Clean Your House, Detox Your Body and Don't Use Harsh Chemicals For Either

There is nothing like a freshly cleaned and organized living space. It can make even the bleakest season a little brighter and lift the most stubborn melancholy. But are there real mental health benefits to keeping a clean space? The answer is a resounding yes!

To begin, there are a variety of negative effects of living in a messy and cluttered environment. A 2017 study found that “clutter was linked to procrastination, feeling overwhelmed and a lower quality of life,” (Silva, 2023, p.1). According to Dr. Peggy Loo, a messy space “can lead to stress, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and relationship strain,” (Silva, 2023, p.1). A 2011 study from the Princeton Neuroscience Institute found that having “too many items in our field of vision distracts the brain’s processing capacity,” (Silva, 2023, p.3). A 2016 study from the University of New Mexico found that “clutter directly interfered with participants' ability to feel pleasure in a space,” (Silva, 2023, p.3). 

There are also benefits to cleaning our house. To begin, creating “order and structure in our outer environment,” “can help us feel more able to manage some of the internal feelings,” according to Dr. Roeske (Silva, 2023, p.2). Second, cleaning is physical in nature leading to the release of endorphins which is “hugely beneficial as a pain reliever, stress reliever and overall enhancer of our well-being,” (Silva, 2023, p.4). Having a well-kept home can lead to “a sense of clarity and control, an improved quality of life, a boosted sense of confidence, an increase in productivity, and a more tranquil atmosphere,” (Silva, 2023, p.4). 

Clearly there are benefits to keeping our external environment clean. Are there also benefits to keeping our internal environment clean? Many individuals and healthcare providers advise that we all detoxify and cleanse our internal environment of toxins or “chemicals that don’t have a place in our diets,” (NIH, 2019, p.2). Some common methods of detoxification/ cleansing include fasting, juicing, specified diets, dieterary supplements, herbs, colon cleanses, sauna and reducing environmental exposure (NIH, 2019). Some detoxification programs have touted modest benefits including short-term weight loss, improvements in insulin resistance and blood pressure but the associated studies were low in rigor (NIH, 2019). 

There are also many potential side effects. To begin, the FDA and FTC have taken action against several detox/ cleanse companies due to illegal/ harmful ingredients, false claims and unapproved uses for colon devices (NIH, 2019). Second, some juices are unpasturized which can make people sick and are high in oxalate containing foods which can cause kidney problems (NIH, 2019). Third, restrictive diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies and liquid-only diets can lead to electrolyte imbalances (NIH, 2019). Colon cleansing and laxatives can also lead to electrolyte imbalances (NIH, 2019). Fasting, specifically intermittent and periodic fasting may have benefits including “health promotion, disese prevention, improved aging and weight loss,” but fasting can also lead to “headaches, fainting, weakness and dehydration,” (NIH, 2019, p.3). 

There are two exceptions to the rule that detoxification/ cleanses are overall unnecessary. Chelation therapy for heavy metal poisioning is one exception that is well researched and necessary in certain cases (Gotter, 2023). A parasite cleanse is a qualified exception as well. The goal of a parasite cleanse is to eliminate parasites or “organisms that infect the body of another living being and live off their hosts to survive,” (Gotter, 2023, p.2). Parasites can infect individuals from consumption of contaminated water, exposure during trips abroad etc. and can lead to stomach pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, fever, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and aches and pains (Gotter, 2023). A natural parasite cleanse uses herbs such as anise, barberry, berberine, black walnut, clove oil, curled mint, goldthread, goldenseal, grapefruit seed extract, propolis, oregano oil, oregon grape and wormwood (Gotter, 2023). Certain foods such as “garlic, honey, pumpkin seeds, and papaya seeds,” may also be utilized (Gotter, 2023, p.2). Probiotic therapy was found to prevent subseqeunt infections in a preliminary study but more research is needed (Gotter, 2023). Overall, while some preliminary studies have shown benefits, more research is needed and certain populations like those who take prescription medications, children, pregnant/ nursing moms and those with autoimmune symptoms should exercise caution and work with a doctor before starting a parasite cleanse.

In addition to the limited beneficial effects and variety of side effects, our bodies have a natural detoxification system that removes toxins naturally. According to Dr. Rush, our kidneys, livers and colons do a very good job of removing toxins (Bramlet, 2016). While many detox and cleanse programs are overall unnecessary and potentially dangerous, you can optimize your body's natural detoxification system with lifestyle changes. 

• You can stop or limit alcohol consumption given that it damages your liver causing “fat buildup, inflammation and scarring,” which prevents the liver from adequately “filtering waste and other toxins from our body,” (Morales-Brown, 2021, p. 2). 

• You can ensure that you get enough sleep given that sleep provides the opportunity for the removal of toxic waste byproducts that accumulate throughout the day such as beta-amyloid which has been correlated to the subsequent development of Alzheimers disease (Morales-Brown, 2021). 

• You can consume enough water to help the detoxification process through urination, breathing and sweating which equates to 2.7 liters for women and 3.7 liters for men (Morales-Brown, 2021). 

• You can reduce consumption of junk food and increase consumption of antioxidants which “protect our cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals,” (Morales-Brown, 2021, p.3).  “Berries, fruits, nuts, cocoa, vegetables, spices, coffee and green tea,” are all high in antioxidants (Morales-Brown, 2021, p.3). 

• You can eat a diet rich in prebiotics which is a type of fiber that feeds the food bacteria in our gut called probiotics (Morales-Brown, 2021). Foods high in prebiotics include “tomatoes, artichokes, bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic and oats,” (Morales-Brown, 2021, p.3). 

• You can reduce salt consumption to reduce water retention (Morales-Brown, 2021). 

• You can exercise regularly to reduce inflammation and promote sweating and thereby enhance the power of our detoxification system (Morales-Brown, 2021).

• You can eat sulfur-containing foods like “onions, broccoli and garlic,” and the algae chlorella to promote excretion of heavy metals (Morales-Brown, 2021, p.3). 

• You can switch to natural cleaning products and body care products that utilize vinegar and baking soda over toxic chemicals. 

In conclusion, there are many benefits to maintaining a clean external environment. There are also things that we can do to help our internal detoxification system work opyimally such as eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and water, exercising and using natural products. In most cases, this is enough and we do not need to utilize cleansing or detox products although parasitic infections and heavy-metal detox therapy are (qualified) exceptions. We should clean our house, promote detoxification in our body and not use harsh chemicals for either.

References 

Bramlet, K. (2016). 4 things you should know about cleanses, detoxes and fasts. MD Anderson Cancer Center. https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/FOH-cleanses-detox-fasts.h10-1590624.html

Deering, S. (2023). A clean and tidy home can boost your mental health-Here’s where to start. RealSimple.  https://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/clean-home-mental-health-benefits

Gotter, A. (2023). What you should know about doing a parasite cleanse. Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/human-parasite-cleanse

Morales-Brown, L. (2021). Full body detox: How to help the body detox at home. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/full-body-detox#contacting-a-doctor

NIH(2019). Detoxes and cleanses: What you need to know. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/detoxes-and-cleanses-what-you-need-to-know

Silva, L. (2023). The mental health benefits of a clean home. Newport Healthcare. https://www.newporthealthcare.com/resources/press/clean-home-benefits/

Van De Walle, G. (2023). What is a full-body detox? Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-detox-your-body#7.-Decrease-your-salt-intake