Donna’s response:
The right diet and simple lifestyle changes can drastically improve your health. In fact, with the below 12 tips, you can limit your exposure to toxins AND create a healthy eating plan that encourages natural detoxification!

With a few changes in your day-to-day habits, you can live in the modern world and still take charge of your energy, health and longevity.

Here are my top 12 tips to help your body avoid, or eliminate toxins:

1. Start by incorporating the principles of the Body Ecology program into your life. Body Ecology is based on whole, healing foods that boost your immunity and detoxify your body. In this way, diet alone can go a long way to keeping you protected from toxins you encounter in the environment. A great place to start learning what these principles are is to read: The Quick and Easy Guide to Improving Your Health on The Body Ecology Program Part I

   
   

2. Drink plenty of water. This helps your body eliminate toxins through your sweat, tears, and urine. Make sure that you are drinking pure, filtered water from a safe source. Do consider investing in an alkaline water machine. These machines, invented in Japan, take regular tap water, filter it and then split the water into acid and alkaline water. Both are useful but you drink the alkaline water each day.
   
   There are now many of these machines on the market and obviously some machines are better than others. I prefer the ones made by Enagic for several reasons. These are the only machines recommended by the Japanese government for use in hospitals. Also each machine is carefully assembled in Japan by one person. These machines are expensive, though, ranging in price from $1280 to $3980 … but are well worth it.
   
   

3. Eliminate sugar and artificial sweeteners from your diet. Sugar is extremely harmful to your health, and feeds candida, while artificial sweeteners are downright poison. Use Body Ecology Stevia instead.
   
   

4. Choose your produce wisely! Locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables in season are the best way to ensure you’re not consuming dangerous pesticides and chemicals.
   
   

5. Choose the right meats, poultry and fish! Look for organic, pasture-fed antibiotic and hormone free organic sources of meat and poultry. Fish should be wild, not farm raised.
   
   

6. Eliminate processed foods. Foods that are processed and packaged in boxes, bags or cans often contain preservatives and artificial flavorings that encourage you to eat more AND have toxic effects in your body.
   
   If you choose prepared foods, read the ingredients or nutrition labels to be sure you are getting the highest quality foods.
   
   

7. Consume fermented foods and drinks. Adding fermented foods and drinks to your diet is an excellent line of defense against toxins.
   
   These probiotic-rich foods have healthy bacteria and yeast (microflora), which are essential for strong immunity, good digestion, detoxification, and for keeping your intestines free of pathogens like candida.
   
   The best way to add fermented foods and drinks to your diet is with cultured vegetables and drinks like Coco-Biotic and Innergy Biotic.
   
   Cultured veggies are often made with cabbage and kale. These two vegetables are members of the cruciferous family and are a significant source of calcium glucarate, a powerful detoxifer. Research has shown that calcium glucarate helps prevent cancer of the breast and colon.
   
   You can make your own Young Coconut Kefir at home, or try Body Ecology’s convenient CocoBiotic, which has many of the same properties as Young Coconut Kefir without having to find and crack those young green coconuts!
   
   For more on the best sources of fermented foods and drinks, read: Probiotic Liquids and Foods versus Probiotic Supplements: Which Is Better?
   
   

8. Assist your liver. Your liver is your body’s main cleansing organ, and could use a little help. LivAmend is a great way to support your liver and your bowels in removing toxins from your body. It works by increasing bile flow that stimulates peristaltic movement. Then your colon will eliminate its contents more efficiently. Toxins leave the liver in the bile so you want to increase bile flow to get those toxins out!
   
   

9. Eat ocean vegetables. Ocean vegetables have a long list of health benefits, are delicious and have amazing detox properties. For more information on their benefits and how you can incorporate them into your diet, read: 8 Healthy Seaweeds Worth Knowing and Trying.
   
   

10. Cleanse your colon. You can use either a home enema, or a visit a certified colon hydrotherapist.
    
    For more information on the amazing benefits of colon cleansing, read: Powerful Tips to Improve Your Digestive System’s Health: From a Conversation with Nancy Sphar CBE and Colon Therapist
    
    

11. Switch to organic, natural, and environmentally friendly personal care and household products. As more people are becoming aware of the dangerous toxins that these products put into our bodies, air, and water, natural alternatives are becoming available.
    
    For more information read: The Dangers of Typical Body Soaps and What to Use Instead
    
    

12. Learn effective ways to cope with stress! It’s not possible to completely eliminate stress, it’s a part of life. But you can learn to manage it. Additionally, many people cope with stress and negative emotions by binging and by eating foods that are unhealthy for them.
    
    Whether you go running, do yoga, or practice deep breathing exercises, find what works for you and make it a part of your daily life. Many people find that the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), founded by Gary Craig is a fast, easy, and practical way to clear stress and negative emotions. By quickly practicing these techniques they can be free to enjoy their lives!

Most Importantly, Commit to Your Health!

The tips I’ve listed can seem overwhelming at first, but if you commit to one small step at a time and stick to it, you’ll find that new healthy habits start to pay off.

It’s important to know that when you first begin to eliminate toxins from your body, it’s normal to feel tired, achy and even more emotional or grumpy. These symptoms of cleansing usually last for a short period of time so don’t give up. Cleansings are a sign that what you’re doing is working. Instead of giving up go for several colonics instead.

For more information read: The Quick and Easy Guide to Improving Your Health on The Body Ecology Program Part VI: Why You Might Feel Bad (At First) When You Start to Eat Healthy

We live in a fast-paced world and yet, with these 12 tips, you can take charge of your health so that you can live as Nature intended: in health and balance!