With so many health benefits associated with giving your body a full, detoxifying cleanse, many people want to know how to detox.
After all, who wouldn’t want to get more energy, lose weight, reduce bloating, ease constipation, suffer less headaches and get more sleep? One of the many common myths about detoxing is that you must follow an extreme diet, or fast your body, to get the best results, but that’s not true.
Your body has several natural functions designed to cleanse your system and flush out all the nasty toxins and other harmful waste products that can cause health problems. The trick is supporting these systems, through good nutrition and sensible lifestyle choices, to help them do their jobs to the best of their ability.
So, before you reach for the blender and embark on a seven-day extreme juice diet, have a look at our tips below, as we take a closer look at how to detox.
HOW TO DETOX YOUR BODY
Detoxing properly isn’t just about what you consume. You’ve got to create the right conditions and environment within your body to optimise your success. Here are some things you should focus on:
1. GET PROPER SLEEP
Much of the hard work your body does to detoxify takes place when it’s in a state of rest. So, regularly getting a good night’s sleep is vital. Sleeping allows your body to process and remove the toxic waste by-products it has accumulated throughout the day, as well as allowing your brain to reset and recharge.
If you don’t get enough sleep, your body won’t have the chance to perform these vital functions, which over time can build-up and lead to longer-term health implications.
Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity have all been linked to poor sleep, which can also cause stress, anxiety and mental health issues.
2. EAT ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants are potent nutrients which protect your cells against damage caused by oxidative stress from free radicals. When your body produces too many free radicals – from poor diet, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption – these harmful molecules cause damage to our cells, which the body needs to work harder to repair. Over time, this can cause a host of health issues including dementia, heart disease, liver disease and asthma.
Eating enough antioxidants – either through a healthy diet or natural supplementation – can help your body combat the stress caused by excess free radicals, along with other toxins that can increase your risk of chronic disease. Look for foods that are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
3. EXERCISE MORE
Alongside diet, regular exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. It promotes healthy heart function, which, in turn, keeps the blood pumping to all your major organs so they can function correctly.
When it comes to detoxifying, regular exercise helps to reduce inflammation within your key body systems, which means your organs, including your liver, don’t need to work as hard to function normally.
HOW TO DETOX YOUR LIVER
Your liver plays a key role in detoxifying your body. It’s the organ that breaks down the harmful toxins found in the blood and flushes them out. So, keeping your liver in tip-top condition is vital if you want to detox. Here are a few tips:
- WATCH YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE
More than 90% of alcohol is metabolised in your liver, which filters and flushes out the harmful toxins that alcohol contains. Drinking too much, over a long period, can overwork your liver and cause inflammation, scarring and fat build-up. In turn, this can prevent it from carrying out its normal functions, including filtering waste and other toxins from your body. So, watch what you drink. The odd tipple is fine, just don’t overdo it – excess alcohol consumption is not only bad for your liver, but it can also create a lot of severe and long-term health problems too.
Water is an essential part of a healthy diet for many reasons. It helps your body to regulate its hormones and temperature, supports digestion and transports waste products and toxins through the body so they can be flushed out, naturally. It also helps replace the fluids the body loses when exercising, so it can recover properly.
Foods that are high in refined sugar, processed fat and artificial additives can cause a host of chronic health problems. They are harder for your body to process, which puts excess strain on your liver and other organs as your body tries to strip out and absorb the nutrients and flush out any waste.
So, keeping an eye on what you eat and cutting back on junk food can help your liver to detox. Just like with alcohol, the odd treat is fine – it can help reduce cravings and keep your metabolism ticking over naturally. Just don’t gorge on junk food 24/7, as you’ll be storing up a host of problems not only for your liver but for the rest of your body too.
HOW TO DETOX YOUR SKIN
Detoxing your body will make you feel good on the inside. Detoxing your skin can help you look good on the outside too. Here are a few tips to detox your skin and recapture your natural glow:
Helping your skin to detox and stay toxin-free is a daily challenge. We’re regularly exposed to airborne toxins and pollutants, and sometimes harsh weather conditions which can cause stress to our skin’s delicate cells.
So, having a cleansing routine is a must.It would help if you washed regularly, using light, natural products, to remove any toxins from your skin and pores gently.
Then, replenish some of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your skin needs to stay healthy using natural moisturiser.
We’ve already looked at the importance of staying hydrated for your liver, but it can also help your skin.
Drinking plenty of water can help prevent your skin from drying out, which can lead to flaky patches, redness and inflammation.
It will also help flush out the impurities that can block pores and lead to spots or blackheads. You can keep your skin hydrated in two ways – drink lots of water and use a natural moisturiser enriched with vitamins and minerals to help keep your skin soft, supple and glowing.
RELAX WITH AROMATHERAPY
The environment causes much of the damage to our skin – smoke, pollution, pollen, excess sunshine or cold air can all have an impact. If you lead a hectic lifestyle, finding some time to relax and be good to yourself is vital. Aromatherapy is one way of creating a relaxing, mood-enhancing environment to allow your skin to detoxify.
Lavender, lemongrass and eucalyptus essential oils all have powerful essences which can help enhance not only your skin but also your mood and mental health.
An aromatherapy massage is also proven to have skin health benefits and help your skin to detox. Always use a carrier oil, like argan oil, though, and read the ingredients carefully before use.
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