Detoxification is the elimination
of toxic substances from the body. Alternative medicinesAyurvedic and
Traditional Chinese Medicine have used herbs, diet, exercise and supplements
for detoxification for over 3,000 years. Although, there are several detox
programs, diets and products available on the market today, there are natural
ways to detox the body. Herbs, certain foods, and lifestyle can help to
naturally detoxify the body on a daily basis. Natural detoxification enhances
the bodies own elimination systems to revitalize health, energy, and vigor. So
the next time you are feeling bloated, constipated, or fatigued make some of
these simple lifestyle and dietary changes to naturally detoxify your body.
- Eat a
high fiber diet. Most people don’t get enough fiber in their diet, which
can cause lowered energy levels, decreased metabolism and slow
elimination. By eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains such
as oats and brown rice you can keep your digestion and elimination
regular. Fresh fruits and vegetables are cleansing and provide the body
with essential nutrients it needs. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage,
broccoli, and seaweed are all high fiber foods.
- Cleanse
and protect the liver. Green tea, and hot water with lemon squeezed into
it can help to stimulate liver cleansing. Herbs such as dandelion root,
burdock, and milk thistle are also safe and effective against protecting
the liver.
- Drink
water. Water naturally flushes the body of chemicals, toxins, and
impurities through urination, expiration, and sweating. The body is made
up of 70% water and needs to be replenished daily. Dehydration can
compromise the body’s ability to filter toxins. Drinking an extra quart of
water per day will help to eliminate toxins.
- Add
vitamin C to your diet. Vitamin C is found in many fresh fruits and
vegetables and is great at boosting the immune system and staving off
colds and the flu. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, which reduces free
radical toxicity within the body. Vitamin C also helps to produce
glutathione, which is necessary to cleanse toxins from the liver.
- Eliminate
stress. Stress causes the body to release hormones that if left within the
body can use up vital nutrients. This leaves the body depleted of
essential nutrients, and unable to protect the body against toxins,
diseases and infections. Overtime stress can cause physiological changes,
which leave the body exposed to the risk of disease. Therefore by eliminating stress or
transforming stress into positive emotions or a positive outcome you can
naturally flush out your system of toxic hormones and chemicals.
- Deep
breathing. This is one way to relax or relief stress. Breathing deeply can
circulate oxygen throughout the body, which encourages detoxification
through the body’s elimination systems i.e. Skin, expiration, lymph,
blood, kidneys, liver, etc.
- Contrast
showers. Hydrotherapy is not only relaxing but it stimulates blood
circulation throughout the body. Start with hot water for about 5 minutes.
Allow the water to run over your entire body. Switch to cold water for 30
seconds. Switch between hot and cold water several times. This encourages
detoxification.
- A
sauna is a great way to sweat out toxins. Chemicals, toxins, and
impurities can be eliminated through the skin. A sauna uses moist heat to
increase the body’s temperature to induce intense sweating.
- Exfoliate
the skin. Whether you dry brush your skin or use a texturized glove in the
shower, the friction created when you rub the skin with a glove or brush
can cause the pores to expel toxins. Detoxifying pads/ foot pads/ patches
can also be used to pull impurities out of the body through the pores onto
the pads. To dry brush, specialized brushes can be used on the skin when
it’s dry. Or whilst in a hot shower use a texturized glove scrubber to
scrub the skin firmly. In either case you can see dead skin cells, dirt,
and impurities as you brush the skin.
- Exercise.
Exercising is the best way to naturally detoxify the body. Yoga, martial
arts, and tai chi are all cleansing exercises. They focus on breathing
which increases circulation and they also increase core temperature, which
increases sweating. Elimination of toxins through sweat, urination and
expiration are all increased upon exercising.