It seems that lately, everyone is going on and on about the latest “detox diet”. I cringe slightly when I hear the word, as I have become to whole-heartedly believe it is a term that’s been thrown around and misused to the point of confusion. Personally, I believe that a realistic goal for a true detox should be to slowly form healthier habits. These can then be incorporated into your daily routine to produce a healthier, happier version of yourself, all year long.
I know, I know, these things are easier said than done. It’s hard to commit to any type of change, much less drastic lifestyle changes. Most of the time, extreme change is quickly followed by extreme defiance. And while some people have unwavering willpower, most of us are a little weak in that area. I’ve found that a detox for those of us who cringe at the phrase "cold turkey" has to be enjoyable. This is a major factor in staying committed. You have to find pleasure and enjoyment in the process. If it (quite frankly) sucks, you won’t keep it up. I know I won’t.
What's the answer? Baby steps. Start forming those healthier habits one at a time, and make them enjoyable..
I’m NOT going to start with telling you what foods you should and should not eat (we’ll get to that). So let's begin with some alternative ways to get your detox started while we support you along the way.
Enjoy a Massage
Start with a massage to kick-start your body’s own cleansing processes, which can slow down for a variety of reasons - lack of regular exercise, too little fluids or fiber in the diet.If you haven’t been taking the best care of yourself, a detoxifying massage can help set things right again.
How does massage help the body detox, exactly?
The rhythmic strokes and pressure applied to muscles, tissues and organs during massage therapy help stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems. It works sort of like a sponge: When pressure is applied to the tissue and fat, toxins are literally “squeezed” out from in between the muscle fibers and cells. They’re released into the circulatory system for easier elimination. Also, since the lymph system doesn’t have a big central pump like the heart to keep things moving, it has to rely on gravity, exercise, breathing and massage.
Just Breathe
Deep breathing aids in the detoxification process because oxygen helps your body absorb vitamins and nutrients more efficiently,. In addition, taking deep breaths actually creates more white blood cells, helping to speed up the process of out with the old, in with the new inside your system. Your lymphatic system is fully charged with lots of oxygen, which naturally leads to detoxification of the body.
Remove with Yoga
Gentle yoga will not only assist in detoxing the mind ,but it has beautiful effects in cleansing the body, The combination of gentle twisting, bending and stretching poses releases toxins from deep within. These poses combined with deep breathing practices make for an ideal way to support your entire wellness journey.
Make Lemon -Aide
Add the juice of one lemon to room temperature or warm water into your daily morning routine. Drinking warm lemon water can help your body with digestion thanks to the citric acid contained in lemon.
A Spoonful of Oil
Compliment your morning routine by also taking a couple of spoonful’s of extra virgin olive oil at night to help stimulate your liver to eliminate bile and keep its circulation flowing.
Flush Away
If your bowel movements get sluggish, you can accelerate things by adding in probiotics (more probiotic foods or a quality supplement) into your diet. Bowel elimination is paramount for correct detoxification.
Skin Deep
The skin gets rid of many toxins so it is important to sweat, either by exercising or taking a sauna or steam.
THE Whole Truth.
Finally, make sure you eat whole organic foods, which have the best chance of having all the nutrients needed for liver and general detoxification.
Detoxing your life and your body certainly is an adventure - with waves of emotions and self-confronting thoughts to hopefully leave you empowered to make NEW healthy choices. Your one and only goal should be to make an ACTIVE effort to clear your body of toxins (food and non-food related) in order to improve your quality of life.
So, are you ready for a detox? Remember, it just means YOU making a CHOICE to eliminate toxins to improve how your body functions (mind, body, and/or spirit). Here are some tips to get started:
Identify the toxins. Write down what you want to remove.
If you want to focus on toxins related to food, start by eating real food.
Get prepared.
Pick a date and just start.
Challenge yourself, but be kind to yourself.
