Detoxing your body of harmful chemicals and years of built-up toxins is imperative for a healthy and happy body. The human body has a built-in detoxification process, but today, it is rarely enough.
Between the chemicals and processed foods that we ingest daily to the pollutants steadily building around us, our bodies, often aren’t able to keep up. This backup can cause severe issues with our health, both mind, and body.
When we are filled with unnatural toxins, our bodies are continually trying to fight them. We are in a constant healing mode, which can lead to sluggish and exhaustive bodies. These toxins can also affect our mental health.
Exercise and all-natural diets have shown to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Clearing the toxic waste from our bodies enhances that effect, giving our bodies the ability to produce the chemicals we need for positive and healthy mental health.
Detoxes are essential, but also need to be achieved through safe and healthy means. We are all unique, and the route you take to detox is personal to you.
Make sure you check with your physician before undergoing any detox program and follow the guidelines set out by your doctor and the plan you choose to follow.
The preparation stage is just as important as the cleanse.
If you are already living a clean and healthy lifestyle, then preparing for a cleanse will be much easier for you. If you’re not, that’s okay! We all have to start somewhere, and this will be an excellent opportunity for you to begin your clean eating regimen.
You want to start the cleansing process days before you begin the detox. Beginning about three days before, start eating light. Choose easily digested, highly nutritious foods such as soups, leafy greens, steamed veggies, raw veggies, and clear liquids. By doing this, you are allowing your body to ease into the cleanse. You don’t have to go cold turkey on processed foods, but it’s a good idea to begin to ease out of them. Start by ingesting more whole grains, fresh veggies, and fresh fruits. Replace one meal a day to start, then two, until you no longer crave those highly processed chemical-laden foods. You can start doing this long before your detox if you believe it will help the process go smoother.
Here are some specific tips to help you prepare your body for your cleanse:
1. Begin every day with a glass of lukewarm water. You can even squeeze a little lime or lemon juice in it to help boost your metabolism. This room temperature water will help kick your digestive track into gear and prepare you for the day.
2. Drink water, lots of water. Replace the sodas and sugary drinks with big glasses of water. If you want something a little different, you can incorporate natural or cleansing teas into your routine. About detox drinks, more below
3. Hungry? Try drinking light soups or broths. These carry an incredible amount of nutritional value and help keep your body stay hydrated. They also help to fill you up between meals.
4. Avoid table salt. Table salt has absolutely no nutritional value and is toxic to your body. Instead, use sea salt, pink salt, or even kelp for seasoning.
5. Have a healthy breakfast. After you have sipped down that room temperature lemon water, make a shake. Include leafy green veggies, and all-natural juices.
6. Reduce the amount of red meat you are in-taking. Processed meats are also bad for your body, so attempt to avoid sausages or anything cured.
7. Cut down on bread and pasta, but increase your whole grains and gluten-free grains like quinoa!
8. Avoid those fried foods and baked goods. I know…it sounds so hard! But there are plenty of healthy and delicious alternatives.
Most importantly, listen to your body. You will be amazed how, after your body detoxes from all of those refined chemicals, you will feel so much better. Your body will be healthier, less tired, and the fog will begin to lift from your brain. If you start out eating this way before your detox, you may just continue after.
Natural Detoxes
If you look at the root of what a detox is, you will find that it is natural in nature. You are ridding your body of the toxins and chemicals that it has acquired through pollution, processed foods, and chemical prescription medications. It would only make sense that if you are to choose a detox, you choose a natural one.
There are many different programs out there touting a specific pill or drug to help you detox. In reality, the best way to get rid of the toxins is to do it how your body naturally was meant to. Here are the four most popular natural detoxes.
Simple Fruit and Veggie Detox: During this detox, which usually lasts around seven days, you consume only water, fresh and organic fruits, and vegetables. All fruit juices should be extracted from the fruit through a juicer. Store-bought juices are usually laden with additives and sugars. You can eat your veggies steamed or raw.
Smoothie Cleanse: Think of the Smoothie Cleanse as the Fruit and Veggie Cleanse, but all in one glass. There is a plethora of recipes on the internet that help those on the smoothie cleanse to drink specific nutrients and vitamins that the body needs. Luckily, this type of detox is inexpensive and straightforward and all you need is fresh food and a blender!
Juice Cleanse: The Juice Cleanse is very similar to the smoothie cleanse, except that instead of blending your fruits and vegetables, you are juicing them. You can also find some very clean premade juices, though they can be pricy.
Sugar Detox: Some people choose to take the detox process a step at a time. Detoxing yourself of refined sugars is incredibly essential and can be very difficult to do. White sugar has been found to have the same addictive properties as some drugs. If you can detox and withdrawal from sugars, the full-body detox will be so much easier for you.
Whichever you choose to do, make sure you research the process beforehand. And remember, it takes time for a body to completely detox, so try to stay on the system for at least seven days.
Natural Detox Supplements
When your body is struggling through your detox, sometimes it’s good to give it a little help. All-natural supplements are healthy and can be taken even after your detox is over to help your body’s natural detox process.
Most of these supplements can be found at your local health food store or online. Just make sure they are all-natural.
As always, if you are currently taking medication, check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Some supplements, even though natural, can interact with medication.
Schisandra- The Schisandra berry has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The berry’s benefits are vast, but it is most well known as a booster for your liver. Schisandra is full of antioxidants and help to push the detox process along, protect your cells from free radical damage, and helps to ward off diseases.
Schisandra can be taken in a pill, capsule, dried extract in water, or even as a tea.
Magnesium-Toxic overloads in the body can cause constipation. Magnesium can help because it assists in the relaxation of the muscles inside the digestive tract. It can also help to neutralize stomach acid.
Milk Thistle- Milk Thistle is a powerful antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. It is probably one of the best supplements to take before, during, and even after your detox. Milk thistle strengthens the liver’s cell walls, protecting it from toxins. It can also help to reverse years of damage to the liver from prescription meds, antibiotics, alcohol, metals, and pollution.
Best Detox Teas
Before, during, and after, detox teas can help keep your body clear of toxins. There are so many different types on the market today that it’s hard to keep them all straight. You want to make sure that when you choose one, it is organic and unsweetened.
Teas are also great ways to stay hydrated during your cleanse.
These are some of the best detox teas on the market:
Yogi Detox
Yogi Detox teas are organic and clean. They come in several flavors, including peach and dandelion. The detox tea has burdock and dandelion, which help strengthen the liver and juniper berry for purifying the kidneys.
Capital Teas Organic Detox
Capital Tea is grown and manufactured in the United States. Their detox tea if very complex in nature. It begins with a base of green tea, which helps to cleanse. Lemongrass, lemon peel, and lemon oil are added to the tea mixture for taste as well as purifying properties. Last, mango, strawberry, and peppermint infuse the loose leaf tea to help make the tea favorable and balance the strong citrus tastes.
BaeTea (14 Day Teatox)
This tea was made specifically for those interested in undergoing a tea detox. The tea includes ginger root, senna, rooibos, guarana, oolong, vitamin C, pomegranate, lemon, and honey. This tea is not decaffeinated. It has a strong and spicy taste and helps to push the toxins from the body. The senna leaf acts as a natural laxative.
Detox teas can be helpful in and out of a cleanse. Find the one you like the best, but make sure not to add creams and sugars to it during your cleanse.