February is a great time to detox. The craziness of Christmas and
New Year are over and we can now focus on our health. Detoxification gives your body a ‘spring
clean’ as it encourages the clearance of toxins and waste products from the
body. Our major detox organs include our liver, kidneys, skin and digestive
system and all need to be supported. Encouraging detoxification is a great way to
pick up energy levels, boost the immune system and get back to the basics of
eating whole, unprocessed and nutrient rich foods. Toxic overload can
contribute to a variety of illnesses or conditions such as hormone imbalance,
impaired immune function, allergies, nutrient deficiencies, weight gain, fluid
retention, poor sleep, skin conditions and inefficient metabolism.
Below outlines 5
easy detoxification strategies you can do at home to clean out your body.
Make your
own ‘detox tea’ blend and drink 3-4 cups daily
Herbal teas have powerful health benefits and are also cheap and
easy to incorporate into your daily routines. As most don’t contain caffeine,
they are also a great way to stay hydrated. Purchase loose leaf teas to make
your own creations. As long as they are stored in an airtight container
(ideally glass) then they will keep for a 6-12 months. Most will need to seep
for 5-10 minutes.
Detox tea mix- Dandelion leaf, P’au darco, burdock, fennel, nettle
and lemongrass. Mix equal parts of all of the above (or a selection of) and use
2 teaspoons per cup.
Kick start
your liver function with Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a great natural remedy for many things. It
stimulates liver function, improve gall bladder function and bile flow,
improves digestive acid and enzyme release and stimulates the metabolism.
Simply take 1 tsp diluted into 30-100mls of water before main meals daily to
enable your liver to detoxify effectively.
Make a
superfood detox smoothie for breakfast
Green smoothies are a great way to add extra foods and nutrition
into your daily diet that you wouldn’t get otherwise from a meal. Better yet,
because they are blended they are easy to digest and enable even better
nutrient absorption. The smoothie can be a snack or breakfast. There are no
rules as to what you have to add into your smoothie, be creative. Add super foods such as chia seeds, acai
powder, spirulina, chlorella, flaxseed oil or cacoa powder for added detox
benefits:
Green detox smoothie- Handful of kale and spinach, a frozen
banana, berries, an orange + 100-200mls of water and a collection of superfoods
of your choice.
Freshly
squeezed detox juice
Juicing is another easy way to not only increase your daily
nutrient and antioxidant intake, but can aid detoxification particularly by
stimulating the digestive system. The main two rules to follow are to 1) think
colour and use as many colourful veggies and fruits in each juice as possible
to increase antioxidents and 2) use primarily vegetables along with fresh
herbs.
Detox juice recipe- Beetroot, celery, carrot, ginger, mint,
parsley and kale. Add an orange or some pineapple if you need to sweeten it up.
Dry skin
brushing
The skin is the bodies largest organ and responsible for almost one third of
waste elimination. One of the best techniques for encouraging lymphatic
drainage and clearance of toxins through the skin is skin brushing. It
stimulates the movement of interstitial fluids and breaks down congestion in
areas where the lymph-flow has become sluggish and toxins have collected. It
does two things; first it eliminates toxic waste through the surface of the
skin- not only in the specific cellulite areas but all over the body. Secondly,
it stimulates lymphatic drainage.
Spend five minutes a day, before
your shower, brushing your skin all over with a natural fibre brush. You begin
at the tips of your shoulders and cover your whole body (except the head) with
long smooth strokes over the shoulders, arms and trunk with a downwards motion,
then upwards over the feet, legs and hips, always stroking towards the heart.
Remember, if you need any assistance, you can always contact us at the clinic.
