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.