Everyday Detox Tips

In my last post I talked about dietary steps to detoxing, but you can take steps to enhance your detoxification pathways EVERY day!  This is great news if you are not ready to take on a detox diet.  

Remember, your detoxification organs are the skin, kidneys, liver, colon, lungs, lymph and blood.  So we want to enhance elimination. 

Reduce Toxin exposure - The skin is the biggest detox organ, everything that is put onto our skin is absorbed into the bloodstream.  We need to be mindful of what we put on it.  As we age, our bodily processes slow down so we need to become even more vigilant about reducing exposure so we take the strain off of our body. 

• Buy organic - this will ensure reduced exposure to pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMO's).  This goes for food and beauty care products. 
  
• Eliminate conventional fertilizers and chemicals on your lawns - there are a few natural options out there.  I personally believe the "weeds" are not all bad.  Did you know that the dandelions that are growing in your lawn can be eaten as long as no chemicals have been put on them? 
  
• Make your own cleaning supplies - Cleaning supplies have so many chemicals in them, yet we use them all the time.  Did you know vinegar, baking soda and lemon are great cleaners AND non toxic?  There are so many different recipes on the web and they are extremely easy to make.  Contact me if you would like the simple recipe that I use. 
  
• Use "natural" deodorants - even in the health food stores you need to be watchful as some still contain aluminum. 
  

Dry Brushing - This will help your skin, lymphatic system and liver.  Your Lymphatic system acts like a filter of your body fluids but has no pump moving it and its fluid flows against gravity, so it relies on movement from your muscles to move it.  Dry brushing helps to move the lymph fluid, it also removes dead skin cells helping to open up the pores in your skin for easier elimination.   To dry brush: buy a long handled brush, start at the soles of the feet with circular movements and go all the way up to the neck.   So by dry brushing you are helping three of your detoxification organs! 

Exercise - Exercising has so many great benefits. It stimulates blood circulation and the lymphatic fluid which helps the body to eliminate metabolic waste.  It raises your heart rate, helps you sweat, promotes the reduction of fat storage and toxin removal. There are so many forms of exercise too, walking, jumping rope, jumping on a trampoline or how about a pogo stick.  When was the last time you were on one of those? 

Water - I have already talked in another post about why water is so important for us to drink everyday.  You need to make sure that you are getting enough water, my rule is at the minimum 60 ounces per day.  But, the optimal is half your body weight in water per day.  (Caffeinated beverages do not count as a hydrating beverage).  For detox purposes, water with lemon squeezed in it is extremely alkalizing to the body and is great to do first thing in the morning. 

Soak in a detox bath - this one is great if you are a bath person, but may not be one for a "daily" detox; maybe weekly?  I have a great detox product from 100% Pure, Eucalyptus Sea Therapy Bath Salts.  The salts are made from kelp and peppermint is added, so it smells great and stimulates your circulation. 

There are so many more daily activities that you can do and I encourage you to try to incorporate at least some of these into your daily lives because we are bombarded daily with toxins ANYTHING that can be done help ease the stress on your detoxification organs the better you will feel!