Detoxification is the elimination of toxic substances from the body.
Alternative medicines such as Ayurvedic 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.