By Brooke Rodgers – Certified Holistic Health Coach
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. ~ Jim Rohn”
When we think of going on a “detox,” we think of a strict dietary regime that consists of a 3-6 week period, or even longer. But, what we are failing to put in perspective is the fact that we need to live an ongoing “detox lifestyle” where there is an ongoing attempt to give our body what it needs to rid off the excess waste, pollution, and toxic substances it is exposed to.
When it comes to our body’s detoxification processes, the strength of our liver and digestive system are “key” and are the main culprits to its effectiveness. Unfortunately, in today’s world, our body’s are bombarded by toxins in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the thoughts we create (yes, our body can create toxic chemicals by negative thinking!). Our livers are on overdrive and because of this, proper detoxification becomes sluggish and ineffective. This can lead to disease because our bodies are in an extremely acidic state due to toxic buildup and have become imbalanced. Too much toxicity in the body has been linked to depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, to more serious health concerns like obesity, hormonal imbalances, heart disease, and even cancer.
Here are 6 healthy detox tips to integrate to ensure that your liver and digestive process have the proper “fighting” power to rid the body of waste and toxins in an ongoing, effective manner. This way, you will have more energy, sleep better, feel better, and live a much happier and healthier lifestyle. Ok, here we go!
1. Water—Drink more of it. It is as simple as that. If you’ve read about “The Water Cure,” (www.watercure.com) you know that the majority of aches, pains, or beginning stages of a disease can be reversed with drinking spring and/or purified water. Drinking water on a regular basis (more throughout morning and afternoon) can help your body absorb nutrients and minerals while also eliminating toxins and carrying waste out!
2. Eat less animal products, eat more plants! Now, I’m not saying “don’t eat meat or dairy!” All I’m saying, is to incorporate more plants, fruit, nuts, seeds, herbs, dark leafy greens (detoxifies our cells and blood), and superfoods like kale, arugula, dandelion greens (excellent for boosting liver function), broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, black beans, lentils, almonds, walnuts, pomengranates, and berries as a few examples. Herbs and spices like curcumin (turmeric, curry), cayenne, oregano, fennel seed, saffron, garlic, onion, cinnamon and clove are great add-ins to dishes to provide solid antioxidant protection and boosts the body’s natural detoxification processes. Did you know that kale, broccoli, and brussels sprouts contains a chemical compound called, “Sulforaphane” which is created when we “chew” and other enzymes are mixed in the bunch promoting healthy liver function? Also, dairy and meat have absolutely NO fiber. Eating too much meat or dairy have been linked to promoting a more “acidic” state in the body and exposing the body to more toxins. To learn more—check out Michael Greger, M.D take on cancer link and carcinogens in meat: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/industrial-carcinogens-in-animal-fat-2/).
3. Probiotics/Enzymes: Probiotics are ESSENTIAL with proper digestion of food and promoting a healthy balance between good and bad bacteria in our gut. When our tummy flora is balanced, our organ detoxifiers (liver and kidneys) http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/organs-detox-your-body) are able to detox more efficiently. Experts have said that 80% of our immune system function depends on the overall health of our gut. I recommend taking a probiotic with food in order to absorb more effectively. You can read more information here: (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/05/probiotics-found-to-help-your-gut-s-immune-system.aspx) http://www.livestrong.com/article/278368-probiotics-the-liver/)
4. Physical Activity: Moderate exercise at least 30 minutes a day—brisk walking, running, high intensity training/strength conditioning can get the body’s functions and organ processes working more efficiently speeding up the waste removal processes! Also, embrace sweating! Sweating is one of the body’s natural expressions of disposing of toxins and chemicals!
5. Reduce Your Exposure to Toxins (One’s we have control over): Avoid eating out of cans and drinking out of plastic water bottles as much as possible. Maybe have a “go to” glass water bottle to use in order to fill up before starting your day. Having some sort of water filtration system at home is also a lucrative investment! Here are a few tips to help make your environment more toxin free:
*Use all natural cleaners that are plant and essential oil based (green and eco friendly/non toxic). Avoid synthetic cleaners that contain harsh chemicals like bleach and dioxins. If you do, wear a mask! Dioxins work as endocrine disruptors (messing with hormones and “mimicking” estrogen called 4 Hydroxy Estrogen, a carcinogenic estrogen that is linked to breast cancer formation.
*Stress less and do an “emotional clean up.” Practice forgiveness, letting go, and focus on joy, love, and gratitude. Sometimes allowing 15-20 minutes to meditate or go to a quiet area and focus on breathing is all we need. Stress and negative thinking actually have a physical chemical makeup that releases in our blood stream and DNA that can definitely be toxic. When we focus on positive thinking and happy thoughts, studies show that endorphins are released contributing to a happier, healthier, toxic-free mindset and state overall!
6. Fasting: This is an EXCELLENT way to give your digestive process a REST from eating and stimulating the elimination of wastes. Drinking lots of water throughout this time IS recommended. I am not saying that we all need to fast for an extended period of time. Maybe doing a 12-48 hour fast can be just what your body needs to boost liver function and shed a few years of toxic buildup!
Check out more here on fasting and detoxification: http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_and_detoxification_freedomyou.aspx
For more info on increasing the body’s natural detoxification process as a “lifestyle” choice, check out this article here: http://life.gaiam.com/article/10-ways-detoxify-your-body
– See more at: http://www.perceptivewellness.com/blog/2013/11/top-6-all-year-round-lifestyle-detoxification-tips#sthash.V5s94nxA.dpuf
For more information on Brooke contact her at www.perceptivewellness.com