Spring has just begun and our minds naturally turn to cleaning, both for our physical spaces and our bodies. After a season spent largely indoors, we’re craving sunlight, exercise and fresh food.
Although our bodies are built for detoxification, we are exposed to an unprecedented number of toxins. This includes herbicides, pesticides, air pollution, medications, household cleaners, cosmetics and body care products, artificial ingredients in our food and pollutants in our water. Those are just a few!
Think of your body as a cup. When toxins come in too quickly, they begin to build up and build up. The cup is overflowing. When that happens, we can experience all kinds of problems, from weight gain to brain fog to hormonal imbalances and more. Therefore, it is essential to support our body’s detoxification processes.
While deeper cleanses can be helpful a few times a year, incorporating detox into your daily life is imperative for long-term health. Here are five exercises to get you started.
Hydrate first
Start each day with 8-16 ounces of filtered water with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Detox with food
Focus on eating organic foods, especially when it comes to meat and dairy. If you can’t afford to always go organic, take a look at the “Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen” from the Environmental Working Groupto decide what to prioritize. Eating food in its natural state can help you avoid many of the added chemicals in processed foods. Prioritize fresh vegetables and aim for a salad every day. You’ll get a bonus if you bitter vegetables such as arugula and dandelion to stimulate the liver.
Support the liver with herbs
The liver filters the blood coming from the digestive tract before sending it to the rest of the body. It detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes medications. In addition to other metabolic processes, the liver produces bile, which breaks down fat into fatty acids to produce energy. Liver health is also essential for healthy hormones. Herbs such as dandelion root, milk thistle seed and turmeric root used in teas, decoctions and tinctures help the liver function better.
Have a daily bowel movement
Ensuring that the intestines are moving daily is a lot like cleaning out waste. A daily BM removes toxins from your body. Eat plenty of fiber from whole foods, especially dark leafy greens, to keep things moving. Stay hydrated. Add 2-3 tablespoons of freshly ground flax daily to help bind toxins and remove them from the body. You can also supplement with magnesium citrate in the evening to get you started.
Sweat
Sweating is one of our body’s natural processes to remove toxins from the body through the skin. Sweat regularly through exercise and sauna.
By practicing these simple exercises daily, you will notice better energy, better brain function and a better mood within just a few weeks!
Writer Katie Gerber is a holistic health and nutrition coach who serves clients both locally and online. In 2014, she completed Aviva Romm’s Herbal Medicine for Women certification. After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2014 and the Colorado Trail in 2016, Katie decided to use her knowledge of botanical medicine and nutrition to help fellow wilderness enthusiasts in their quest for more energy and better health. She transitioned from her career as a pastry chef and enrolled at the Institute for Transformational Nutrition. She now uses her lifelong passion for holistic health with her background in culinary arts to help people live healthier lives, in tune with nature. Katie writes for various publications and speaks at local events. When she’s not writing and working with clients, you’ll likely find her in the mountains, in the garden, or in the kitchen testing recipes. Read more about Katie, her articles and her adventures on her website.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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