The best possible outcome for toxins is for them to move through our body quickly. Movement is the name of the game when it comes to the toxins we come in contact with or that our bodies create. If toxins don’t move out, they get stored in our fat cells and tissues. This can lead to anything from joint pain to autoimmune disease. So today I’m focusing on moving those toxins all on down the (sewer) line through our poop.
While we have many systems involved in converting toxins into waste, there are only a few ways that waste actually gets out of our body. Pee, poop, and perspiration are known as the Three P’s of detoxing (h/t to Dr. Hyman). All three P’s are important, but having consistent bowel movements is fundamental.
These tips are helpful in ensuring a daily or twice daily bowel movement.
1. Eat plenty of fiber in the form of leafy green and non-starchy vegetables and slow-burning, fiber-rich carbohydrates like lentils and quinoa. Pro Tip: If you are moving from a fiber-poor diet to a fiber-rich one make this move slowly and…
2. Drink plenty of water! I know this seems so simple, but most of us don’t do it. And tea, which is a diuretic, does NOT count. Being well hydrated makes all that fiber you have eaten moves through your system and makes your poop softer. That’s a win times 10!
3. Move your body. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest reasons most people are constipated. Exercise, even a nice walk around the block, gets your digestive system moving so that you can move out those toxins.
4. Magnesium. Most of us are deficient in magnesium. This super nutrient is all about relaxation, helping you sleep better, de-stress easier, and poop better. It’s also a key nutrient for those of us with autoimmune disease, especially fibromyalgia. Dr. Mark Hyman recommends people take between 400mg to 1,000mg of magnesium citrate daily. I use my bowel movements to guide how much I take. If I’m pooping too much and the poops aren’t well-formed, I decrease my dose.
5. Squatting on the potty. The modern toilet may be responsible for the straining a lot of us do on the pot, which leads to hemorrhoids and an unpleasant experience. The theory is that modern toilets have us sitting in a way that constricts our outflow. While there is no research to back that up, there is lots of anecdotal evidence that sitting in a squat position when going to the restroom alleviates the straining and actually allows you to poop more quickly. Here is a really weird, somewhat gross, but entertaining advertisement from the creators of the Squatty Potty.
I hope these tips have helped, and that you start having an easier time clearing out those toxins.
*I apologize for any earworms I may have started.
Helping you get past all the stuff that is holding you back! 