Top 7 tips to Detoxify Children Safely and Naturally

Here at Whole Child Texas, I get a lot of questions from parents on how to "detoxify" their children, especially children with chronic conditions like asthma, atopic dermatitis, autism, attention deficit, and hyperactivity disorder, anxiety.

Before reaching out for fancy supplements or vitamins, I believe in supporting children's bodies' innate wisdom to detoxify naturally. Our bodies detoxify at the cellular level and through the liver, digestive system, kidneys, lungs, skin, and lymphatic system. If you're able to implement several of these simple but effective suggestions in your children's day to day routine, "detoxing" daily becomes part of a healthy lifestyle.

• #1 Liver/Gut: children detoxify through the liver and digestive system by eating healthy foods, staying away from junk food, and avoiding constipation! Eliminate processed food, with artificial dyes and preservatives, from children's diet and encourage them to eat brightly colored vegetables and fruits, green leafy vegetables (spinach, collard greens, kale, arugula) fermented foods like kefir, kombucha, kimchi, pickled vegetables to support their gut microbiome ("friendly tummy bacteria"). I can't emphasize enough the importance of a healthy diet in supporting the body to detoxify! Children respond amazingly well to proper nutrition, and a lot of chronic conditions can be avoided or improved through a healthy diet.
• Avoid constipation: always remind children to drink plenty of water! Avoid cow milk dairy products as they are hard to digest and cause constipation in many children/ Encourage children to eat a diet rich in fiber. Last but not least, children should take scheduled potty breaks to avoid constipation. Children need to sit on the potty, for 5-10 minutes, after the main meals. Many children are busy playing, or they're avoiding public bathrooms, which can cause stool withholding and constipation.

• #2 Kidneys: Drink plenty of water every single day! Most children do not drink enough water during school days so that they can avoid going to school bathrooms. Avoid sugary beverages, like juices, sodas, or sports drinks. Help children understand the importance of drinking water so that it doesn't become another parent-child power struggle.

• #3 Lungs: Children detoxify through the lungs by spending time in nature, being physically active, and taking deep, belly breaths throughout the day. Encourage children to play and run around outdoors at least an hour a day instead of playing video games or watching television. On weekends, try to take hikes in the woods or a park. Take family vacations on the beach or in the mountains where the air is cleaner than in most cities.

• #4 Lymphatic system: The lymphatic system is a complex network of vessels and organs that "cleanse" out the blood and are a massive part of the immune system. We can support the lymphatic system through movement and exercise, massage, and drinking water. Yes, this is another good reason to encourage kids to drink lots of water throughout the day and to stay physically active! Gently brushing the skin with a soft brush also stimulates the lymphatic system.

• #5 Skin: Our bodies detoxify through sweating. Kids can either play or exercise until they sweat. They can also take long, warm relaxing baths with Epsom salts several times a week. Make this part of their bedtime ritual, and you're going to have relaxed children, falling asleep quickly. Older children can also benefit from a few minutes in an infrared sauna (always under adult supervision to avoid overheating and dehydration).

• #6 Mind/Emotions: Stress and our own emotions can be toxic sometimes. Parental stress can affect children's neurochemistry and biology. Teaching kids mind-body and stress management techniques like conscious breathing, meditation, mindfulness, or journaling can calm down their nervous system and increase children's resilience to stress. It's equally important that parents practice stress management daily as well. This is perhaps the essential way to "detox" as a family.

• #7 Detoxify your environment: The Environmental Working Group website is an excellent resource for toxic household products and cosmetics. It has a wealth of information on everything from healthy eating, water, and air filters, to different household products, sunscreens, and cosmetics.