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My favorite way to “detox” is on a daily basis. Strict and prolonged detoxification fasts have their merit. Personally, I’ve tried the famous lemon, maple and cayenne pepper one for three days and had to stop because I no longer felt “a part of this world”! Somehow the idea of all my toxins being released at one time does not appeal to me and certainly doesn’t go with my active lifestyle! I also know that we “retox” (if that is a word?) on an on-going basis, so my approach and advice in this article is geared to that notion. This is a kinder, gentler form of an approach. This is one that seeks to continually build health, unburden our organs, and greatly contribute to boosting our natural energy while enhancing our natural beauty! If you have been reading my blog, you see that I’m a big fan of giving our intelligent bodies the right ingredients to renew, regenerate, and regulate. Today, I’ll share ideas for supplements and foods to help with this process and, as with any nutritional advice, it’s always wise to consult your healthcare professional before making any drastic changes in your diet!

Some of these suggestions are ones that you have seen before and tend to cross over to themes like anti-aging, anti-inflammation, antioxidant boosting, as well as detoxification, but who doesn’t want more of all of those things??

Let’s start with some general ways to detox without fasting or restricting;

1) Start your day with lemon water

Squeeze about 7 lemons into a big pitcher of water with no sugar. This amount refrigerated, lasts about a week when I pour half a glass of the “lemonade” into half a glass of water each morning. The benefits are many to the liver as well as jump starting the digestive process. This can facilitate a morning “cleanse”! It also contributes to our collagen-building and vitamin C. (see previous article on Collagen)

2) Sip some herbal tea.

This will keep your hydration in check as well as help the detox process. Some suggestions are Red clover, Rooibus, Ginger, and Chamomile. I get a wonderful Detox Tea from my friend Pamela Black, who’s an Arbonne and Wellness Coach at 480-220-8290. She also has other products and supplements to support your detox efforts.

3) Boost your dietary fiber intake.

Fiber serves as food for your healthy gut bacteria (see my previous blog on Probiotics) that help break down toxins. We need two types of fiber each day-soluble fiber found in oats, fruits,nuts, and some vegetables to help lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol, and insoluble fiber, found in veggies like broccoli, tomatoes, and whole grains, to speed up the waste removal in our digestive tracts.

4) Beauty sleep

(remember last month’s article on this? You see all the connecting pieces of the puzzle?!)

The biggest tip for this is to stop viewing electronic devices about two hours before retiring so the body and brain can “unwire” and power down. When we sleep the flow of fluid in the brain increases, washing away harmful waste proteins that build up between brain cells during the day. One of these is beta-amyloid,too much of which is linked to dementia! My article on this goes into many other ways to boost the essential 7-8 hours of deep, restful sleep to enable the body to rejuvenate fully.

5) Sweat!

The Scandinavians are really onto something with the sauna tradition! This is the body’s natural way of eliminating toxins, heavy metals, and petrochemicals. Exercise is also amazing for us in so many ways, boosting those feel-good endorphins that lead to more positive thoughts and feelings (a form of detoxing to be sure) as well as a vehicle to sweat out the waste material.

6) Relax

As referenced in #5, reducing stress and anxiety can do wonders for clearing the mind. “Find Your Bliss”, as they say. For me, that means spending time each day in prayer and a meditative state of mind. Be mindful of what you read and view each day-be sure to balance out the “real world” with uplifting/enriching material! Yoga, relaxing social engagements, family/romantic time, church, time spent in nature, and pet “therapy” can all help you press the “re-set” button. Lastly, honorable mention goes to detox baths! A good 20 minute hot soak in Epsom Salts will improve nutrient absorption, reduce tightness in muscles and joints, and inflammation. This a natural detox, drawing out toxins and cellular waste. Mix in 2 cups of salts with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and soak your troubles away! There is a real correlation between the benefits of these suggestions and your toxicity or lack thereof!

7) Reduce your toxic load

This is where your choices of personal care products and household cleaners become significant! Since there is so much in our environment that we can’t control, what we actually put into and onto our bodies becomes vitally important. Quick suggestion-switch to a more natural deodorant. I get a fantastic deodorant cream at Soapwallakitchens.com. I also have become a faithful reader of Green Living Magazine, to help with knowledge and resources on this subject. It is available at Whole Foods, Fry’s, and Sleekskin Aesthetics. My Sleekskin skin care line is also a pure blend of nature and science for exceptional results! You can read about them under the Products tab on this site. I’m always available for complimentary phone or appointments at my spa to answer any questions or to help you on your quest to detoxify!

8) Eliminate trigger foods and eat organic

Foods like these zap your body of energy and become addictive eventually. Ease up on these choices, and choose more organic whole foods and cruciferous veggies like broccoli , cabbage, radishes, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and more to promote liver detox and keep free radicals in check. Two cups per day is a good goal. Also focus on bringing in organic eggs, fruits, wild-caught fish,cage-free poultry, and grass-fed organic meats. Whole foods like artichokes and asparagus help eliminate heavy metals! Other foods that do this are worth mentioning here; beets, kale,celery, cilantro,cucumber, parsley and ginger to name a few ( these can actually be blended as a smoothie with 1/2 a lime and a T. of chia seeds!) Use 2 small beets, 4c. chopped kale,2 c. shopped celery, 1 med. cucumber, 1 bunch each of parsley and cilantro 2 inches of fresh ginger. Add the chia seeds last and let soak for 10 minutes. They will get a gel consistency that absorbs the toxins in your digestive tract, helping the body to cleanse itself! If the smoothie is too thick add some water and/or use a strainer to remove large particles. Here are two more lovely Detox Smoothie recipes;

Green Goddess Smoothie Morning Glory Juice

1 cup unsweetened non-dairy beverage 2 kale leaves

1/2 avocado 2 celery stalks

1 kale stalk 1/2 cucumber

1 cup spinach leaves 1 organic apple

1/2 cup mango 1/2 lemon

Blend together and enjoy! 1 small piece of ginger

Juice together

Greens are very detoxifying! A great way to up your intake daily is to add them to soups, stir -frys, smoothies and gluten-free pasta dishes. Avoid processed foods! They contain the most harmful ingredients such as; trans fats, artificial preservatives, high fructose corn syrup,artificial colors, MSG, artificial sweeteners and flavors.

9) Eat more Probiotics

Please refer to an earlier blog article on just this subject for more information. Please understand the connection, the longer waste stays in your tract the better the chance of toxic build-up! Probiotics keep things moving and the ratio of good bacteria to bad in a healthy place. You may take a good probiotic supplement after eating a salad or vegetables to give the good bacteria the food they need to do their job. You may also incorporate fermented food choices like organic yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi ((Korean- style cabbage).

10) Supplements

If you are nutritionally efficient, detoxing can be very sluggish. When this is the case, excess toxins deposit themselves in your fat tissue and nerve cells, possibly leading to a wide array of degenerative health conditions. Our bodies’ natural detoxification is dependent on nutritional sufficiency. Since it is difficult for most people to eat properly all the time, I am a big fan of supplements. These are some that I take to help with antioxidant and detoxification support; milk thistle for liver support,turmeric (anti-inflammatory as well), aloe vera for digestive support and organ detox, pycnogenol (for excellent free radical scavenging and vascular support) and Astaxanthin and Resveratrol for superior antioxidant and anti-aging support,NAC(N-acetyl-Cysteine), Alpha Lipoic Acid and Carnosine for major liver/kidney cleansing and anti-oxidant activity.

Some early signs that all your efforts are starting to work and that your body is detoxing are; increased energy, clarity of thought, more regular bowel function, less bloating, and better sleep! The well-being and healthier immune system that you will enjoy make all the difference. If you make a lot of changes, you may notice some short term side effects such as headache, nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea. Keep in mind that your body expels toxins a few different ways including sweating and excretion. Bathroom changes may happen, but knowing that your body is taking the steps necessary to better health is the best reward!

Oh, and your skin glows too. 🙂

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Daily Detox Without the Deprivation – by Debbie Davis of Sleekskin Aesthetics