Your immune system is your body’s defense system and works to fend off bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and toxins. Unfortunately, our world is full of toxins that can compromise your immune system and increase your risk of infections, illness, and disease. Fortunately, there are some natural support strategies that support detoxification, weakened immunity, and your health.

In this article, I will discuss the importance of a healthy immunity. You will learn how toxins may disrupt your immunity. You will learn about the top 7 toxins that may weaken your immunity. I will share my top tips to detox and support healthy immunity.

Importance of Healthy Immunity

Your immune system is an incredibly important system. It is yoru body’s defense system, it is your friend, your protector, and your personal bodyguard. Your immune system’s job is to protect you from infections and health problems caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and toxins.

Your immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs. Together, they help to stop invaders, foreign pathogens, and malignant cells from entering your system and help to remove them if they get inside your body to protect you.

Having healthy immunity is critical for your overall health. A healthy immune system lowers your risk of getting an infection, getting sick, or developing a disease. A healthy immune system may support a quick and successful recovery from infection and illness. A compromised immune system may have a more difficult time protecting you and may have a difficult time supporting recovery.

A healthy immune system is also able to down-regulate your immune response against harmless triggers, such as food or pollen, or your own body tissues. If a compromised immune system is unable to do this, it can increase your risk of allergies, inflammation, and autoimmune disorder.

How Toxins Disrupt Immunity

Your immune system may get compromised due to a variety of reasons, including a poor diet, a lack of sleep, stress, poor lifestyle choices, and environmental toxins. Toxins are one of the major factors that may disrupt and weaken immunity.

Toxins that may disrupt your immune system are all around us. They are hiding in non-organic food as pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and antibiotics. They are in our air and hiding in our homes as mold, air pollution, and cigarette smoke. They are in our tap water, plastic packaging, dental fillings, conventional body, beauty, cleaning, and other household products, and clothing. To lower your toxic exposure and protect your immunity, you need to be aware of the top toxins that may weaken immunity.

How Toxins Disrupt Immunity

Knowledge is your first step to recovery and health. You must know the sources of various toxins that impact our body and weaken immunity.

While it is impossible to avoid exposure to these things all together, it is critical to minimize your exposure and open up your drainage pathways to eliminate chemicals from your body. Let’s learn about the top 7 toxins that may weaken your immunity.

1.Endotoxins

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), or endotoxins are toxins that are found inside a bacterial cell. They release as the cell disintegrates. They often results from bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine (small intestinal overgrowth, SIBO) or from sepsis. They may occur as a result of non-bacterial infections. Endotoxins may be released from candida and parasites resulting in a complex health issue form multiple harmful microorganisms.

When talking about endotoxins, we must talk about your gut health. Gut dysbiosis means that there is an imbalance in your gut microbiome that creates a compromised gut flora, lower’s your body’s ability to fight invaders, and increases your risk s and symptoms of endotoxins and biotoxin illness. Gut dysbiosis is a breeding ground for Candida and other yeast infections, bad bacteria, parasites, viruses, and pathogens. It increases your risk of harm from endotoxins that weaken immunity.

According to a 2018 study published in Environmental Health, even low levels of airborne endotoxins may have adverse respiratory health effects.

2. Mold & Mycotoxins

Mold and mycotoxins are some of the most prevalent toxins in your environment that weaken immunity. Mycotoxins are a specific type of fungi-like mold. They are very adaptable and can grow almost anywhere as long as the conditions are wet or moist, damp, and warm.

They are often found in your bathroom, damp basements, kitchen, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, fiberglass insultation, and elsewhere. They are not always obvious and visible but hide somewhere more hidden.

They may also grow on your food or after harvesting or before storage. They pose a serious health risk and may cause an array of symptoms from respiratory symptoms, headaches, and fatigue to gut health issues, hormonal issues, and mental health issues.

3. Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are one of the major toxins you may get exposed to throughout your life. Heavy metals are metals with a density of 5 g/cm3 or more. In large amounts, they have adverse effects on living organisms and our environment and weaken immunity. Besides being potentially harmful, they also serve absolutely no beneficial role in the human body.

According to a 2014 study published in the Interdisciplinary Toxicology, some heavy metals interfere with normal biological processes and have toxic effects. They bind to proteins in your body that would otherwise be activated by normally occurring minerals like zinc and magnesium. They can cause oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and cellular interference.

Some common heavy metals that you may encounter include lead found in lead-containing paint, contaminated municipal tap water, cosmetics, contaminated food, and tobacco products, arsenic, found in pesticides, commercially grown produce, apple juice, rice products, glass work, smelting, and semi-conductor production, mercury, found in larger seafood, dental amalgam silver tooth fillings, and some vaccines, cadmium, found in tobacco, metalworking, soldering, battery manufacturing, and contaminated foods, aluminum, found in some vaccinations, antiperspirant deodorant, municipal tap water, canned food and drinks, and some processed foods.

4. Glyphosate

Glyphosate is the most widely produced chemical in the world that acts to weaken immunity. It’s been used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses since the 1970s. It’s used in herbicides and over 700 agriculture, forestry, and home products. It is also the primary chemical used in Roundup, a popular chemical used by the biotech giant, Monsanto. It’s also found in other herbicides.

So why is glyphosate so bad? It is created to kill weeds by targeting the enzymes that produce the amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. The problem is that many bacteria may be susceptible to glyphosate and glyphosate may change the gut flora and compromise the health of many animals and humans.

5. Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are incredibly toxic and weaken immunity. They are the most commonly found in cosmetics but may be found elsewhere. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are “used in hundreds of products, such as toys, vinyl flooring and wall covering, detergents, lubricating oils, food packaging, pharmaceuticals, blood bags and tubing, and personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, aftershave lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, and other fragrance preparations.

Research is on-going when it comes to the toxic effects on phthalates. According to a 2009 study published in the Philosophical Transactions B, phthalates may have adverse health effects and further research is needed. According to a 2010 study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives, exposure to phthalates may increase the risk of breast cancer.

6. Organophosphates

Organophosphates (OPs) are chemical substances with toxic effects. They are produced by the reaction of the phosphoric acid and alcohol. Back in the 1930s, they were utilized as insecticides but during World War II, they were developed neurotoxins by the German military. They may affect neuromuscular transmission by acting as cholinesterase inhibitors.

Some OPs are used as pesticides or insect killers in both household and agricultural applications. According to research findings and review published in the book, Gulf War and Health: Volume 1. Depleted Uranium, Sarin, Pyridostigmine Bromide, Vaccines, longterm exposure to OPs can lead to serious neurological, neuropsychological, and/or psychiatric outcomes, and short-term, low exposure may produce negative outcomes.

7. Xylenes

Xylene, xylol, or dimethyl benzene refers to any of the three isomeric dimethyl benzenes or the combination of some or all of them. Xylenes are used as a solvent, as raw materials for the manufacturing of film, dyes, and fiber, feedstock manufacturing of polymers, and in aviation fuel and gasoline.

According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, xylene may pose a serious occupational hazard and can lead to health consequences. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), xylene vapors may irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs, inhaling xylenes can lead to headaches, nausea, drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness, and serious exposure can cause irregular heartbeat, sleepiness, stumbling, fainting, and even death.

How To Detox and Support Immunity

When dealing with toxic exposure and a high toxic load, the first step is to do our best to avoid the main sources that weaken the immunity. Once we have done that, we want to focus on opening up our detoxification and elimination pathways. Our primary drainage pathways are from our lungs, skin, kidney’s and colon. We literally need to enhance our respiration, perspiration, deification and urination systems to eliminate these toxins from our bodies.

Detoxification can sound scary, but once you start reading my recommendations on how to detox and support your immunity, you will realize that it’s actually a simple and straight-forward process. Here is what I recommend to detox and support your immunity

Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Plan

To support detoxification and healthy immunity, I recommend following an anti-inflammatory nutrition diet. First, eliminate all inflammatory foods and drinks, including refined sugar, processed foods, refined oils, deep-fried food, junk food, soda and sugary drinks, artificial ingredients, and low-fat or diet products.

Follow an anti-inflammatory nutrition diet that is plant-based and rich in greens, vegetables, low glycemic index fruits, herbs, spices, healthy fats, and clean animal protein. To avoid exposure to pesticides, hormones, and chemicals, eat organic food. If you are unable to choose only organic products, follow the list of Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen, and anything you see on the list of ‘dirty dozen’, only buy organic or skip it.

Intermittent & Extended Fasting

Fasting and intermittent fasting offers tremendous benefits as it can lower inflammation, support cellular repair and autophagy, and support immune function. Intermittent fasting is a form of fasting that cycles between a period of not eating (fasting) and a period of eating (feasting).

Beginners should start with the Simple Fast, which involves 12 hours of fasting including your overnight sleep. For example, you may stop eating after dinner at 6pm and you can eat again at 6 am the next day. Slowly you can increase your fasting window. The most commonly enjoyed method is 16 hours of fasting with an 8-hour eating period.

Once you are more experienced with intermittent fasting, I recommend trying an extended fast, which can last for a few days or even a week or two. During your extended fast, you are only drinking water and possible other non-caloric, healthy drinks, such as herbal tea, and refrain from food.

Great Hydration & Water Filtration

Good hydration is incredibly important for detoxification as it helps to remove toxins through sweat and urine. I recommend starting your day with 32 oz of water and drinking throughout the day every hour or so, at least 10 glasses a day total.

Additionally to water, I recommend adding some herbal tea, green juices, green smoothies, shales, and hydrating vegetables and fruits. Remove any dehydrating sodas, sugary drinks, caffeine, and alcohol.

Make sure that you drink clean water by avoiding bottled water or regular tap water, investing in a good filtration and purification system, and using glass or stainless steel bottles instead of plastic. I recommend systems like Aquatrue or the Berkey system for low cost filtration. The best water is the Synergy Science hydrogen water which is what I use at home as it is powered by molecular hydrogen which reduces oxidative stress in the body and improves immune function.

Add a slice of lime for some extra flavor. Additional make sure to eat plenty of hydrating vegetables and low glycemic index fruits, and drink green juices, green smoothies, bone broth, and herbal tea.

Exercise & Movement

Regular exercise and movement is essential for your overall health and also supports detoxification through sweating. I recommend exercising at least 3-5 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes or more.

Mix up cardiovascular activities, such as rebounding, hiking, running, biking, swimming, dancing, or aerobics, strength and resistance training, such as weight lifting, bodyweight workouts, kettlebell workouts, or CrossFit, and low-impact exercises, such as pilates, yoga, Barre workout, Tai Chi, and light walks.

Stay active throughout the day by taking a stroll in the park, going for a walk during lunch, taking a bike ride, walking or biking for short distances instead of driving, playing with your kids and pets, playing backyard games, gardening, dancing to your favorite song, using a standing or treadmill desk, getting up from your chair and stretching regularly, and opting for the stairs instead of the elevators.

Improve Bowel Motility

Improving your bowel motility is critical for detoxification. Make sure to drink plenty of water, eat fiber-rich nutrient-dense foods, consume prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods, and exercise regularly. To support bowel motility, magnesium is a helpful supplement.

Additionally, coffee enemas are another great practice for bowel motility and detoxification. Enemas may help to remove old waste stuck to your intestines and the coffee in the enema may help to bind and pull out toxins effectively. Use 3 tablespoons of organic coffee to 4 cups of water in your enema kit.

Daily Sun Exposure & Grounding

Vitamin D is essential for your immune health and well-being. This is why I recommend daily sun exposure. Make sure to spend 15 to 30 minutes out under the Sun daily. Avoid the midday sun to protect yourself from the damaging UV. Even if you are living in a colder climate, as long as the Sun is out, make sure to spend at least a short time outside daily.

Combine this practice with grounding. Walking or standing barefoot on grass, dirt, sand, or on the ground outdoors helps you to receive benefits from the electromagnetic energies of the Earth. To optimize your vitamin D levels, additionally to daily Sun exposure, I recommend a daily dose of vitamin D supplementation as well.

Dry Brushing & Epsom Salt Baths

Dry brushing and Epsom salt baths are both wonderful for your health. Dry brushing supports your lymphatic system and helps to remove dry, old skin and toxins on the surface of your skin. It is best to practice dry brushing daily before your shower or bath. Use a soft, natural brush and brush your body in circular motions towards your health.

Epsom salt baths help to pull out salts and toxins from your body and allow magnesium and sulfate to enter to support your health. Add 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salt to your bath and soak for 20 minutes.

Infrared Sauna Usage

Infrared sauna therapy is a form of sauna that uses infrared heaters that release infrared lights you experience as heat as it gets absorbed through the surface of the skin. It supports detoxification, offers immune support, and lowers inflammation. Fat Infrared Technology (FIR), utilizes a non-invasive light therapy that can penetrate your body as much as three inches.

Air Filtration

To detoxify your body and reduce toxic exposure, treating your air at home is incredibly important. Remember, mycotoxins and allergens can hide anywhere and release their spores and toxins in the air. A good air filtration system is critical for filtering out microscopic toxins from your air at home and if possible, at your workplace.

I recommend that you get a HEPA filter that meets the necessary standards and captures 99.97 percent or more of pollutants at 0.3 microns.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that helps to pull out toxins from your body by swishing oil in your mouth. This practice is great for dental and oral hygiene, skin and hair health, reducing pain, and fighting parasites and other toxins.

Start your day by swishing a tablespoon of coconut or extra-virgin olive oil in your mouth, then brush your teeth thoroughly.

Castor Oil Packs

Castor oil packs have been around since ancient Egypt. They may help to promote the circulation of blood around an organ, around an area of your body, and increase the flow of fluids through your lymphatic system. They support detoxification.

To use castor oil packs, relax your back, add some castor oil on your belly and massage it clockwise, put a flannel cloth on your belly, place a hot water bottle on top, and cover it with a towel. Relax like this for 45 minutes to an hour.

Use Bioactive Carbons

Bioactive Carbons are a form of carbon that helps to crate and sustain life in a cell. They support detoxification and overall health. They include two essential plant-based acid extracts: fulvis and humic acid. Both of these extracts are compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the exact same elements that also makeup nearly all of your body.

It is not surprising that bioactive carbons may help your body fight pathogens and toxins, support your immune system, and improve your overall health. Depending on your goals, there are a variety of bioactive carbons you may try.

Final Thoughts

Your immune system is incredibly important to protect you and fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and toxins. The problem is that our world is full of toxins that can compromise your immune system and increase your risk of infections, illness, and disease.

Fortunately, you can support a weakened immunity naturally. Follow my top tips to detox and support healthy immunity to cleanse your body, repair your cells, and regain your health and vitality.

7 Toxins That Weaken Immunity and How to Detox

Importance of Healthy Immunity

How Toxins Disrupt Immunity