A guide to removing toxins in the body that are accululated by stress, the environment, and the poor lifestyle and diet choices many people make. Includes recipes and times of the year for regular detoxification.
With the high-stress lifestyles that most people live, it’s no wonder that stress-related ailments are at an all-time high. Add to that the food that we eat from fast food restaurants because there just isn’t enough time to cook at home anymore, and it’s easy to see how the body can become filled with toxins and chemicals that keeps you from living at your full potential.
Every few months, it seems like there’s a new fad diet on the horizon… either it’s low-carb, or no-carb, or high-carb-low-calories, or something completely off the wall like an all-zucchini diet.
People try new diets without knowing all of the facts or consulting their doctor, and though they may lose weight at first often end up gaining it all back and more… as well as causing additional stress to the body that causes it to store more of the nasty toxins that it picks up every day.
The Body’s a Dangerous Place
Of course, not all of the toxins that are found in the body come from what you eat or even the air you breathe. The body produces plenty of it’s own… either as a byproduct of natural processes, or as a result of certain triggers, such as stress. (See, stress is bad for you in more ways than one.) As time goes by, more and more of these poisons and toxins are stored in the fat and soft tissues of the body, and you start to notice that you either feel tired all of the time, or that you’re sick more often than you used to be, or even that you’re feeling depressed and don’t know why.
Having a buildup of toxins in the body can cause all of those symptoms, even depression, without you even knowing it.
Other health problems can come along for the ride, and can in the end shave years off of your life. It seems like every time you turn around there’s a new warning about the dangers of fat, smoking, and all sorts of other things that you try to avoid, but how can you fight off problems that are produced by your own body? The answer is easier than you might think… just get rid of the poisons.
Detoxifying Your System
Nature is full of foods that contain chemicals which either remove toxins from your system or get your body to do it by itself. Eating the right foods at the right times can help to rid your body of excess sugars, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, chemicals, and more. The trick is simply knowing which foods contain the right chemicals, and knowing when and how to use them to flush all of the nasty things out of your system.
Of course, you should consult a doctor or a dietician before making any drastic changes to your diet… go in for a checkup and consultation, give them a general idea of what you’re wanting to do and how you’re wanting to do it, and ask them for their advice. They’ll be able to give you the best advice in regards to what you should eat and when, and will be able to help guide you to a healthier you in no time.
You Are What You Eat
When you’ve decided to detoxify your body, you’ll probably need to start by making a few changes in your diet. Cut out any excess fats and sugars, especially refined sugars… start cooking at home as much as you can, and use fresh ingredients as opposed to canned or frozen. Cut back on carbonated and sweetened beverages, and try to drink no more than half a cup of anything with your meal… drinking too much can dilute digestive juices, and can cause your body to not get all of the nutrients out of the food you eat as it should. Try to eat in a relaxed environment with your family, and keep upsetting or controversial conversation away from the dinner table. Not only will this help you to increase your overall health and get the most out of the things that you eat, but it can also help to build stronger family bonds.
Water, Water Everywhere
Water, particularly filtered water, is extremely useful in ridding the body of excess toxins. Drinking six to eight glasses of water in a day can help to flush both the kidneys and the cells of the body, will reduce cellular damage due to dehydration, and helps to eliminate excess waste that’s in the bloodstream. When detoxifying the body, it’s useful to drink this much water for three or four days in a row while cutting back on other foods… a water fast, if you will. Be careful in heeding the old adage that eight glasses of water a day is needed for good health, though… recent studies show that not only is it not necessary, but over time it can lead to oversaturation of the cells of the body, and can cause health problems of its own. Just like everything else, it’s best to show a little moderation in drinking water. If you feel a little thirsty, then go ahead and have a nice glass, but if you don’t feel like having anything to drink don’t force yourself.
The “Detox Diet”
There are a variety of ways to detoxify the body, many of which involve using a specific diet for a few days and then just cutting back on bad foods and stimuli to keep the same toxins from building up again. For general detoxification throughout the year, try the following routine.
In the early Spring of the year (between March 10th and April 1st), mix 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon or lime juice, 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup, 1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 8 ounces of spring water in a glass. Drink about 8 glasses throughout the day, eating or drinking nothing else except for water or herbal, peppermint, or chamomile tea. Rinse your mouth out with water after drinking the mixture, and eat fresh leafy green and yellow vegetables for dinner. Perform this for 3-5 days in a row.
In the Fall of the year (between September 11th and October 2nd), try a different mixture. Boil 3 cups of spring water, add 1 tablespoon of chopped ginger root, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of miso paste, turn off the burner, and add 2 stalks of chopped green onion, a pinch of cilantro and a pinch of cayenne pepper, 2 teaspoons of olive oil and the juice of ½ of a lemon. Cover the pot and allow it to steep for 10 minutes, then enjoy it as a cleansing soup. Eat this for dinner for 3-5 days, drinking at least 8 glasses of water with fresh lemon juice squeezed in during the day.
Don’t Re-Tox After Your Detox
Of course, the most important thing is to make sure that you don’t load up on fats and refined sugars after your detoxification. Homemade foods, even hamburgers and sweets, are better for you than fast foods, and if eaten in moderation will keep you relatively poison-free throughout the year. Increase your portions of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and try not to fall prey to fad diets that are a stress to both the body and the pocketbook.