Are we toxic? Years ago, I asked myself this question, and the answer honestly changed my life. When diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I knew I needed to make significant changes to take control of my health. I began with a re-evaluation of my relationship with food. For years, I struggled with emotional binge eating and subsequent guilt. In doing so, I failed to see a pattern– what I was eating directly influenced how I was feeling afterward. When I received a diagnosis of not one, but several auto-immune conditions, I decided it was time to take control of my life to save it. Food has become a way to encourage my body to thrive, rather than a coping mechanism when I feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed. If you’re ready to transform your habits, begin this new season by joining me in a fall detox. Not only will it rid your body of toxins, but it will also allow you to reconnect with your body before the holiday season rolls around. It will support your thyroid, adrenals, liver, cells, and hormone balance.

We often associate the change in season with a time of renewal. I dedicate at least one week each year to spring cleaning! During this period, we rid ourselves of all of the excess we’ve accumulated. Unfortunately, we often overlook our bodies in this process! If you’ve experienced puffiness, weight gain, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, brain fog, insomnia, hormone imbalance, or stress, your body may be crying out for help! Detoxing is a wonderful way to support our bodies by ridding them of excess waste. It also allows our bodies to absorb nutrients fully. Learn the reasons why cleansing is beneficial, and my recommendations for how to do this safely.

Why Detox is Necessary

Whether we’re aware of it or not, we struggle with toxins daily. Negative thinking, an excess of processed food, and chemicals in our environment can leave our cells with too high of a toxic burden to process. We’re also overwhelmed by inflammation, which is highly taxing to our systems and can cause (and also be due to) weight gain. Both inflammation and toxicity happen for many reasons, including:

• An excess of toxins from food or lifestyle
• Toxins in food, environment, and thinking patterns
• An overly acidic diet

Toxins are More Common Than You Think!

When was the last time you examined your relationship with food? For many of us, food serves as more than just essential nutrients; it’s become a means of celebration, a comfort in difficult times, and a reward. Unfortunately, many of the foods used in these moments do not serve to better our health. Processed, chemical-laden junk food is one of the greatest contributors to toxicity in our bodies.

Standard beauty products are also a danger. Everything from nail polish to makeup to shampoo may contain a high number of toxins. These substances add to the burden on our cells, transforming our systems from thriving and vibrant to slow and sluggish.

Negative thoughts do breed more negativity. They can create a toxic response in our cells! Negative self-talk, anxiety, worry and stress can all keep our bodies from optimal health.

Acidic diets can increase the growth of micro-organisms such as yeast, mold, and fungi. High levels of acidity also produce Mycotoxins which create more toxins!

Inflammation Becomes a Cycle

Inflammation occurs for many reasons, including a sedentary lifestyle, sugar, nutrient deficiencies, food allergies, and toxins. Flu-like symptoms and swelling, redness, stiffness, and puffiness are all signs of inflammation. Our bodies use the inflammatory response to attack invading viruses and bacteria. The current “healthy” lifestyle encourages a sustained inflammatory response by suggesting chemical-ridden, toxic low-fat food, crash-dieting, and high-stress careers. For us living with Hashimoto’s, we have an even more complicated relationship with inflammation, which plays a key role in autoimmune disease; the inflammatory response has caused our immune system to recognize our cells as invaders and begins to attack our healthy cells.

Supporting the Liver

The liver may be the hardest working organ in our bodies. It filters each toxin that comes into contact with our bodies. It is also responsible for over 700 other functions! When it becomes overburdened, these toxins make their way into other systems, taking up residence in our skin, fatty tissue, and blood. It affects our thyroid hormone conversion, causing many of us to seek an increased dosage of medication which can make many of our symptoms worse.

Fortunately, the liver gives us many signs when it is in distress. These symptoms include:

• Waking up at night, specifically between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM
• Eye problems, such as conjunctivitis, dry eyes, and cataracts
• Changes in skin, including dry skin, rosacea, rashes, and acne
• Irritability and angry moods
• Hormonal imbalances
• Constipation

If you are exhibiting one or more of these symptoms, your liver may be crying out for help! By ridding your body of toxins, you will improve its function and reduce these uncomfortable symptoms.

The Correct Way to Detox

Detoxification is more than simply drinking a smoothie per day, or eliminating problematic foods from your diet. The process of removing toxins can be challenging, as our bodies often developed an addiction to many of these substances. Sugar, caffeine and other toxic products are habit-forming, and it’s not uncommon to go through a process of withdrawal. It is imperative that you replenish vitamins and minerals during this process, as well as increase your hydration. A high-quality probiotic is also essential in supplying beneficial bacteria during this time.

In the next few days, I will be releasing my own Fall Thyroid Jumpstart program, which gives you all of the tools you need to rid yourself of toxins, increase your absorption of essential nutrients, and being your fall with energy, vitality, and vigor. I will help rid your cabinets and your body of unnecessary additives, and recommend specific foods and recipes to support your system through this period. I hope that you’ll join me in this Jumpstart detox and that you’ll continue to welcome each new season by giving your body the chance to thrive.