The Importance of Detoxifying Your Body
We hear the word “detox” and a range of ideas, typically food modifications and restrictions, come to mind. It may be a juice fast, tablets, beauty products, the use of diuretics, magic vitamins, minerals or ‘cleansing foods’. However, before we even begin a dextor, it’s super important to understand ‘why’ we detox, before we address the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of doing a detox effectively.
Why Should I Detox?
In the same way that your body needs a holiday from your work routine, your body also needs a break to recharge. Over time, our body gets run down from not-so-healthy foods, caffeine, alcohol, stress, toxins in our everyday environment, and unhealthy habits that sneak into our daily lives. A detox gives your body the time, space, and right conditions to deal with those factors that run our systems down. This break restores balance and vitality to our body once more!
We are all striving to have a healthy body, and within this healthy body is a kidney, liver, skin and pair of lungs that are all working to detoxify the body right now. It is fighting against the toxins that are present when we ingest and inhale toxins from things such as cars, cigarettes, carbon emissions and herbicides/pesticides on the food we eat.
This is your opportunity to stop and think, “What if my own self-cleansing system is running in overdrive and needs a pick-me-up?
Here are some reasons your body would benefit from a holistic, natural detox:
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Prevention of chronic diseases
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Stronger Immunity
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Assistance in loosing a few kilos
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Improve quality of life
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Bounce-out-of-bed levels of energy!
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Radiant, glowing skin
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Help getting off the food-driven emotional rollercoaster
What Is A Detox?
Most of us tend to agree that detoxification or ‘detox’ diets are short-term interventions designed to eliminate toxins from the body, promote health and assist with weight loss.
But in essence, it is really just creating the perfect conditions to support our body in doing the job it was was already made to do… “Detox”.
Here are some great tips to help you out when doing a total body detox and why these tips are so important for your overall, long term health:
Hydration
Importance: Elimination of toxic particles and the rejuvenation of cells.
Tip: Aim to drink between 1-3 L of water per day.
How to make this happen:
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Use meal times as a reminder to hydrate. Drink 500ml water (with lemon juice if you prefer) upon rising, and repeat half an hour before lunch and dinner. Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day.
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Replace your 3pm coffee with herbal tea.
Exercise
Importance: Strengthen your lung capacity/ability.
Tip: Aim to move your body regularly throughout the day
How to make this happen:
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Break exercise into smaller chunks of time. Take 10 minutes in the morning to stretch, go for a half hour walk before heading to work, or take the stairs instead of the elevator in your building.
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Incorporate being active into your social life; catch up with friends for a walk, run or gym session instead of a coffee or cocktails.
Real, Live FOOD!
Importance: Specific foods assist with deactivating toxins and removing them from the body (specifically heavy metal build-up).
Tip: Aim to incorporate as many fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet as possible.
How to make this happen:
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Juices, smoothies and salads are a perfect place to start. Incorporate chlorophyll-rich foods such as wheat grass and barley grass, as well as herbal teas and sea plants such as nori.
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Coriander, and foods containing citric and malic acid (grapes, oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits) as well as selenium-rich foods (such as Brazil nuts, mushrooms and sunflower seeds) have been shown to assist with the removal of heavy metal build up within the body.
Sleep
Importance: Sleeps assists with the rejuvenation of cells and heaps with the healing and repair of your heart, muscles and blood vessels.
Tip: Aim to sleep 7-8 hours per night
How to make this happen:
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Be aware of the importance of sleep hygiene (avoid caffeine before bed, allow 2 hours between your last meal and bedtime, use dim lighting).
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Make a conscious effort to wind down before rolling into bed. Put your phone down, turn off the TV, free yourself from distractions and make your sleep space as comfortable as possible.
Get outside
Importance: Breathe fresh air into your lungs; receive your daily dose of vitamin D and boost your mood.
Tip: Eat more meals outdoors; exercise outdoors instead of in a gym or studio every once in awhile.
How to make this happen:
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If you’re going to be inside all day, take your breakfast outside to a sunny place.
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Instead of eating lunch at your desk, go for a walk outside and sit in a comfortable, relaxing space.
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Breathing in fresh air and feeling the sun’s warmth on your skin can help to both clear your lungs and boost your mood.