Detox Article 2025

Let’s Live Clean!  

Four Tools to Detox Naturally

It comes as no surprise that we live in a very toxic world, so limiting exposure is helpful but strengthening our body’s resilience can be even more important. Our bodies were designed to self heal and detox when provided the right tools to do so (clean water, air, food, relationships). Sounds simple, but many people start to feel better and lower their symptom burden with just these four basic things.

Detoxification should be the ongoing process of a healthy body.  But when clients start a specific detox protocol, sometimes they may experience symptoms such as food cravings, crankiness, dizziness, foul smelling breath,gas, headaches and more. Always check with a practitioner after starting a detox to ensure that symptoms are not more serious. These symptoms occur due to the body withdrawing from foods and substances that the body is essentially addicted to. As ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut die off, they release toxins which can be the reason for foul smelling breath and gas. 

We detoxify mainly via the liver, kidneys, gut, integumentary (skin) and lymphatic systems. Giving the body these tools to support our detox systems can be the greatest defense against degenerative disease. 

Tool #1 - Clean Water 

Water is the most common nutrient deficiency on our planet, yet drinking water can be one of the biggest sources of chemical and toxin exposure. According to a study from the US Geological Survey, half of America’s tap water is contaminated with “forever chemicals” and this study only evaluated 32 of the 12,000 different types of PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances or forever chemicals). The number is likely much higher. Some examples of chemicals commonly found in our water supply include heavy metals (lead, mercury, etc), industrial solvents, car emissions, chemical fertilizers, pesticides (glyphosate or “Round Up”), pharmaceuticals, personal care products, flame retardants, and more. Most data available to us states the amounts of these substances is so small that it is negligible to our health; however, we now know that small amounts build up in our bodies over time and can lead to health issues such as infertility, developmental issues, hormone disruption, cancer, autoimmune disease, thyroid and brain problems, etc.

One way to evaluate the tap water in your area is to use the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ 

There are many types of water filters to choose from, so what is best? They all have their pros and cons, but it is important to know that the standard over the counter filters such as Brita or other refrigerator filters do not filter out many of the above mentioned toxins, so it is important to evaluate what chemicals are actually filtered out when doing your research. Some of our favorite filters at RHM include the brands AquaTru (reverse osmosis) or Clearly Filtered (gravity filtration). 

Tool #2 - Clean Air 

The air we breathe is another large source of pollutants. The average adult breathes about 11,000 liters of air daily! It is important to filter out things like mold, bacteria, viruses, fungi, airborne parasite eggs (i.e. pinworm), pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pet dander, soil particulate, and other various harmful chemicals. An in-home air filter can be a helpful tool to mitigate what we are breathing in daily. Some of the brands we like at Real Health Medical include: Air Doctor, Jaspr, and IQAir. 

Tool #3 - Clean Food

Our diet is one of the first steps we can take to help support our body’s natural detox abilities. Purchasing organic foods when able or from a local farm where you know and trust what is being used on crops and fed to animals is key. 

Choose foods with <5 ingredients and high nutrient density:

1. organic dairy low temp pasteurized (Kalona farms is a great brand)
2. pasture-raised poultry
3. grass-fed and grass-finished beef
4. organic fruits and vegetables or at least chemical-free & locally grown
5. wild caught seafood 
6. sprouted grains or sourdough

The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 is a great guide that outlines which foods should always be purchased as organic (the most heavily sprayed - dirty dozen) and which are not as important to purchase as organic (the least sprayed - clean 15).

For more one-on-one guidance, consider scheduling a Detox Coaching Session which provides personalized lifestyle strategies for detoxification with a functional foods list, detox recipes, sleep, exercise, & fasting advice, and supplemental therapies! 

Tool #4 - Clean Relationships 

Continuing to remain in toxic relationships can cause our nervous system to be constantly on edge and moving between fight / flight (sympathetic) and rest / digest (parasympathetic) mode. This can keep our bodies essentially ‘stuck’ living in a constant circle of stress. Most of our body’s detoxification occurs in a parasympathetic state, so you can see that this is a crucial part to healing. Primal Trust Program by Dr. Nicole LaPera (Holistic Psychologist) is a great resource to learn more. 

Practitioners in our office can also help! Ask your practitioner to learn more about Cranio Sacral Therapy and ANI which Dr. Absi provides right here at Real Health Medical to help detoxify emotional stressors! 

How Can I Evaluate My Need For Detoxification?

This starts with a conversation with your practitioner who can help guide you to necessary testing and tools to start supporting detoxification. Some of the tests we commonly use at Real Health Medical may include urine heavy metal testing (via Doctors Data), Organic acid (OAT) testing (via various companies), urine and/or blood mold testing (via Mosaic Diagnostics, MyMycoLab and more), and environmental toxin testing (via Mosaic Diagnostics).

Therapies for Detox

Sweating

Every time we sweat by use of a sauna, we flush out toxic substances and heavy metals that we encounter in day to day life.  Use of a sauna is one of the best ways to promote detoxification. There are two options to choose from: traditional and infrared saunas. Traditional saunas rely on humidity to heat the room while infrared saunas heat your body directly by releasing certain wavelengths that your body then absorbs. Infrared sauna use penetrates to the deepest cellular level for maximum detoxification benefit. 

We recommend if you are new to sauna use, starting out with 10 minutes at 100-130 degrees Fahrenheit (infrared) or 5-10 minutes in a traditional steam sauna at 190-200F. 

The goal is 30-40 minutes of sweat time (not total time in the sauna). 

Due to the most benefits, we prefer infrared at Real Health Medical. Nam brands we like include: Therasage, Sunlighten, and Clearlight as these also have the lowest emission of electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs). 

Lymphatic Support 

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and organs that move lymph (waste, toxins, bacteria, viruses, etc) from cells. Symptoms of a sluggish lymphatic system include:

1.  swelling or water retention (especially in the ankles or under eyes)
2.  frequent infections
3.  enlarged lymph nodes
4.  allergies
5.  ongoing fatigue and/or achiness 

Ways you can support your lymphatic system include: 

1. staying hydrated
2. moving throughout the day
3. dry brushing
4. self lymphatic massage – Our favorite easy quick lymphatic massage is the Big 6 - https://www.stopchasingpain.com/the-big-6-tm/#big-6-video
5. rebounding (usually via jumping on a small trampoline) which increases circulation and lymph flow
6. using a vibration plate - LifePro is a great brand
7. deep breathing
8. Real Health Medical - Roswell Office offers Equiscope Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Sessions that stimulate the lymph system to drain through energetic stimulation of the meridians. 
9. Real Health Medical - Stockbridge Office offers ALT - Assisted Lymphatic Therapy sessions to assist the lymphatic system to release and flow more optimally. 

Supplements

Supporting detox doesn’t have to mean buying a ton of expensive supplements, but knowing which supplements you need for optimal health.  It is never a one-size-fits-all protocol. There are many herbs and supplements that can help support detoxification in various ways. These include binders, minerals, and compounds such as alpha lipoic acid or glutathione. Homeopathics can also provide gentle support. Talk with your practitioner about what may be the best supplement detox protocol for you. Some of our favorite brands for binders include CellCore and Results RNA. Some of our favorite homeopathic brands include DesBio and Physica. 

Note: if you are sensitive to supplements and medications you may want to take dosing slowly and gradually work up the dosage for herbal and supplemental support. 

IV Therapies 

At Real Health Medical, we can create a customized detox “cocktail” for each individual client.  Glutathione is one main ingredient that is considered the master antioxidant.  Knowing what we are detoxifying from can also help target the IV therapy ingredient options. 

Detoxification should be the ongoing process of a healthy body, but when our toxic burden gets overwhelming, we sometimes need more targeted support. 

Call today to schedule a Detox Consultation with one of our practitioners!! 

Get back to living clean today!! 

Call 678.990.5401.

**Ask about our 14 Day Detox Protocol Bundle!!

References:

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Article: Eaton, S. B., & Konner, M. (1985). Origins and evolution of the Western diet: Health implications for the 21st century. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(2), 341-354.