The process of detoxification involves removing toxins from the body. The food that you eat on a regular basis contains harmful products added to enhance the flavor of the food item. The added artificial sweeteners, colors and various other additives or preservatives can all be toxic to your health.

There are other sources of toxins. The air you breathe, the chemical-laden paint in your home, the unfiltered water you drink – these can all be a source of toxins entering your body.

Detoxifying your body has a lot of benefits for your physical and mental health. The toxins get stored in the major organs which can affect your body’s health. Detoxifying removes toxins from the organs like liver and kidney and makes them work more efficiently. It also gets rid of free radicals which makes your immune system stronger.

Toxins can also affect brain functioning. This disturbs your sleep pattern, causes chronic fatigue and reduces your concentration levels. A detox will allow you to sleep better, make you active and improve your concentration.

Detoxification makes your overall lifestyle a healthier one. Once you experience what it is to live without the bad elements, you feel motivated to quit them permanently. Getting rid of habits like smoking, drinking, binge eating – can all lead to a better quality of life.

A detox can be difficult in the initial days, especially if you have never done it before. Following the tips given below can make detoxing easier.

Prepare a Detox Water

Having detox water that you like is important to keep you hydrated as well as remove toxins from your body. You need to drink that water throughout the day so make sure the flavor is according to your taste.

While regular water is good, detox water is better since it is enriched with vitamins and nutrients of the fruits/vegetables that are put in it.

Given below is the lemon – pineapple detox water recipe that is bound to taste good to everyone. It is refreshing and full of flavor. Lemon contains citric acid which helps in your digestive process. Pineapple contains loads of vitamins and minerals and has anti-inflammatory properties. It also gets rid of heavy metals and toxins from your body. Source – Fab How

To make the detox water, you will require:

4 – 5 slices of pineapple

1 lemon

Ice-cubes

A jar of water

Some mint leaves

Knife

Pitcher

Here is how to make the detox water:

1. Cut up few chunks of peeled pineapple.
2. Put them in a pitcher.
3. Thinly slice a fresh lemon.
4. Add them to the pitcher.
5. Put in some mint leaves.
6. Mix some ice cubes in it.
7. Fill the pitcher with water.
8. Refrigerate the water for 2 hours to allow the nutrients to infuse into the water.
9. Now drink small amounts of it throughout the day.

Avoid Artificial Sugars

You might think that artificial sugars are okay because there are no calories or sugars in it but artificial sweeteners can make our body crave more sweet and sugar and that can lead to weight gain.

This also includes sodas, diet sodas, processed fruit juices or the majority of the commercially available drinks. Always check for any added sugar in whatever you eat.

They can also cause toxicity in the liver which is detrimental to its functioning. During detox, gradually adjust your taste buds to natural sweeteners like coconut crystals. Source – Rodales Organic Life

Switch Your Caffeine

Coffee is the fuel on which almost half the world runs. Caffeine is addictive and can be pretty hard to give up.

But when doing a detox, you need to give your body a break from processing complex foods. Caffeine can be unhealthy and can increase calcium loss from the body.

If giving up caffeine is not feasible for you, switch it with a cup of green tea. Green tea is a powerful anti-oxidant and can help boost your metabolism. Source – Fab How

But it is more preferable to drink green tea in the afternoon, sometime around lunch. Drinking it in the morning will not provide you with any energy for the rest of the day. Source – Awesomeness TV

Have a Liquid Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And this saying doesn’t change even during detoxification. In fact, it becomes even more important as you will be eating significantly less during the day on detox, when compared to your regular days. Therefore, you need sufficient energy for breakfast to function properly.

Replace your regular, sugary breakfast with a satiating protein shake. Drinking protein shake for breakfast can provide you with the energy to function throughout the day.

The following protein shake is one of many ideas. You can search for more or make your own while making sure the food items used are high in protein content and low in calories or sugar.

To make this protein shake, you need:

1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt

10 -12 pieces of almond

4 ml of buttermilk

5 – 6 slices of a banana

Blend these ingredients together to make the protein shake that will keep you full for hours. Greek yogurt has twice the protein content of regular yogurt. So that’s your protein needs all taken care of.

The recipe also does not contain any artificial sweeteners. The cocoa powder used gives the protein a chocolaty flavor while providing anti-oxidants to your body at the same time.

The almond butter is high in mono-saturated fats which is linked to reduction in heart disease and better blood sugar levels. Banana and milk combined provide the body with a plethora of vitamins, proteins, fibers, and minerals with absolutely minimal fat.

 Have a Detox Bath

A detox bath is one of the easiest methods to detoxify your body and get rid of toxins. A typical detox bath contains ingredients that will not only draw out the toxins from your body but also provide their own additional benefits.

We are exposed to a lot of toxins throughout the day. This toxin gets accumulated in our body and prevents it from functioning properly. A detoxifying bath will allow your body to function more effectively. But make sure to take the bath before bed as it makes your body tired and you will feel drowsy after it.

Apart from detoxification, these baths will help with muscle cramps, joint pains, improved blood circulation and better sleep. Source – Fab How

To make a detox bath, you will need:

5 – 10 drops of lavender essential oil

2 cups of Epsom salt

1 cup of baking soda

A bathtub of hot water

Process:

Add lavender essential oil and Epsom salt to a bathtub full of hot water.

Mix baking soda with water.

Now immerse yourself in the water, all the way up to the neck.

Stay in the tub for at least 20 minutes.

After the stipulated time, stand up and come out of the tub with caution as you might be feeling a little lightheaded.

If you wish, you can take a cool shower although do not use any harsh shampoo or soap.

Dry yourself with a towel and go to bed.

You will have a wonderful sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.

Sleep properly

For your body to function efficiently, it needs proper rest and a good, deep slumber. This period allows the mind to reset itself to make space for new information. The body utilizes this time to let the muscles and bones rest and accumulate energy that you will need once you get up.

When you are detoxifying your body, your aim is to make the body healthier. This is why, it is important that you sleep better, as a good sleep allows improved body functions.

A detox bath, especially the ones containing Epsom salt and lavender will improve your quality of sleep and make you feel revitalized when you get up.

Apart from having a proper sleep in the night, it is also beneficial to have a short afternoon siesta not lasting for more than 2 hours; 20 – 30 minutes being sufficient on a regular day.

These short naps are powerful as they provide the body with the much-needed rest and give your mind some time to relax. Siestas have been known to improve your work quality and concentration. Source – Tuck

Do Not Binge Eat the Day Before

A lot of people treat detoxification as a punishment and try to enjoy their last day before prison time by going full on junk food the day before.

They believe that because it is going to be a starvation process (wrong!) they should fill themselves up with fries, burgers, sundaes, and sodas the day before. But this is an unhealthy way of starting your detoxification and will set you up for sugar cravings, hormonal imbalances, and hunger pangs.

Instead, treat detoxification as a gateway to a better lifestyle. Don’t keep thinking about how you are not going to be able to eat your favorite junk food; think about how much good nutrient you will give to your body with whole foods, detox water, and protein shakes. Start with a positive mindset and see the difference.

Starvation is a Bad Idea

The process of detoxification does not entail starvation even though a lot of people seem to think so. It is not about starving your body by not eating anything; it is about eating whole foods like fruits and vegetables instead of junking up on chips, chocolates, donuts and takeouts.

Eating wholesome foods including detox water and protein shakes provides your body with the right kind of nutrients and the energy to function efficiently throughout the day. By excluding substances like sugar, gluten, and saturated fats, you are preventing your body from harmful effects like clogged arteries, liver and kidney problems, obesity and others.

So instead of completely starving yourself, go for a diet that contains plenty of organic fruits and vegetables. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking loads of water as well as detox water. And avoid the harmful substances at all costs.

Have a Light Exercise Routine

When you are detoxing, your body is on lesser calories than it is used to. This may make you feel tired, especially if it’s the first or second day.

Once you get used to the process, incorporate a daily exercise routine in your day. Avoid intense exercises as it can make you feel dizzy and can actually be bad for you. Go for a light to moderate, low-intensity workouts like yoga.

Doing yoga will not use up a lot of your energy but will exercise your muscles, which is why it is a good alternative to hitting the gym. Do some breathing exercises and stretches to keep your body active but avoid anything that involves heavy lifting, running or any other thing similarly intense. Source – Greatist

Get a Massage

Massage improves blood flow, relieves sore muscles and releases tension and stress from your body as well as your mind.

Improved lymph movement is also a benefit of massage, which when coupled with good blood circulation leads to movement of cellular waste products and accumulated toxins out of tissues, into the bloodstream, and to the kidneys where they are eliminated in urine.

The oils and salts used in the massage also help pull out the toxins. As it also reduces stress, it is an overall detoxification of the body as well as the mind. This is why it is a good idea to have a weekly massage. Source – Fab How

• detox
• weight loss