Let’s talk detox!
Let’s start by talking about the point of “cleanses” and if it’s really worth the effort. This day in age buzz words like “healthy living” and “detoxing” are everywhere, so why is it SO important, and how can it do more than just help us reduce our toxic load? Our bodies have been “detoxing” for thousands of years, and have gotten really good at it, so why should we worry about “cleansing” at all? Well, the answer to that starts with industrial revolution, and has continued to grow as vastly as our population.
The number of synthetic compounds and chemicals in our environment today, has grown far beyond anything natural our bodies have ever faced before, and even though “detoxing” is something our bodies do well, it’s evident they’re having a hard time keeping up. This is why we’re now seeing SO many cancers and autoimmune diseases on the rise, so when we “cleanse” we’re actually helping to reduce our risk of disease, DNA damage, and even making it easier for our bodies to lose excess weight! With all this in mind I would say, if you’re someone who’s looking for ways to boost your health and longevity, then detoxing through “cleanses” is definitely something you should consider adding to your plate! (continue below for detox tips and tea).
How it works!
This is always a fun topic for me, and one that I love going over. We have multiple ways that the body “flushes” these toxins from our system. We all know the most obvious ones, urination, defecation, and sweating, but did you know we also detox through the shedding of skin, hair, and even breathing? Not all of these systems are within our control, but by utilizing the ones that are we can SERIOUSLY reduce our toxic load. How can we do this you ask? By ramping up a few of our “all-star” organs already amazing abilities! continue below for more.
Everyday ways to cleanse!
Water is our ally!
I know, this is one you’re going to hear from me a lot! Water is SO simple but SO very important. We all know we should be drinking more water, but do we really understand why? Aside from just moisture and lubrication, detoxification is the biggest role that water plays in our bodies. Right down to the cellular level. Without proper fluids, all those toxins from our environment, and just chemical break downs of what our bodies do naturally actually get reabsorbed into the blood….. Doesn’t sound very good does it, so maybe it’s worth taking a second look at our hydration habits! The recommended standard is .5 – 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight, but I also found this online calculator that takes into account your current daily habits and tells you how much more you should be drinking! Daily Water Intake Calculator
Scrubs, soaks, and sauna’s
Our skin is a HUGE instrument of detox. Whether you’re sweating, shedding, scrubbing, or soaking, these are all ways to help expel toxins through the skin! Epsom salts, clays, and baking soda are all great ones to add to your soak, and dry brushing before you get in is even better! As for saunas, I think it goes without saying. When we sweat, our bodies use the opportunity to flush as many waste chemicals as possible. Even heavy metals! If you’re someone who can “handle” the heat, then you might want to try “sweating it out” in a sauna. I should also mention that this system of detox is aided greatly by our first tip of making sure you’re drinking plenty of water, so don’t forget to drink up!
Foods & motion!
Any kind of movement is great but like a mentioned above, things that make you sweat help carry a lot of toxins out through the skin! It also aids digestion and metabolic rate, which play a HUGE role in how quickly we process and expel toxins. Another fun fact not always mentioned in the health and fitness communities, is that twists and bends like those in yoga are exceptional at aiding detoxification through our digestive track. Helping to squeeze and mobilize things that may have been sitting stagnant in the folds of our intestines! AMAZING right!
As for food, some of my favorites are beets and carrots, which help our liver and kidneys detox! They’re always working SO hard so let’s give them an extra hand. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and leafy greens like Kale, collards, spinach, and arugula, are all “superstars” at helping the body detox naturally, so don’t forget to mix them in whenever you can! When it comes to fruit, lemon and limes have been known for quite a while as great liver detoxifiers! Cranberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries all help cleanse the urinary track and the colon (enough said there), so sprinkle them in or blend them up for a little extra “cleansing” kick!
Fermented foods are now gaining a lot of traction in the health community, and for good reason! Scientists have been uncovering living organisms in these amazing foods that can even help break down microplastics! Just imagine what they can do for your digestion! Finally, one of my favorite categories is herbs! Ginger lemon tea is an amazing and simple way to give your system a little boost, while other herbs like dandelion root and milk thistle are touted for being wonderful liver tonics! I have a link to a simple but effective tea blend down below, so feel free to click it, and check it out on my Facebook page!
click below for recipe
If you’re looking for even more ways to boost your health and longevity
I would really recommend getting rid of as many ultra processed foods from your diet as possible. I have a free guide that I put together for anyone who wants it, helping you to start making the transition. It’s worth considering that a large quantity of the chemicals we’re ingesting are coming from these pre-package/ultra processed foods. Phasing them out can seem hard, but that’s exactly why I created this free guide! For more information, or to sign up, just click the link below!
