Detoxing has become more than just a form of alternative medicine in the past few years, but a doctor recommended concept. With the idea still being new to most people, what are easy and budget-friendly ways to do this?
1. Exercise – Exercise is essential to the detoxing process for two reasons. Sweating is the body’s natural mechanicism of detoxing; when you exercise, you increase the amount of this. Toxins are typically stored in fat cells by your body, and burning calories will break these toxin containing cells down. Dr. Jeffrey Bland states, Regular activity helps your body detoxify and excrete toxins more rapidly, thus serving as a major contributor to an overall detoxification program.”
2. Spicy foods – Eating spicy foods speed up one’s metabolism. It has also been proven that you consume less calories from fat after the consumption of spicy foods. Add to diet gradually, as too quickly may upset your digestive system.
3. Pure Water- Please note that when drinking water, it should not be tap water. Unless filtered, tap water can contain several chemicals and minerals that can hinder your detox process. Not all bottled water is better, so read labels. Spring water is the best. A water filter is the most cost-efficient help, and you even get water bottles that contain filters in them as well. Drinking water helps flush your system, washing out toxins and minerals.
4. Herbal Pills – Sold in any health food store, these pills are quite effective, but can be quite costly. If you aren’t willing to do many diet changes, or feel like you have a lot of toxins, I would suggest these. These can be taken while you use other detox techniques, including detox teas. Important herbs to be found in pills or teas are Flaxseed, Green Tea, Milk Thistle, Garlic, Amino Acids, B Vitamins, and Vitamins C and E. If yours do not include these, you may wish to take supplements of these to go with your program. They can have a variety of side effects, so you should ask a doctor or naturopath before use.
5. Diet Changes – Although some diet changes may need to be run by a doctor, there are some detoxing diet changes that can be done by anybody. You could choose to do this for as long as you want, although one to three weeks minimum is necessary for a sufficient detox. Ingredients to avoid include refined sugar, white sugar, MSG, refined flour, and hydrogenated fats. Alcohol and caffeine should also be avoided as much as possible. Pure, filtered water and Teas should be the majority of what you are drinking.
6. Dry Skin Brush – Brushing with a skin brush (found in health stores) helps stimulate the lymph nodes, and circulatory system. It removes dead surface skin, and opens up pores, allowing toxins to excrete your body better. Skin brushing also breaks up groups of toxins, allowing them to be removed from your body. It can also remove flaws such as stretch marks. It should be done before showering and bathing, in a circular motion. This should not hurt, if so, you need a softer brush – typically with vegetable or boar bristles.
7. Massage – Massage is useful as it boosts the lymph system, speeding up the body’s normal means of detoxification. It also is one of the most efficient ways of breaking up clusters of toxins. After a massage, you should be sure to drink lots of liquids, to increase the amount of toxins leaving your body. You should also limit the amount of other detox activities done that day.
8. Acupuncture – While acupuncture is often used for pain, it is an excellent detox tool as well. Acupuncture treatment is even be used in detox for drug addicts. Your acupuncturist will go over any symptoms you may have, and you can tell them that you wish to detox as well. Acupuncture supports and heals the organs of elimination in the body, speeding the body’s ability to rid itself of toxins. It also helps eliminate blockages of toxins.
9. Hot Baths – Hot baths are similar to saunas, but a bit more safer. They encourage the body to sweat, eliminating toxins, and heavy metals. Sweat therapy is supposed to deplete fat storages greatly, releasing all the toxins in said fat storages so that they can be excreted from the body. Use epsom salts, as they increase the amount of toxins taken out of the body. Use at least one-fourth of a cup, and you can gradually increase this to four cups over time. Stay in as long as you can stand, up to thirty minutes. If you get light-headed, leave slowly, This is common with hot baths, and can be an effect of detoxing. You can use in this conjunction with skin brushing for an effective detox ritual.
