“By cleansing your body on a regular basis and eliminating toxins from your environment, your body can begin to heal itself, prevent disease, and become more strong and resilient than you ever thought possible!”
– Edward F. Group III, DC, NP and detox expert
By now you’ve ideally taken the first step of getting mentally prepared. You know your reasons for thriving. You have stepped into your role as CEO of your own health and wellbeing. Perhaps you’ve hired a holistic doctor too. And, hopefully you’re surrounding yourself with positive people.
The next step is to get rid of all the triggers that are causing or perpetuating your autoimmune issues or that are blocking your healing.
Grab some large trash bags and get ready to clean out your kitchen, bathroom and laundry cabinets. You’ll want to toss the junk foods, recycle the plastic and paper packaging, and put any chemical-based products like medicines, household cleaners, sunscreens, etc. in a bag for a “hazardous waste” drop off location.
1. Eliminate Toxins
Toxins may be the big reason autoimmune disorders are becoming epidemic. Even babies are born today with an average of 287 chemicals in their umbilical cord blood!1A BENCHMARK INVESTIGATION OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, POLLUTANTS AND PESTICIDES IN UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD, Environmental Working Group, July 14, 2005, http://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns We must protect ourselves proactively from the onslaught. And we’re not just talking about toxins “out there.” We also mean toxic foods, negative thoughts, and people who drain your energy.
Toss Processed Foods, Sugary Snacks and Desserts
Keep them out of sight, out of mind and out of easy reach. That includes cereals, chips, pretzels, cookies, ice cream, sodas (yes, even diet sodas which contain the neurotoxin, aspartame). And the hidden stash? Dump it!
Do a 30-Day Food Vacation
Take a break from the most autoimmune triggering foods: gluten and all grains, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, beans/lentils, coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, nuts, and nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, peppers & eggplant). After 30 days, reintroduce each item one at a time slowly (2 days between foods). Closely monitor how you feel. If you have GI issues, brain fog, pain or other symptoms you may be sensitive to one of these foods, so keep it out of your diet for another 3 – 6 months and then, if you want, try reintroducing it again.
Use Chemical-free Products
Replace chemical-based home cleaning and body care products. A good rule of thumb is to only use products with ingredients you can identify or would eat. For guidance on which ingredients and products are safe and which contain potentially toxic chemicals, consult www.EWG.org.
Get Tested for Chemicals & Heavy Metals
Get tested for chemical & heavy metal toxicity Doctor’s Data provoked Urine Toxic Metals is a good option; Vibrant Wellness, offers panels that measure direct levels of Environmental Toxins like glyphosate and plastics in your urine; Cyrex Labs offer antibody tests that measure how reactive you may be to chemicals with Array #11 Chemical Reactivity Screen. And explore having your silver mercury fillings removed by a holistic dentist. MS and mercury poisoning may go hand in hand.2Multiple sclerosis – Poisoning in slow motion, What Doctors Don’t Tell You (WDDTY); http://www.wddty.com/multiple-sclerosis.html
2. Heal Your Gut
Your immune system resides mostly in the lining of your small intestines – aka your “gut.” Most people with autoimmune disorders have a leaky gut and an imbalanced microbiome (gut flora). So to allow your immune system to do its job and heal you, you must heal and seal your gut. When you remove inflammatory triggers your immune system can stop overreacting too, and that’s essential for healing.
Remove Inflammatory Elements
In addition to removing processed foods, sugar and your trigger foods (step 1 above), minimize your use of prescription & over the counter meds, and reduce stress.
Replace & Reinoculate
If you’re over 40 you are likely low in stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Take hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. And, reinoculate gut flora with prebiotics — high soluble fiber called “inulin”-containing-foods like garlic, artichokes & onions, probiotics — contained in supplements and fermented foods & bone broth.
Repair Your Gut Lining
Repair your gut lining with healing nutrients: L-glutamine, arginine, zinc, curcumin (turmeric), omega-3 fish oils, vitamins D (+ K2), A, C, E, slippery elm and aloe vera.
Rebalance Your Nervous System
A stressful lifestyle harms your gut. Do centering practices: deep breathing, prayer, yin yoga, and/or meditation.
3. Live a Detox Lifestyle
Detoxing is not a fad diet or colon cleanse you do twice a year. It’s an ongoing practice of assisting the body in clearing accumulated waste that can otherwise build up and back up into your bloodstream. When you minimize toxic triggers coming in and optimize detoxification processes, everything gets back to balance.
Wake Up to Lemon Water
Drink warm or room temperature pure water with lemon on waking. Lemon contains compounds that help calm liver inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and inhibit development of fatty liver disease.3http://www.livestrong.com/article/523028-is-lemon-water-good-for-the-liver/
Bounce More
Bounce either on a rebounder (mini-trampoline) or on a cushy mat for 2 – 5 minutes each morning to flush your lymphatic system, the body’s waste removal system, which doesn’t move unless you do.
Drink Green Juice
Make organic green juice daily. Add a small red beet, cilantro and/or dandelion to help cleanse your liver.
Sweat Daily
Work up a sweat every day to help eliminate toxins though your skin — your largest detox organ. Do some cardio. And, take regular saunas, ideally far or near infrared. Make sure you take a cool shower after to wash away the toxins.
Remove Your Triggers – Action Summary
- Remove your autoimmune trigger foods and minimize exposure to toxins in home and body care products.
- Heal and seal your gut to turn off the autoimmune cascade.
- Make detox a daily habit to ease your body burden.
What will your first step be? What have you already removed? Leave a comment here and share your experience for the benefit of others.
Take good care!
P.S. Are you dealing with autoimmune or mysterious symptoms and want to heal completely without doctors, drugs, or drama? If you’re ready to take control of your health and your life you may be a perfect match for Beat Autoimmune Academy, a comprehensive, holistic, self-paced online program to help you accelerate time to healing and thriving. Join the waitlist and be the first to know when the doors are open.
Image Credit: Nadezhda1906/iStock
