommendations with myself or another licensed practitioner.
And, don’t forget, you can’t out-supplement a bad diet. Be sure you’re following Steps 1-7 before spending more time and money on detox supplements.
9. Try Gentle Detox Practices
There are several very gently detox methods that are cheap and easy, and can be done at home with very few supplies. These won’t single-handedly resolve chemical toxicities, but they will help coax the liver, lymph, and skin to detox properly.
- Epsom salts soaking baths
- Dry brushing
- Castor oil packs
- Gentle massage
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have heavy menstrual flow, or have chronic health conditions, check with your practitioner before trying these. More aggressive detox protocols should only be performed under the care of a licensed practitioner, and only if your gut, liver, and immune function are healthy.
Jill says
My kids contracted Lice and were nice enough to share it with me. We discovered it while on vacation out of the country. I’d never done any research on lice treatment and didn’t realize there are more mainstream, non-toxic options so we just bought a shampoo with permethrin from a drug store down there. There weren’t any non-toxic options at the store so we didn’t even think twice. While it seems to be the safest of all the pesticide shampoos, and was approved by our pediatrician to use on all of the kids and myself even though I’m nursing, I’m still worried about the chemical exposure. Is there anything you would recommend to detox (knowing that I’m nursing)? And would what you recommend be safe for my 3 and 6 year old too? I’ve read that the permethrin leaves the system through your pee in just a few hours to days, and it’s been over a month since we used it, but I still want to do something to detoxify. Thanks in advance!
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Hi Jill,
Some of the gentler forms of detox should be fine for you while breastfeeding and for your kids. Examples would include: sweating, getting lymph flowing with rebounding/jumping, drinking plenty of fluids, and making sure your bowels are moving easily each day. Dry brushing and epsom salt baths may be helpful for your kids – you could clear them with your doctor or midwife first just to be sure about taking them while breastfeeding.
Tosyn says
Please how can I detox an aged organophosphate toxin exposure. Been exposed to this through inhalation for over two years.
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Hi Tosyn,
I’m sorry to hear about your toxin exposure. The steps here are general guidelines which but, for more intense detoxification, I’d definitely recommend working with a practitioner. It’s important to make sure your body is healthy enough to endure more aggressive detox measures since some of them carry risks as well.
Irene says
My family owns a swimming pool company and I’ve been exposed to pool cleaning chemicals for years. Besides the listed recommendations what should i be taking regularly to be on a constant detox. Thank you. I really enjoyed the article and reading others comments.
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Hi Irene,
The things listed here are great for almost anyone wanting to support detox but, if you have ongoing exposure, you may want to consider working with a holistic practitioner who specializes in detoxification to run some testing to identify any specific toxins in your system and to help lay out a plan for any additional supplements and/or other therapies that might be appropriate for you.
Cindy Snyder says
I slept in a room where the chain machine was in there. It was recently used to cut down a tree. I forgot to put it in the basement. It has passed 2 days and I still feeling tired without energy. Am I intoxicated? What should I do?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Hi Cindy,
It’s hard to say whether a short term exposure to what sounds like a chainsaw that could have tree residue would cause low energy. I’d suggest following the guidelines in this post for a few days, especially drinking lots of water, eating good quality food and getting some good quality sleep (in a separate room from where the chainsaw is stored). If you’re still feeling poorly, I would continue all those same measures but also consider a work up with your doctor or other healthcare provider, just to be sure something else isn’t going on. I hope that helps!
Bethany says
Hello, any thoughts on fasting? Maybe not full on water fasting, but homemade vegetable juices, and a zucchini / celery / green bean soup? (No solid foods, limited calories, lots of water, no meat or fruit).
Is fasting helpful to detox, or ‘too much’ on most toxic people? I recently received urine test results that showed great levels of chemical toxins (along with mold).
Thank you!
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Hi Bethany,
I definitely think fasting has it’s place although, as you alluded to, there are lots of forms of fasting and different people benefit differently from each. Generally speaking, most people would probably benefit from incorporating a short term (1-2 days) fast like you mentioned. However, longer term than that can cause some imbalances in the liver detox process if not done properly. It’s always best to talk with your provider about whether fasting is right for you and, if so, which type and for how long.
Sharon says
I was exposed to formaldehyde three years ago. I’m now extra sensitive to air fresheners, perfumes, colognes and other scents. How can I stop being senstive to these things? I haven’t been able to find an answer yet. Thank you.
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Hi Sharon,
I’m so sorry to hear that your formaldehyde exposure has caused so many problems. This sounds similar to multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), which is a rare but increasing problem and is essentially a situation where the body is having trouble detoxifying properly. It’s important to reduce toxic exposures, but also to investigate other specific factors that can inhibit detox in the body – things like genetics, leaky gut, compromised liver function, etc. Here are a couple of articles on the topic from trusted resources that I hope are helpful to you:
(1) Shining a Light on a Mysterious Illness: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, by Dr. Jill Carnahan, MD
(2) Treating Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, by Sarah A. LoBisco, ND
Blessings on your health,
Dena
Carol Fuoss says
I am healing from a leaky gut that I’ve had my entire life. My food choices are extremely limited at this point, although getting a tiny bit better. On top of this, now, the farmers all around me have been spraying chemicals non stop on the crops for the past 6 months! I am weak, have core tremors, and am extremely tired. I’m taking bentonite clay to try to detox the chemicals as well as Mirorcore, an ionic foot bath, installed an ozone air purifier, take golden milk, beet juice powder, good oils, and a medical protein shake to try to up my protein. Any other suggestions? I would appreciate it so much!
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Hi Carol,
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had such a rough time. You’ve done a great job by giving a lot of basic support to help your body detox, but it sounds like you may need a more focused approach at this point. If you aren’t already working with one, I’d encourage you to seek out a functional medicine/holistic practitioner who can order testing (comprehensive stool test, organic acids test, and food/chemical sensitivity tests would all be good considerations in my opinion) and create a personalized plan for more concentrated detox and gut healing efforts that your body can handle in its current state. I offer free, 10 minute calls if you’d like to talk through this some more or learn about my coaching/testing services – just click here to schedule that if you’re interested.
Blessings on your health,
Dena
Habibatullah J. Evans says
Greetings, yesterday I was rushed and treated at the ER for chemical exposure to a concentrated amount of gasoline. It really made me feel horrible. Now, I’m very concerned about the side effects. In addition to the recommendations posted , do you have any specific recommendations to gasoline exposure? Thank you very much!
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Goodness, I’m so sorry to hear that, Habibatullah! Unfortunately, I don’t know of additional measures to help detox from gasoline specifically, but I would say it underscores the need to cover the bases mentioned here. Wishing you a quick recovery!
Roxanne Durham says
I was intentionally poisoned by what a private lab I hired says was paint remover about three months ago. I went to the hospital and the doctors actually dont believe me. I have since been detoxing myself by drink tons of water and taking detox supplements. Any suggestions for me?
Dena @ Back To The Book Nutrition says
Wow, Roxanne. I’m so sorry! The suggestions in this post are great bases to cover, but you may want to consider an evaluation with a functional medicine practitioner who can assess whether you have any lasting effects from the exposure that need to be cleared.