Detoxify your body: how do you go about it?

Updated on 2025-01-14

Summary: Detoxify your body: how do you go about it?

This column offers advice on how to detoxify the body after the excesses of the holiday season, by supporting the main detoxifying organs: the liver (garlic, turmeric, cruciferous vegetables, plants such as artichoke and milk thistle), kidneys (hydration, lemon, dandelion) and lungs (rosemary, thyme or mullein tea). The intestine also plays a key role, requiring a diet rich in fiber (fruit, vegetables, whole grains) and plants such as psyllium or ginger.

Gentle exercise, good sleep and, if necessary, supplements such as Salus organic plant juices, complete this approach. Lynn Goneau, naturopath at La Boîte à Grains, recommends personalizing the detox, taking care to avoid interactions with medications, and is available for consultations in Gatineau.

Main organs to support during a detox

1. Liver :

   • Recommended foods Garlic, turmeric, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage).
   • Useful plants Artichoke (tea), black radish, milk thistle (capsules).
   • Precaution Check for interactions with medications.

2. Kidneys :

   • Hydration Minimum 2 liters of water per day.
   • Beneficial additions Birch, lemon (hot water), dandelion (diuretic).

3. Lungs :

   • To strengthen them Rosemary, thyme or mullein tea.
   • Indications Ideal for those suffering from chronic colds or bronchitis.

4. Intestines :

   • Dietary fiber Fruits, vegetables, quinoa, crushed nuts, wholegrain cereals.
   • Complementary plants Psyllium, marshmallow root, ginger.

Habits for an effective detox

• Physical activity Gentle exercise (walking, yoga) to stimulate circulation.
• Restorative sleep Necessary for the body to regenerate and eliminate.
• Regular evacuation Regular bowel movements are essential for optimal intestinal transit.

Suggested supplements

• Salus organic plant juices :
  • Varieties: Birch juice, black radish, celery, nettle.
  • Use: Dilute in water or juice for easier absorption.

About the author

Lynn Goneau, Certified Naturopath

Specialized in :

• Digestive health
• Hormonal health
• Stress and fatigue
• Memory and concentration
• Weight management

Frédéric Bisson, radio host at 104.7 FM

Radio host at 104.7 FM on the Cogeco network. Frédéric Bisson has hosted L'Outaouais Maintenant from 3 to 5 p.m. every weekday since February 27, 2023.

Transcription

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM: 

As we enter 2025, some of us may be carrying around leftovers from last year and the holiday season, with all the excess food and drink. So detoxifying the body can be a great way to get back on track, especially after the excesses and parties. Maybe that's my problem. Talk to Lynn Goneau naturopath at La Boite à Grains. Hello Lynn.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Hello.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

I have the impression that some organs retain junk a little longer, like the liver and the kidneys. We're going to talk about that today.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Detox is important, but how do you do it? How do you get started? It's super important. And as you mentioned, there are some of the most important detoxification organs, and we must always remember that the liver is a good place to start. It's the main detoxification organ, and to support it, you can eat foods like garlic, turmeric or cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and broccoli. This will help it do its detox work much more easily. You can also work with plants. I'm a big fan of artichokes, and a nice artichoke tea after eating helps, as does black radish and milk thistle. You can take them in capsules.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

If you buy milk thistle, few people know that it often interacts with certain types of medication. So you have to check that out.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains :

Always check with your medications, because they're natural plants. Yes, interactions happen. So you have to be careful.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Plants are the basis of many medicines. It's important to remember that the kidneys are also involved. They're important.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

The kidneys, yes, to help them, it's really to allow good hydration at two liters a day. That's just going to help eliminate waste. You can even add herbs like birch and lemon to hot water in the morning. This is a favorite for many. Dandelion for its powerful diuretic properties. It really helps to increase urine production.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

And then the lungs.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

The lungs here, we know how important they are. If you have bronchitis, especially sinusitis or chronic colds, or if you often have a blocked nose, that's important too. It can happen that it's important to clean it, then strengthen it. My favorite is rosemary and thyme tea. I mix the two or sometimes I'll go with mullein because mullein really helps strengthen the bronchial tubes.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

It's important when doing a detox to evacuate well, especially to have a bowel movement.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, that's important. Because if your intestine isn't working properly, you won't have any trouble, because it's the main gateway for eliminating all waste.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

Yes. So the fibers, I guess that helps.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, we take fiber. It could be fruit or vegetables. That would be a good amount. Pumpkin purée is surprising. But this helps a lot, like quinoa, crushed nuts, not just whole nuts, but really crushed nuts, whole grain cereals. So all these things will help the intestine and transit, or even plants you can take like psyllium, marshmallow root, ginger.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

There's that, there's fiber. There's exercise.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, by that. It's very important. As part of the detox process, you need to move, walk and do yoga to help stimulate blood circulation. This will help you eliminate toxins. You don't have to gorge yourself, though, so don't do big, heavy exercises, but at least do little exercises to get moving.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

And sleep well. I can imagine.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Sleep is the key factor in detoxification. It's during sleep that the body carries out a large part of the process of generating and then eliminating toxins. You really need to get the right kind of sleep. If you're physically exhausted, it's really not the right time to detox, because it can worsen your fatigue, your body starts to work, then you're already tired, wait until you're back on your feet a bit.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

If that's not enough, if we prefer to take a supplement, what do you recommend?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, there are Salus organic plant juices. I like them a lot because they're really easy to consume. They're concentrates that have a lot of benefits to help stimulate and promote digestion. They're 100% organic plant extracts, like the birch juice, black radish juice, celery juice, nettle juice and many others. It's easy to detox with these. Just add a little to water or fruit juice. Then it's easily absorbed.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

So we're finding out. And we can see you at La Boîte à Grains.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, you can come by. I'm here on Tuesdays, of course, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

And which branch is it?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

In Gatineau on Gréber Boulevard.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Excellent. Have a good week. Thanks for your time.