Are you feeling drowsy and lethargic? Are you finding it difficult to cope with skin problems like acne, wrinkles and dryness? Do you perpetually suffer from nausea, GI distress, bloating and cramps? If the answer to all these questions is yes – it’s time you gave your body a much needed break. Our bodies are subjected to erratic sleep patterns, environmental toxins and unhealthy food and needs time to recoup and repair. Think of your body like a well oiled machine-it needs maintenance at regular intervals. Supervised detoxification practices work well to flush out toxins, reset metabolism and give the digestive system a much needed break.
What is Detoxification?
Detoxification plays a pivotal role in leading a stress-free and healthy life. The basic motive of detoxification is cleaning the blood of toxins and impurities. Detoxing also serves other functions. It helps aid recovery from low grade infections and stomach bugs by giving the digestive system a break. It helps accelerate weight loss because it eliminates unhealthy food from the diet. It helps boost circulation to all the organs and parts of the body and helps transport healthy oxygenated blood for repair and healing. Lastly, it helps rid the body of toxins through food, medicines and environment through the liver. The other areas that release toxins are the kidneys, intestines, lungs and skin. (We will discuss this later).
When to Detoxify?
Listening to your body for signals and it will tell you when it needs a break. If you get migraines and bouts of stomach aches and your skin flares up- you know you could use a little help Well, your skin will start showing you that your body can no more deal with the toxins and excess cortisol (because of stress). Some of the symptoms that will give you signals are fatigue, acne, skin allergies, weight gain, puffy eyes, headache, mood swings and menstrual problems. Some of you might choose to go meatless once a week, whereas others might choose to eat raw till 4. Whatever it is that you decide- remember to give that gut a break to heal and repair itself.
How to start Detoxification?
The process of detoxification isn’t that difficult. There are a few things from which you will have to abstain before starting the detoxification program.
- Say no to alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, caffeine, processed food and refined sugar. Also try using natural cleansing products for grooming. All these things contain toxins that hinder the process of healing.
- Make your mind and body stress-free. Try meditation or yoga everyday to calm down your senses. It will keep a check on your stress hormones and will control the sudden adrenaline rush.
- Most of the detoxification programs are of seven days as your body takes time to release toxins. It includes fasting or liquid diet for two days followed by five days detox plan.
Best ways to detox:
1) Stress less
Go for a walk in the evening and indulge in some quiet time. Better still, take on a daily yoga practice and spend 15 minutes everyday on your breathing. Watch your stress melt away and your immune system will thank you.
2) Use a dry brush
Dry brushing helps slough away dead cells, promotes lymphatic drainage and improves circulation. Pick a dry brush you like and use it once a week when you are in the shower. The bonus- you’ll have radiant skin.
3) Do a digital detox at bed time
Avoid watching tv, reading on your kindle and looking at instagram right before you go to bed. The light disrupts the secretion of melatonin- the hormone responsible for your sleep. Instead, curl up with a nice book and a cup of chamomile or peppermint tea. I know its hard but remember there’s nothing on the web that you can’t access the next morning.
4) Start oil pulling
Oil pulling is an ayurvedic ritual that has found its way into the homes of women all over the world. It sounds a bit gross at first but its the best way to detox. Take 2 tbsp of coldpressed coconut or sesame oil and swish it around your mouth for 10 minutes. Don’t be too aggressive with it- take your time. This treatment helps eliminate plaque, bad breath, improves skin and helps rid the tongue of all the toxins and build up. Follow this for a fortnight and you will be thrilled with the results.
5) Say no to inflammation
I swear by this age old remedy and I think you are about to do it too. Raw turmeric is a miracle ingredient that has been known to inhibit tumours, fight cancer, heal broken bones and fix your gut. I drink an anti inflammatory turmeric tea everyday. You can add honey, stevia or agave to make it palatable and assist your body in the detoxification.
Here is my recipe- http://www.isayorganic.com/blog/anti-inflammatory_turmeric_tea/
6) Spend a few minutes in a sauna
Spend a few minutes in a sauna daily to expel toxins with perspiration. Remember to hydrate at regular intervals and keep your electrolytes up. Don’t use the sauna if you have very high blood pressure or a pre existing heart condition, without a doctors supervision. Healthy adults can benefit greatly with regular sauna time. The bonus- you get to jump into an icy cold shower or pool to close those pores and cool down:)
7) Give up coffee, tobacco, alcohol, sugar and white flour and modified starch. These little buggers, when consumed regularly open the body up to infections and cause a lot of inflammation. Give these up for a week or two and watch your body heal from the inside out.
Thats all for now folks. Will post more suggestions soon.
Stay Healthy!
We love you.
xx
Written by Jia Singh from Wandering for Wellness
& Aashima Talwar from www.bethesassymuse.wordpress.com
