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In recent years, the buzz around detoxing has grown immensely. However, it's important to recognize that simple daily detox practices can significantly enhance your health and leave you feeling your absolute best. Our bodies are designed to detox on their own, but not everyone's body is able to detoxify as efficiently as others. I am one of those lucky ones who has a hard time detoxing - yay me! But, this is where natural methods come in handy.
In this blog, we'll explore some simple things that you can do every day to support your body's natural detoxification process. Whether you're new to the idea of detoxing or you're a seasoned pro, there's something here for everyone. Let’s get to the overarching theme first and define detoxing and why we need to do it!
What is Detoxing?
Detoxing is the process of removing toxins or harmful substances from the body. Toxins can come from various sources such as the environment, processed foods, medications, and even stress (no shocker there).
The body has natural detoxification systems, primarily the liver and kidneys, that work to eliminate these toxins. However, in some cases, these systems may become overwhelmed and may not be able to function optimally. This is where detoxing techniques come in, which aim to support the body's natural detoxification processes and enhance their effectiveness. Detoxing can involve dietary changes, exercise, supplements, and other natural methods to help the body eliminate toxins and restore balance.
Once I started working with a functional medicine doctor to help me detox from mold, these are the things we focused on - dietary changes (going gluten-free), supplements, dry brushing, coffee enemas, etc. Our livers can only do so much, and if you have an overload of toxic build-up, you will have unwanted symptoms.
So, whether you need to detox from something as intense as mold or you just want to feel better on a day-to-day basis, these techniques can help you!
Listening to Your Body
It's important to pay attention to your body and listen to the signals it is sending you. Your body is constantly trying to communicate with you, and symptoms such as feeling sluggish, bloated, or experiencing headaches can be signs that your body is in need of a detox.
Do you ever come back from vacation or a period of indulging, feeling heavy, sluggish, and not like your usual self? This is often a sign that your body is in need of some extra support to eliminate the toxins that may have accumulated during that time.
Similarly, stress can take a toll on your body and affect your natural detoxification processes. When we are stressed, our bodies produce more cortisol, which can inhibit the liver's ability to effectively detoxify. This can result in symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, decreased immunity, and more. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be a sign that your body is in need of a detox. Fortunately, there are many simple and holistic detoxing methods that can help support our body's natural detoxification processes. You don't need to spend a lot of money on expensive cleanses or treatments. Instead, you can focus on incorporating healthy habits into your daily routine.
Natural Ways to Detox
Lemon water: Starting your day with a glass of warm lemon water can help stimulate digestion, boost metabolism, and support liver function, which is essential for detoxification. Lemons contain vitamin C and other antioxidants that help to neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation in the body.
Herbal teas: Certain herbal teas, such as dandelion, ginger, and green tea, have natural diuretic properties that can help flush toxins out of your system. Dandelion tea, in particular, is known for its ability to support liver function and aid in detoxification.
Dry brushing: Dry brushing is a technique where you use a natural bristle brush to exfoliate the skin and stimulate the lymphatic system, which is responsible for removing waste and toxins from the body. Dry brushing can help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote lymphatic drainage. This is my favorite dry brush from Beauty by Earth.
Exercise: Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to support your body's natural detoxification processes. Exercise helps to increase blood flow, stimulate lymphatic drainage, and promote sweating, all of which help to eliminate toxins from the body.
Epsom salt baths: Epsom salt baths are a popular holistic remedy for detoxing the body. Epsom salt is rich in magnesium, which helps to relax the muscles and promote detoxification through the skin. Adding a cup of Epsom salt to your bathwater can help soothe sore muscles, reduce stress, and support detoxification. I love adding lavender essential oil to my bath as well for some extra relaxation!
Massage therapy: Massage therapy is another holistic remedy that can help support detoxification. Massages help to improve circulation, stimulate lymphatic drainage, and reduce inflammation, all of which help to eliminate toxins from the body.
Water: Hydration is essential for many of the body's natural detoxification processes. It helps to flush out toxins through the kidneys and urinary system and also aids in digestion and elimination. By drinking plenty of water, you can help support your body's natural detoxification process and keep your body hydrated and functioning optimally. I aim for 100 oz. a day!
Nutrient-dense diet: Eating a whole-food rich diet is another natural way to support your body's detoxification process. Whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that help to protect and support the liver. By including a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet, you can ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function at its best. In addition, whole foods are typically high in fiber, which is important for healthy digestion and elimination. Fiber helps to move waste through the digestive system, preventing constipation and ensuring that toxins are eliminated from the body.
Green juice: Drinking homemade green juice can support your body's natural detoxification process by providing nutrients, antioxidants, and chlorophyll which help to support liver function and promote the breakdown and elimination of toxins. While it shouldn't be used as a replacement for a balanced meal, green juice can be a nutritious supplement to provide your body with an extra boost of nutrients and support its natural detoxification processes.
I love drinking green juice in the morning on an empty stomach before making my breakfast! If you don’t have a juicer you can make one in a blender and strain it!
I would refrain from buying store-bought green juices because they are often pasteurized, a process that involves heating the juice to high temperatures to kill any harmful bacteria. While this can help to extend the shelf life of the juice, it can also destroy some of the heat-sensitive nutrients and enzymes that are important for detoxification and overall health. In addition, many store-bought green juices are highly processed and contain added sugars, preservatives, and other additives that can be harmful to health.
By making your own juice at home, you can ensure that you are getting the maximum amount of nutrients and enzymes, and avoid any harmful additives or processing methods.
Hot tip: If you do buy green juice, get one at a place where they make it in front of you like at a Clean Juice or Joe & The Juice.
Infrared Sauna: Regularly using an infrared sauna can help your body naturally detox by stimulating sweating. Infrared saunas also help to increase circulation, which can improve the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cells and tissues, supporting overall health.
Also, I want to put an emphasis on infrared saunas because not all saunas are created equally. Regular saunas can still help you detox because they make you sweat, but infrared saunas use infrared light to penetrate the skin and heat the body directly, rather than heating the air around you like a regular sauna does. This allows for a more efficient and effective sweat and detoxification, with lower temperatures and less stress on the cardiovascular system.
As a quick review– detoxification is the process of removing harmful substances or toxins from the body. Although the body is naturally designed to detox, some people's bodies may not be able to detoxify as efficiently as others. When this is the case, simple things can be done every day to support the body's natural detoxification process including drinking lemon water, consuming herbal teas, dry brushing, exercising regularly, taking Epsom salt baths, receiving massage therapy, staying hydrated, eating a nutrient-dense diet, drinking green juice, and using infrared saunas.
It is essential to listen to the signals that your body sends you and pay attention to symptoms such as feeling sluggish, bloated, or experiencing headaches, as these may be signs that your body is in need of a detox. By incorporating these healthy habits into your daily routine, you can enhance your body's natural detoxification process and live a healthy and balanced life!
