Your body has mechanisms to detoxify itself, but our modern world is flooded with toxins and our bodies can only handle so much before they start to show signs of wear and tear from these toxins. These toxins can contribute to chronic disease, weight gain, hormonal imbalances and a lower quality of overall wellness. If you’re experiencing fatigue, brain fog, frequent illness, digestive problems, trouble losing weight, or have been overdoing it on unhealthy foods and drinks, then it may be time to detoxify your body to heal and feel better.
God gave us many ways to support our body’s ability to detoxify, and he designed our bodies with the amazing ability to heal themselves. Doctor, NASA physicist and author Barbara Brennan said, “The body is a self-healing organism, so it’s really about clearing things out of the way so the body can heal itself.”
9 Simple Ways to Detoxify Your Body Naturally
Below are 9 ways to detoxify your body for improved overall health and well-being. Many of these are truly enjoyable and can be part of regular self-care and stress management!
1. Drink lots of water (and add lemon!)
Purified water helps to move bodily fluids and toxins to the kidneys where they can be filtered out. How much water do you need? One method is to drink at least half your body weight in water in ounces daily. Another is to drink an equal amount of water in milliliters as calories you consume. So, if you need to eat 1,800 calories per day, then you would drink 1,800 mL of water daily. To boost the detoxifying effects, add a squeeze of fresh lemon, which may support the liver, the main detoxification organ in the body. It also provides a bit of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant.
2. Epsom salt & essential oil baths
The magnesium in Epsom salts and hot water can help to flush out toxins. Adding a few drops of essential oils like tea tree and lemon which are antimicrobial may help enhance the effects. Soaking in relaxing essential oils like lavender or frankincense can promote a healthy inflammatory response and reduce stress, which are contributors to imbalance in the gut microbiome and various diseases.
3. Dry brushing
While science is mixed on dry brushing, the invigorating feeling and skin exfoliation alone is a reason to incorporate this daily. It can also improve blood flow and move lymph (a necessity in detoxification). If you wonder if you’re doing it right, don’t worry, you probably are, but it can be a strange process to get used to if you’re not familiar with it. This article explains how to do it.
4. Cruciferous vegetables
These stinky veggies are awesome at helping to detoxify your body via the liver and gut. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage are all part of this family. Their fiber content also helps to keep bowel movements regular which is another way to eliminate toxins. Try to eat at least one per day. You could have two bites of sauerkraut or kimchi before or with a meal, make riced cauliflower and mix it with regular rice for the base of your meal, or toss in some steamed broccoli to your pasta or salad.
5. Vigorous exercise
Full-body movement like jogging, swimming, power yoga, dancing, weight lifting, or rebounding on a mini-trampoline can help flush out toxins by stimulating the lymphatic system and increasing blood flow. Spend at least 20 minutes per day exercising with intensity – ideally this should cause you to break a good sweat, and toxins also leave via sweat!
6. Sweat it Out
Speaking of sweat, it’s an easy way to detoxify your body. Using a sauna will drastically increase sweating. Sauna stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (aka “rest and digest system”) which is crucial for effective detox. Use one at a nearby gym or spa, or invest in a home sauna so that you can use it at least 3-4 days per week which is ideal for best results.
7. Cleansing herbs & botanicals
Many plants and herbs support detoxification such as dandelion, spirulina, burdock root, green tea, aloe, ginger, milk thistle, and many more. Activated charcoal, while not an herb, is another supplement that can be taken short-term to help remove toxins. They can be used fresh, taken as tinctures or pills, or dried herbs can be used in cooking or teas. I get many of my herbs and botanicals from Mountain Rose Herbs because of their high quality. Botanicals may be taken for a short time as directed by a health care professional. Some supplements make it simple by blending some of these herbs together. GX Assist, Zendocrine, and PB Assist from doTERRA are excellent supplements that can be used as part of an elimination/detox diet. If you’d like to learn more about using herbs, I highly recommend the book Body Into Balance by Maria Noel Groves.
8. Reduce food & drink toxins
One of the most effective ways to detoxify your body is to stop consuming food and beverages that contain toxins and promote bad gut bacteria. Drastically reduce alcohol, highly processed foods, refined sugar, and artificial sweeteners. Swap out normal meats for antibiotic, hormone-free, farm-raised fish for wild-caught, and vegetables and fruits grown with pesticides for organic, non-GMO produce. The main ones to swap are those on the Dirty Dozen list.
9. Watch what you watch
Our mind is an area that also needs regular detoxifying. Many of us spend so much time on social media, news, watching movies, and listening to music that our brain can get “poisoned” if we’re not careful with what we allow to form our thoughts. Media of all types has a powerful effect on the brain, beliefs and emotions. These emotions and mental states can also affect our overall health from stress hormones to gut microbiota to ability to sleep well, and more. The Bible tells us “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Make an intentional effort to reduce stress-inducing media, and anything that promotes negative, angry, cynical, depressive, and/or harmful thoughts and beliefs. Taking a one or two-week break from media can help you disconnect from all of the input and voices and allow you to be transformed as you let God shape your thoughts in a way that will be healing and beneficial for you.
To get started, I recommend getting my Gut Health Guide, which will take you through an elimination diet which includes many of these steps. This will help reduce toxic food and drinks and promote healthy gut bacteria which plays a big role in what gets absorbed and eliminated in your body.
Need more personalized help with renewaing your body and mind? Contact me for one-on-one nutrition and fitness coaching. Blessings!
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