It was one of the toughest years on record…
Practically no one came through 2020 unscathed. Everywhere we looked there seemed to be some manner of stress, physical and emotional health setbacks, or financial problems.
And from the pandemic to the economy to the natural disasters, the hits just kept coming all year long.
The news was toxic… the air was toxic… the threat of a potentially deadly virus united and gave pause to people the world over… and the impact on all our lives was significant.
Are you excited to get the year 2020 in your rear view window?
More importantly, are you ready to make sure 2020’s toxic effects don’t follow you into the new year?
Here are 10 ways to detox from 2020, and usher in a happy, healthy new year.
1. Get some exercise.
Physical activity helps reduce the harmful effects of stress by mimicking the fight-or-flight response in a healthy way. The repetitive motions can be almost hypnotic and help clear your mind of negative thoughts. Exercising can also jumpstart your body’s own detox process by increasing circulation, helping you sweat out toxins, and clearing out your lungs.
2. Take a break from the news.
We’ve moved from nightly news to a round-the-clock, alarmist-focused news cycle where gloom-ridden and sensational stories take precedence over positive reports (unless it’s about the weather). Via the mainstream media, negativity floods our TVs and our social media feeds constantly, with rarely a break in the barrage.
Your only defense against this toxic bombardment: Turn it all off.
Yes, all of it. Do it for at least part of the day. Step away from social media. Avoid news shows and political pundits. Give your brain and heart a chance to rebound from the toxic effects of this scientifically-proven stressor.
3. Load up on antioxidants.
Stressful situations – of which 2020 delivered a-plenty – can lead to a buildup of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are compounds that cause harmful, cellular damage (oxidative stress).
Your key defense against them: Antioxidants.
Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free radicals, thereby putting an end to the damage they cause. A great way to naturally increase your consumption of antioxidants is via antioxidant-rich foods and herbs, such as:
- Berries
- Dark chocolate
- Green tea
- Pomegranate juice
- Mint
- Oregano
- Apples
- Sweet potatoes
4. Get plenty of restorative sleep.
Your brain relies on restorative sleep to clear out the harmful toxins that can build up while you’re awake. Sleep, especially non-REM slow wave sleep, keeps those toxins from accumulating in your brain and leading to any number of health challenges, such as dreaded disease like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
At the same time, your liver – your body’s own detox organ – relies on sleep hours to filter toxins out of your bloodstream.
According to a 2018 study of more than 10,000 people, the body's ability to function declines quickly if the average nightly sleep duration falls short of the seven-to-eight-hour range. Therefore, it’s fair to say that without sleep, no health-optimizing protocol will work to its full potential.
Learn more about the benefits of restorative sleep and how to ensure you’re getting enough by clicking here.
5. Fill your home with plants.
Bringing a bit of nature inside helps detox your living space. Plants purify your air by gobbling up carbon dioxide and producing clean, fresh oxygen. And the benefits don't stop there – many plants also absorb chemical toxins like formaldehyde and ammonia from the air, eliminating indoor pollution.
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, the best plants for detoxing your home include:
- Boston fern
- Dwarf date palm
- Bamboo palm
- Spider plant
- English ivy
- Peace lily
6. Alcohol in moderation.
2020 gave us plenty of reasons to pour a drink or two… oftentimes more! Since your liver has to process and eliminate 90% of that alcohol, overindulgence can quickly overburden your system.
This is especially true when your body is also dealing with other toxins, such as a toxic environment. Minimizing alcohol intake – or even abstaining for a while – gives your liver a chance to rebound, helping to restore its full detox powers.
7. Drink Water.
Every cell in your body relies on water to do the heavy lifting when it comes to flushing out toxins. Urination is one of the key ways your body gets rid of waste products, including toxins – and drinking plenty of water helps increase urinary excretion.
Basically, your body is designed to be a “water in, toxins out” system. But it can’t function properly unless it gets enough fluids to get the job done right. 8 glasses a day? That should be your minimum.
8. Cleanse your home.
Everyday products – like cleaning supplies – can be chock full of toxins. Whether you breathe them in or they touch your skin, these chemicals can add to your toxic load and make you feel sick and tired. On top of that, every time you open a door or window, environmental pollution sneaks into your home!
You can remove particles and toxins that contaminate your home with a high quality air purifier like AirDoctor . And to reduce your home’s toxic burden, switch to all-natural, chemical-free cleaning products like MyGreenFills laundry supplies.
9. Detox your gut microbiome.
Your gut microbiome contains trillions of bacteria. In a healthy gut, beneficial probiotic bacteria vastly outnumber harmful pathogens. But after an unusually stressful year like 2020, your gut may be out of balance – a condition called dysbiosis.
An overgrowth of pathogens can be toxic to your system, especially because pathogens produce toxic compounds called LPS toxins (lipopolysaccharides).
LPS Toxins are dangerous proteins that can cause inflammation and other health issues. They’re supposed to be housed in your intestinal tract. But when the delicate balance of your gut is disturbed, these bacteria break up and spread through your system.
In fact, LPS toxins can be so dangerous that hospitals can predict how quickly a heart attack patient will die, simply by measuring the levels of LPS Toxins in their blood.
Fortunately, you can clear out pathogens and toxins and restore healthy balance in your gut microbiome with a high quality spore probiotic. And to help probiotic bacteria achieve their full detoxing potential, nourish them with targeted prebiotics – their preferred food – so they can grow and flourish.
10. Bolster your gut barrier to block pathogens and toxins.
Your gut is lined with a protective barrier – the gut barrier – that locks in pathogens, food particles, and toxins so they can’t escape into your bloodstream. Unfortunately, your gut barrier is vulnerable to attacks, especially when stress levels are high.
When your gut microbiome is out of balance, or you’re enduring extra stress, pathogens and the toxins they produce damage the gut barrier. When your gut barrier takes damage, toxins and other harmful substances escape into your bloodstream… causing a multitude of health problems.
You can strengthen and restore your gut barrier by supplying it with:
- Dairy-free immunoglobulins that protect it against harmful pathogens
- Specific amino acids such as L-proline, L-serine, L-cysteine, and L-threonine that encourage healthy production of mucin2, the protective substance that lines the barrier
- Natural citrus polyphenols that support strong gut barrier function
Start your new year with a clean slate and a healthy gut. Just Thrive has everything you need to maintain a well-balanced gut microbiome and a strong, protective gut barrier.
- Probiotics, to deliver a steady supply of clinically proven spore probiotics that clear out pathogens and encourage beneficial bacteria
- Precision Prebiotics, to selectively nourish beneficial bacteria, allowing them to flourish
- Ultimate IgG, to provide fresh troops of immunoglobulins that support the front lines of your immune system
- Gut-4-tify, to protect and strengthen your healthy gut barrier
Join the Just Thrive family for a healthier new year!
