The body is an amazing machine. It naturally detoxifies on a daily basis to help support your health and vitality. However, poor diet and lifestyle habits as well as environmental toxins can congest the body and obstruct its elimination pathways, leading to a host of symptoms and diseases.
It is time to take action and explore ways to encourage the body into a state of balance once again. Your body did not get into this condition overnight and it will take time to heal the damage. Do it the smart way.
By no means should you try to all of these things at once. Start with cleaning up your diet, then add on other changes every week or two. It’s best to assess what areas may make the greatest impact on your health without causing you added stress.
Start your morning with lemon water.
It gives your body a lasting boost of energy, making it a healthier alternative to your morning tea or coffee. The minerals and vitamins found in lemon juice encourages healthy digestion, reduces heartburn and bloating by loosening any toxins trapped in your digestive tract.
Choose organic
Restrict or eliminate processed foods. When restricting those foods, you will naturally be choosing whole foods. It is important to eat organic and pesticide-free as much as possible. If you can’t buy everything organic, at least choose non-gmo (genetically modified produce).
Eat More Fruits And Vegetables
Fruit: Remember to eat fruit separately from other foods; juicy to firm as much as you like.
Vegetables: More salads. You can include non-starchy vegetables with your meal as you transition, especially dark leafy greens and herbs. Pay attention to how your body reacts to eating these foods.
Drink purified water
Water quality does matter. Drink plenty of purified water, ideally spring water or filtered water. Room temperature is the best as it supports digestion better than cold water. Even better, structure your water by the adding fruit or herbs.
Get off of caffeine
Coffee isn’t inherently bad; however, it is acidic and takes 30 cups of water to stabilize 1 cup of coffee. Also, many varieties are heavily sprayed with pesticides and are prone to mold. Caffeine is a stimulant, which can aggravate the adrenals and increase cortisol. If you aren’t ready to give up caffeine, switch to an organic green tea instead.
Exercise
Exercise is a necessary element of any detoxification regimen. When we move, we support the lymphatic system in removing toxins from the cells of our body. If you are on a very strict diet, you will want to stick to light exercise such as brisk walking, bicycling or yoga, as to not stress out your body even more.
Stress management
When the body is stressed, not only will your cortisol increase, but your digestion will be affected as well. With chronic elevated stress, all systems of the body can eventually breakdown causing a myriad of health issues. In addition, if you already have health complications, stress will make it worse and get in the way of any protocol you are trying. Meditate.
Sleep
Sleep may be one of the most important parts of detoxifying your body. When we sleep, we give our body the time it needs to rest, repair and rejuvenate. Without adequate sleep, cortisol levels will increase, hormones will eventually go out of balance, digestion will be compromised and cognitive function will be impaired.
Clean up your kitchen
Plastic containers and non-stick cookware all leach toxins into the food you eat. These toxins are endocrine disruptors and have been proven to contribute to serious illnesses such as cognitive decline, hormone imbalance, learning difficulties and even cancer. It’s best to swap your plastic storage containers for glass and use cast iron or stainless-steel cookware only.
Clean Out Your Personal Care Products
What you ingest isn’t the only thing that impacts your body. Believe it or not, what you put on your body gets absorbed through the skin and goes directly into your bloodstream. Choose makeup and beauty products (skin lotion, antiperspirant, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, etc.) that is free from paragons and sulfates and is comprised of ingredients you recognize. It’s a good idea to also choose natural cleaning and laundry products as well.
Get Back To Nature
Join the outdoors. Breathing in fresh air is not only good for the mind, it’s also a great way to detoxify with clean oxygen. Put your feet on earth, feel it in your toes. Make a point to take walks on your breaks and go hiking as much as possible throughout the year.
