If you’ve been feeling sluggish, bloated, suffer from allergies year-round or are just feeling off balance, then it may be time for a detox.
Ridding the body of toxins can do wonders for every system. Here are just a few of the benefits of detoxing:
- Allows your digestive to rest and rejuvenate
- Gives your liver a break
- Flushes the kidneys
- Rids the body of excess weight
- Clears the skin of acne and blemishes
- Gives you energy during the day and helps you sleep better
- Can alleviate or eliminate allergies
How to Detox
There are several ways to detox, but we’ll focus on three methods. Whatever method you choose, keep these tips in mind:
- If you’ve never done a detox or cleanse, know that it can be difficult for the first 2-3 days. Truthfully, you may even want to give up. That’s why it’s important to commit to your reason for doing the detox before you begin. When you are tempted to break your cleanse early, meditate on why you’re doing it. If it is to lose weight, to set the foundation for a strong immune system or to just feel better, commit to it.
- Always drink plenty of clean, purified, alkaline or distilled water. Tap water can contain some impurities that can be counterproductive to your detox. Read more about alkaline water.
- It’s ok to exercise during a detox. Gentle stretching like yoga or taking a brisk walk is encourage and can be a great addition to a cleanse. Working up a little sweat is another great way to rid the body of toxins.
- Eliminate smoking, sugar, salt, dairy and alcohol while cleansing.
- Be sure to take your daily vitamins.
- Eat slowly and purposefully to allow your body to process your meals completely. Read more on eating mindfully.
- Rest is important during a detox. Getting enough sleep allows the body to focus all of its energy on rebuilding and rejuvenating the organs. Get at least 8-10 hours of sleep each night during your cleanse.
- Always consult your doctor before starting a detox program.
The Cleanses
Juice cleanse: This type of cleanse uses fresh squeezed juices, not the store-bought juice that kids drink. If you have a juicer, that’s best for making your own juices and it’s less expensive than going to a juice bar. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables and get creative with juice combinations. Some cleansing juices can include cucumber, lemons, greens, apples, papayas, and celery. Check out some of our juice recipes.
Whole food cleanse: This cleanse involves eating fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats ONLY. Ditch the beef, pork and processed, pre-packaged foods. Incorporate whole grains such as brown rice, oats, millet, and quinoa to your meals. You will be amazed at how filling fruits and vegetables can be once you are days into your detox.
Liver detox: The liver itself acts as a detoxifier for the body. So when it can’t function fully, you’ll definitely feel it. There are several supplements on the market that claim to help cleanse the liver. Although some may be helpful, you may want to skip them, especially if you take medications. Cleanse your liver with these foods: garlic, beets, apples, watermelon, broccoli sprouts, fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir or sauerkraut, walnuts and avocado.
