Natural Detoxification

Do you need a detox? Years ago detox meant eliminating harmful effects from dangerous substances that were in our body in extreme circumstances. In today's culture, detox is a buzz word. It seems that everybody needs a detox...just ask Google!

When people talk about body cleanses or detox diets, they talk about the dangers of “toxins” a lot, but usually in a very non-specific way:

Toxins are potentially harmful substances we come into contact with every day — pesticides on your produce, pollutants in the air, unpronounceable ingredients in processed food, or heavy metals like mercury and arsenic in the soil, to name just a few.

When you inhale, ingest, or absorb toxins, your liver and kidneys work to flush many of them out — and they’ve been doing this long before cleanses and detoxes came about.

When we talk about detoxification, we’re not referring to difficult cleanses, painful purges or lengthy fasts. Instead, we mean bolstering your body’s own built-in detox systems, which are surprisingly efficient if they have what they need every day.

When you’re detoxifying, you’re clearing the natural pathways that manage toxins. That allows your body to release stress, keep your hormones balanced and let go of weight. Some of these steps can take a little getting used to so start by choosing just one and add more when you feel ready. 

Here are some tips to help your body naturally detoxify.  

1. Clean up your diet for a week — or two. Get rid of processed and sugary foods. This is challenging but it will have swift and positive effects on your detox ability. Don’t buy items with sugar, syrup, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners or additives. 

2. Fill your plate with detoxifying foods. Boost your body’s ability to get rid of toxins and extra weight by eating foods like alfalfa sprouts, brown rice, dark green veggies, lemon, garlic, oats, millet, root vegetables, broccoli, kale and seeds. Season with garlic and turmeric and eat organic, fresh food as often as possible. Always wash and rinse fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water to help move out the bad stuff.

3. Activate the detoxing power of your lungs. When you breathe deeply, you push out toxins and your lungs get the full exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide. Try this: take three, slow deep breaths in and out your nose. Aim for three-second inhales, hold for three-seconds, and exhale for three-seconds. Feels good, right? Start each day with 10 of these deep, detoxifying breaths.

4. Add detoxifying supplements. Include herbs like milk thistle, turmeric with black pepper, absorbable curcumin and dandelion to boost your natural detoxification pathways. Make sure you’re getting basic nutrition every day from a good multivitamin, and some extra calcium and magnesium. Many of these everyday nutrients are part of the detox process.

5. Subtract toxins from your home. Keep a houseplant in every room — good ones include Boston ferns, English ivy, spider plants and peace lilies. Use glass jars to store food instead of Tupperware or plastic wrap, especially when re-heating in the microwave. Use vinegar and baking soda in place of toxic cleaners and look for personal care products with simple ingredients and the fewest possible chemicals.

Instead of a jarring, excruciating cleanse to detox your body, small, painless steps assist the body to do what it is designed to do to keep itself healthy.