Regularly taking time out to detoxify your body, removing all toxins from your diet and your general lifestyle, has long been considered to be beneficial to your health. An interesting recent article in New York Magazine[1] has suggested that whilst we have no idea exactly how many toxins we have in our body at any given time (because toxin testing is very expensive and can often prove to be inconclusive anyway) the number of potentially cancer-causing chemicals in use has increased tenfold since 1975. The toxin situation is only getting worse, which means that one of the best ways to protect yourself is to take matters into your own hands and start a detox. There are many difference detox products and programs available on the market right now, but one of the best (and least expensive) ways to detox is to adopt a natural strategy[2], listen to your body’s cues, and rid yourself of toxins at a pace that you are comfortable with. Here are a few hints and tips:
Change Your Diet
The easiest way to control what toxins you have in your body is to control and be mindful of what you are putting into it yourself. One of the first and most vital toxins to remove from your system is alcohol. If you tend to only drink on special occasions you will find this relatively easy. If you drink regularly and finding cutting alcohol from your diet difficult then you may need to think about your lifestyle and seek additional support with this step.[3] Replace any alcohol or other toxin filled drinks with water. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will help you to flush the toxins from your system. Next you need to think about the kind of food you eat: there is a difference between healthy food and toxin-free food, and many people often confuse the two. The four most common food toxins are wheat, sugar, industrial seed oils and soy[4] so cutting these, and foods containing these from your diet is your most important dietary step.
Minimize Your Exposure to Toxins
No matter where we live, we are all exposed to toxins every day. Of course if you live in the heart of an industrial city you will be exposed to more toxins than if you live in a remote mountain range but, no matter where you live, you can work to minimize your toxin exposure[5]. The best way to minimize your toxin exposure is to only eat organically grown foods: that way no pesticides or other chemicals can enter your body via your food stream. You can source these at your local farmers market, where you’re likely to meet other like minded people concerned about the levels of toxins in their foods. Many other toxins are absorbed from our environment into our skin, and there is little we can do to stop this. However, one thing you can do to remove these toxins is to engage in regular vigorous exercise. Increased respiration, circulation, and perspiration all support healthy detoxification. If you don’t like the idea of exercise to build up a sweat[6] then regularly spending time in a sauna or steam room will have the same affect. Finally, think about anything else you regularly apply to your skin that could be absorbed into your system: sunscreen, make up, and shower gel are all great examples. Whilst it is important to wear sunscreen every day[7], and you may feel you can’t live without your make up, you can buy versions of all of these products that don’t contain harmful chemical toxins. You simply need to be mindful when you hit the shops.
If you’re never tried a detox before then you are likely to be amazed by just how good it makes you feel: you should find yourself less fatigued and more full of energy, and detoxification can also help to reduce the impact of headaches and other minor ailments. Why don’t you give it a try today?
[1] “Should I be trying to rid my body of toxins?”, New York Magazine, http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/04/should-i-be-trying-to-rid-my-body-of-toxins.html
[2] “Five things to know before you start a detox diet”, Chicago Now, http://www.chicagonow.com/get-fit-chicago/2014/01/5-things-to-know-before-you-start-a-detox-diet/
[3] “Find the best luxury 12 step recovery programmes”, Rehabs, http://luxury.rehabs.com/12-step-programs/
[4] “Nine common foods that contain toxic ingredients”, Shape, http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/9-common-foods-contain-toxic-ingredients
[5] “Seven natural strategies to detox your body”, NBC News, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37758450/ns/health-alternative_medicine/t/natural-strategies-detox-your-body/#.U5ls1_ldVqU
[6] “Take advantage of sweat to release an avalanche of toxins”, Cancer Defeated, http://www.cancerdefeated.com/newsletters/Take-Advantage-of-Sweat-to-Release-an-Avalanche%20of-Toxins-from-Your-Body.html [7] “Sunscreens explained” The Skin Cancer Foundation, http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/sunscreens-explained