Natural Ways to Aid Detoxification
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any people believe that to detoxify the body means to follow a strict and often punishing dietary and lifestyle regime for a specified period of time. However, detoxification is more about limiting your exposure to toxins as much as possible, regularly consuming foods and drinks which help the body process and eliminate toxins and including natural ways to detoxify. This article looks at several natural ways you can cleanse your body, boost your overall health and energy and clear your mind.
Water - Hydrating is one of the most important ways of helping the body to flush out toxins. Aim to drink at least 1.5 - 2 litres of filtered water daily and start each morning with a glass of warm water with at least half a freshly squeezed lemon. Adding a tsp of aluminium-free baking soda will help normalise the pH of your body, detoxify and destroy bacteria and other pathogens. The best way to know whether or not you are drinking enough water is by the colour of your urine. The darker it is, the more dehydrated you are. And here’s a fact that may well get you drinking more water – since the body is made up of more than 70% water, if you are dehydrated your body has no choice but to recirculate your urine, toxins and all!
Dry brushing and rebounding - Both of these help stimulate the lymphatic system which has, as its main purpose, the role of cleaning waste and toxins from the body. In today’s often sedentary lifestyle, the lymph system can become stagnant and congested causing water retention, bloating, fatigue, cellulite and brain fog. Having a lymphatic drainage massage is another way of supporting healthy lymphatic flow.
Oxygen therapy - Oxygen is crucial for cleansing the body and creating energy. The therapy is performed by a professional. However you can increase your oxygen yourself by mastering the art of deep breathing and spending 10-20 minutes in the fresh air, breathing slowly and deeply. Deep breathing slows down the heart rate, reduces stress, clears the mind and detoxes the body by moving the diaphragm and abdominal muscles, pushing lymph through the vessels.
Steam therapy - This is one of the oldest, and most efficient, ways of detoxing. It helps to unclog sinuses and to support the health of the respiratory system. Easiest methods at home include inhaling steam while taking a shower; using a humidifier or adding a few drops of essential oil (such as tee tree, peppermint, frankincense) to hot water in a bowl, covering your head with a towel and inhaling the steam.
Foam rolling - Foam rolling helps the muscle tissues release accumulated toxins and lactic acid, boost circulation, soothe aching muscles and support the healing of the body.
Meditation - This is a way of cleansing the mind by releasing tension and emotions and letting go of negative thoughts. Start with 5 minutes a day to help your entire body relax. This article deals with stress management techniques, including meditation, while this video includes a short, interactive breathing exercise to help get you started.
Cleansing herbs - Many plants and herbs are powerful cleansers, such as milk thistle, garlic, turmeric, peppermint and coriander.
Oil pulling - The build-up of ‘bad’ bacteria in the mouth is known to cause, or contribute to, certain chronic health conditions. Swishing a tablespoon of oil, usually coconut, in the mouth for between 10 and 20 minutes, absorbs toxins and debris from the mouth, boosting the lymphatic system and strengthening the gums. Make sure you do not swallow. After spitting out the oil, rinse your mouth well with water and brush your teeth. It’s best to practise oil pulling first thing in the morning and/or before bed.
Tongue scraping - Tongue scraping helps eliminate toxins from your mouth. Use a tongue scraper or a spoon to reach the back of your tongue, pull forward and scrape off the white film. Repeat. This is best done in the morning and evening before brushing your teeth. If you are doing oil pulling as well, start with the oil pulling.
Contrast showering - This involves alternating between hot water (3 minutes) and cold water (1 minute) when in the shower. Always finish with cold water. The hot water brings blood flow to the skin's surface while the cold water directs blood flow inward to the organs, thereby supporting lymphatic drainage.
Epsom salt bath - Epsom salt, or magnesium sulphate is wonderful for lessening muscle cramps; easing stress; adding magnesium to your body (one of the most important minerals for sleep, healthy bowels and brain function). To make an Epsom salt bath, add 1 cup of Epsom salts, ½ a cup of baking soda, ½ a cup of sea salt (optional) and ¼ a cup of raw apple cidre vinegar (also optional) to a warm bath. You can also add a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender, to help you relax and unwind.
Sauna - Sweating in a sauna gently and safely helps the body eliminate certain heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Medical studies demonstrate that many toxins can be eliminated through the skin. This relieves the burden placed on the liver and kidneys.
Exercise - This is an excellent way to detox as it flushes out the lungs and stimulates the lymphatic system which gets toxins into the bloodstream for elimination. In addition, toxins are eliminated through the skin by working up a sweat.
Take steps to protect yourself from cell phone radiation - EMFs impact our bodies at a cellular level. In fact, today, more and more studies are linking long-term exposure to significant illnesses such as depression, brain tumours, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, premature aging, cancer and even suicide. Some people suffer more than others, but as 5G rolls out worldwide, with satellites making sure no space on this planet is left ‘unconnected,’ it becomes more and more difficult to avoid and more important to take steps to mitigate your EMF exposure. Some suggestions include:
Buying an EMF protection mobile phone case.
Avoiding body contact with your mobile phone and your laptop computer. In fact, most people are unaware that many phone manufacturers recommend keeping your phone at least 10mm away from your body. For this reason, do not keep a mobile phone in a pocket, or sports bra.
Do not use wireless headphones. It is simply not worth taking the risk. There are already concerns that their placement in the ear canal exposes tissues in the head to relatively high levels of radio-frequency radiation, putting you at a higher risk for brain tumours.
Do not keep your mobile phone next to the bed and switch your wi-fi off at night. Even better, switch it off when you are not using it. EMF exposure at night interferes with your body’s ability to detox, repair and rejuvenate while you sleep. It can also interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep and the quality of that sleep.
Be aware of the fact that smart meters emit erratic, high intensity pulses all day, every day. More and more people are complaining of symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, fatigue, tinnitus, loss of hearing, weakened immune systems, decreased cognitive function and irritability since the installation of a smart meter. If this could be you, find out if you have a smart meter, when it was installed and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
Get grounded - In today's highly urbanised world, living and working in high rise buildings, we are more and more losing our contact with the earth and nature. As hunter-gatherers we were climbing trees, walking barefoot or in shoes made of animal skin, soaking up the Earth’s negatively charged electrons. These electrons mop up positively charged, inflammation causing protons, help remove various toxins from the body and have numerous other health benefits. We all know how much healthier we feel after a holiday swimming in the sea, walking along a beach, mountain climbing, hiking and generally spending time in nature. If you live in a city, try getting out into nature over the weekends, whether in a nearby park, the countryside, mountains, beach etc. Alternatively invest in an earthing sheet. This helps to neutralise your body while you sleep.
Get a good night’s sleep - While we sleep, our bodies clear away toxins and waste products accumulated during the day. In fact, there are studies which have found that our glymphatic system, which clears waste products from the brain, is mainly active during sleep. If you are struggling to sleep, this article contains plenty of tips on sleep hygiene aimed at helping you get a better quality of sleep.
