Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri 
If your life were a garden, every choice you make would be a seed. Some seeds grow into flowers, others into weeds. Left unattended, the weeds can choke the life out of everything beautiful. Detoxing your life is about recognising the weeds—whether in your home, on your plate, or in your relationships and pulling them out before they take over.
In today’s fast-paced world, toxins are not only chemicals in your food or pollution in the air; they are also hidden in the words you hear, the habits you keep, and the people you allow into your space.
The Silent Invasion in Your Home
Your home should be a sanctuary, but many modern homes are more like slow-drip poison factories. From harsh cleaning chemicals to synthetic air fresheners, from plastic food containers leaching chemicals to dusty, moldy corners breeding allergens—these invisible enemies attack your health without warning.
Studies show that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, especially in cities like Lagos or Port Harcourt where ventilation is limited.
Detox Tip:
• Swap chemical cleaners for natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.
• Let in fresh air daily, even if only for 10 minutes.
• Replace plastic food containers with glass or stainless steel.
A clean, toxin-free home is like good soil, it allows your health to take root and thrive.
What’s on Your Plate is What’s in Your Cells
Your diet is the most direct way toxins enter your body. Processed foods loaded with sugar, trans fats, and artificial additives are like rust—slowly eating away at your energy and immune system. Excess alcohol, over-fried meals, and pesticide-laden fruits can quietly damage the body’s organs over time.
Detox Tip:
• Eat whole, fresh foods as close to their natural state as possible.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly; soak in vinegar water to reduce pesticide residue.
• Drink enough clean water to help your liver and kidneys flush out waste.
Remember: every meal is either feeding your health or feeding disease.
The Emotional Toxins We Ignore
Not all poisons are physical. Some are spoken softly over years, disguised as friendship, love, or family concern. Constant criticism, manipulation, gossip, and energy-draining interactions act like slow mental poisons—leaving you anxious, exhausted, or doubting your worth.
In Nigeria, where communal living and extended family ties are strong, we sometimes tolerate toxic relationships under the banner of “respect” or “family obligation.” But the truth is, emotional health is just as vital as physical health.
Detox Tip:
• Identify relationships that leave you consistently drained, anxious, or diminished.
• Set boundaries—lovingly but firmly.
• Surround yourself with people who speak life into you, not those who drain it from you.
Digital Detox – Clearing Mental Clutter
In the age of smartphones, toxins also live on your screen. Doom-scrolling through bad news, comparing yourself endlessly to curated online lives, and being constantly “reachable” can overload your nervous system.
Detox Tip:
• Schedule screen-free hours daily.
• Curate your social media feed—unfollow accounts that breed envy, fear, or negativity.
• Reclaim your attention; it’s your most valuable currency.
Detox as a Lifestyle, Not an Event
Too many people treat detox like a once-a-year juice cleanse or a weekend of house cleaning. True detox is a way of living, not a seasonal chore. It’s about being intentional every day—asking: Does this serve my body, mind, or spirit, or does it drain them?
A toxin-free life doesn’t mean a perfect life—it means a conscious life. It means refusing to decorate your home with objects that make you cough, refusing to fill your fridge with food that makes you sluggish, and refusing to share your heart with people who make you doubt yourself.
Detoxing your life is not about running away from the world—it’s about creating a healthier world within your control. The truth is, you can’t stop every car emitting fumes on Lagos roads or every negative headline from hitting the news. But you can decide what enters your lungs, your mouth, and your mind.
When your home is clean, your plate is nourishing, and your relationships are healthy, you don’t just live longer—you live lighter, freer, and more joyfully. And that, more than anything, is the ultimate cure.
Dr. MAYMUNAH YUSUF KADIRI (aka DR. MAY) popularly referred to as “The Celebrity Shrink,” is a multiple award winning Mental Health Physician, Advocate & Coach. She is the convener of “The Mental Health Conference” and the Medical Director and Psychiatrist-In-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, Dr. Kadiri is a dynamic Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and a Fellow of the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych) with almost 20 years’ experience as a practicing Physician.