top of page

Detoxification: Not a Detox

  • Writer: Michelle Donath
    Michelle Donath
  • Jun 2
  • 4 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

And the quiet daily work your body’s been doing behind the scenes.



You probably already have a reaction to the word.


Detox.


You think: Juice cleanses. Skinny teas. That weird week you ate only soup and thought it would fix everything.


And honestly? You’re right to side eye it. Because most of what’s sold as “detox” has nothing to do with the way your body actually works.


The truth is, your body is detoxing all the time.


Not in a dramatic, 3-day-reset kind of way. In a real, unglamorous, cellular way.



Daily Detoxification


It’s happening right now.


Your liver is taking compounds you’ve been exposed to, from the food you ate, the wine you drank, the air you breathed, the makeup you put on, the cortisol still floating from yesterday’s stress, and deciding what stays and what goes.


It’s tagging things for clearance. Breaking them down. Neutralising them. Packaging them up for the kidneys, the gut, the lymph.


This is not a bonus feature. It’s essential.


Because if your detox pathways fall behind, you feel it.


You might not recognise it as detox. But you’ll feel…


  • Foggy, puffy, heavy.

  • Reacting to smells or foods you used to handle.

  • Hungover after just one drink.

  • PMS that feels more intense than it used to.

  • Skin that’s trying to tell you something.

  • Moods that don’t move as easily.

  • Energy that slumps at the wrong times.


These aren’t random. They’re signals. From a system that’s trying to process more than it has capacity for.



We live in a world full of inputs.


Some of them nourishing. A lot of them not.


And detoxification? It’s your body’s way of clearing what it never asked for.


It’s not just about toxins. It’s about excess.


Excess hormones. Excess histamine. Excess stress by-products. Excess stimulation. And all the other things your body holds onto when life doesn’t leave time to process.


The real work of detox happens in phases, and it needs support.


It needs amino acids. It needs antioxidants. It needs fiber. It needs movement. It needs hydration. It needs space.


It’s not activated by restriction. It’s supported by rhythm.


Eating enough. Pooping daily. Moving your body. Drinking water. Giving your liver what it actually needs:


  • Cruciferous vegetables

  • Herbs like coriander and rosemary

  • Bitter greens

  • Citrus peel

  • Brassicas

  • Sulfur-rich foods

  • Flax, chia, and fiber to bind and carry it all out


This is what a real “detox” looks like. It looks like life working well.


So no, this isn’t about going on a cleanse. It’s about staying in relationship with your body’s capacity to process what it’s holding.


To clear what’s ready to be released. To let your chemistry come back to baseline. To create enough margin that your body can focus on more than just catching up.


Your body doesn’t need a detox. It needs daily support for detoxification. And maybe… a little less to carry.



Detox Daily: A Gentle Toolkit


What to Do

Why It Matters

Examples / Tips

Don’t forget your brassicas

Supports both Phase I & II detox enzymes

Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower

Bitter is better (your liver thinks so)

Stimulates bile flow and supports liver clearance

Rocket, dandelion, coriander, parsley, rosemary

Water like you mean it

Keeps kidneys, lymph, and bowel moving efficiently

Filtered water, mineral water, herbal teas

Get your minerals the old-fashioned way

Cofactors for detox enzymes, support cellular resilience

Sea salt, leafy greens, sesame seeds, seaweed

Move it so you can lose it (gently)

Supports lymphatic flow, bowel motility, and cellular metabolism

Walking, stretching, rebounding, gentle strength

Don’t skip the exit strategy

Ensures toxins actually leave the body

Chia/flax, veg skins, fiber, stewed apples

Lower the noise where you can

Gives your system breathing room to catch up

Lower alcohol, synthetic fragrance, food additives

Make space for the exhale

Calms the nervous system so detox pathways can function efficiently

Slow meals, mindful exhale, space between commitments



For those who want a little more...


If you're someone who likes to see the whole picture, here’s how food compounds support detoxification, broken down by phase.


Your liver processes and clears in stages. Each one has its own role, its own rhythm, and its own nutrient needs. When the phases are balanced, everything moves smoothly. When they’re not, things back up.



Foods That Support Detoxification By Phase


Detoxifcation Phase I: Activation + Transformation


This is the liver’s prep phase, it uses enzymes to break toxins, hormones, and chemicals down into intermediate forms.


These intermediates can be reactive and inflammatory if not cleared properly, so this phase needs antioxidants and compounds that regulate the speed of activity.


Food

Key Compounds

Supportive Action

Citrus peel

D-limonene, flavonoids

Enhances enzyme activity, supports Phase I

Green tea

Catechins

Regulates enzyme speed, antioxidant support

Rosemary

Rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid

Balances Phase I activity, antioxidant support

Artichoke

Cynarin, bitters

Promotes liver enzymes + bile flow

Broccoli & cabbage

Glucosinolates, sulforaphane

Activates detox enzymes



Detoxification Phase II: Conjugation + Clearance


This is the liver’s clearing phase, where those reactive intermediates get packaged for removal.


It requires amino acids, sulfur compounds, methyl donors, and fiber to finish the job and prepare to safely eliminate waste.


Food

Key Compounds

Supportive Action

Beetroot

Betaine, antioxidants

Supports methylation, clears excess estrogens

Garlic & onions

Sulfur compounds

Fuels conjugation pathways + supports glutathione

Coriander & parsley

Chelating flavonoids, polyphenols

Binds heavy metals, promotes toxin clearance

Dandelion greens

Bitter compounds, inulin

Supports bile production + healthy bowel flow

Broccoli sprouts

Sulforaphane

Strong Phase II activator (especially GST pathway)

Artichoke

Bitter compounds

Dual support for Phase I + bile for clearance



Elimination: The Final Step


Once processed, toxins need to leave the body, via bile, urine, or stool.


If you’re not eliminating well, detoxification can backfire.


Food

Key Compounds

Supportive Action

Flax & chia seeds

Soluble fibre, lignans

Binds toxins and hormones for excretion

Stewed apples

Pectin

Gentle fiber to support bowel clearance

Hydration

Water + minerals

Flushes kidneys + lymph, maintains elimination rhythm



You don’t need a reset.


You need rhythm.


This work isn’t about restriction, it’s about restoration.


When you support the body’s natural detox processes, you get less buildup, less reactivity, and more room to feel like yourself.

Now Nourished

CLINICAL NUTRITION
  • Instagram

We acknowledge the Turrbul and Jagera peoples as Traditional Custodians of this land, and pay respect to Elders past and present. We honour their deep and ongoing connection to land, food, and culture.

© 2025 NOW NOURISHED  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

bottom of page