As the new year begins, many people are embarking on a “detox” to recover from Christmas overindulging and start the new year healthier but unless you get the foundations in place then you could actually be causing more work for your body and actually doing more harm. So before you start a detox program ensure you are doing the following..
Are your elimination pathways clear?
Before embarking on a detox program you need to ensure that your body can actually get rid of the toxins. This is very important because if you can’t get rid of the toxins quickly then you can end up re-absorbing them straight back into your body causing hormone issues, more work for your liver and not getting the results you want.
You should be having at least 1 bowel movement every day as a minimum. If you’re not, then this can indicate that your digestive system is sluggish and needs some attention. Start with the basics to get your bowels working effectively to remove those toxins…
Include fibre in your diet – fruit and vegetables (organic if you can), flaxseeds/chia seeds, oats, wholegrains such as brown rice and quinoa and beans.
Water – While it varies from person to person, it is recommended to have around 2 litres of water a day to help keep your digestive system moving and hydrated.
Exercise – Try to incorporate some movement into your day, walking, yoga, cardio are all good to help with digestion.
Apple cider vinegar/lemon – Starting the day with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or some freshly squeezed lemon in warm water helps to stimulate your digestion as well as supporting your kidneys.
Are you supporting your liver?
While there are many organs involved in removing toxins from the body, the liver is the one that people mostly think of so you need to ensure that you are supporting the liver to be able to process the toxins.
Including leafy greens in your diet such as spinach, rocket and kale and also cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts will provide your liver with some of the nutrients it needs to work effectively. Taking a good quality multivitamin and mineral is also a good idea to make sure you have the basic essential nutrients you need.
Binding the toxins
When you’re breaking down toxins in the body, it is a good idea to include binders to help remove them and stop them causing an immune response or from leaking back into the body. Good things to include can be chlorella and coriander, activated charcoal (don’t take alongside medications though) and clays – zeolite or bentonite clay.
If you are looking for a high quality greens powder then check out the link below for a certified organic Daily Greens Powder which will help with the detox process:
If you're interested in detoxing your body and you want some personalised guidance then feel free to contact me for a chat:
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