Natural Body Detox

There are many ways to do a full body detox safely and effectively.

You might have overindulged in your favorite foods or drinks recently, or you just like to detox from time to time to keep your body healthy. In either case, we’ve prepared this quick guide explaining the benefits of a natural body detox and ways to do it efficiently.

What Are the Benefits of a Full-Body Detox?

Naturally cleansing the body is an excellent way to ensure your body functions at its optimal level. A  good time to try a cleanse is when you feel sluggish or out of sorts. After the holidays or a vacation is ideal. We tend to drink more alcohol, eat rich, less healthy foods, and a lot of it when we are enjoying ourselves and away from our normal routine.

In this day and age, we also regularly contact so many pathogens, chemicals, and pollutants that it can be a good idea to purify the body every so often. A full-body detox can get you feeling on point again, healthy, energetic, and ready to get back at it.

First and foremost, keeping the liver clean is of utmost importance. The liver has many different functions. When the liver is functioning correctly, it aids in maintaining a robust immune system, removing toxins from the body, and providing the body with energy.

Many claim to feel better overall after doing a natural body detox. Your general health will likely improve and you may even see benefits like weight loss, higher energy levels, clear skin, and better immunity.  It can also eliminate brain fog and, overall, help the body to repair itself.

What Removes Toxins from the Body?

In addition to the liver, the body is able to remove toxins through the skin, the respiratory system, the kidneys, the colon, and the immune system. This happens naturally as long as your body is functioning properly. So really, body detox is the way to bring our bodies back to the level of optimal performance, and then our organs can do what they are meant to do.

When we are sick, our bodies will naturally heat up and begin to sweat. When we sweat, the skin is pushing toxins out of the body. The same thing happens in our respiratory system. When we blow our nose or cough, we remove mucus that carries toxins. When we breathe out, we eliminate excess air.

Our kidneys filter the blood, removing excess liquid and excess waste out of the body through our urine. The kidneys filter about 200 quarts of blood a day. About 2 quarts are eliminated via urine and the other 198 return back into the bloodstream. In addition, making a bowel movement removes toxins via the colon.

Our immune system fights off infection by recognizing foreign substances and eliminating them.

The liver metabolizes or changes the makeup of toxins, preparing the toxins for removal.

How to Detox Your Body Naturally

Drinking lots of water, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy are the easiest ways to keep your body's natural detoxification processes up to par. Also, reducing or eliminating alcohol intake and tobacco use will always be beneficial. However, there are several different approaches to try if more help is needed.

The natural body detox that is most familiar is probably detoxing the intestine. Over time, fecal matter and other toxins, though not clinically proven, can build up in your intestine. Or, you might simply be feeling constipated and looking for relief. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of lukewarm water each day may be beneficial. Another option is to add a teaspoon or two of Himalayan salt to warm water and drink on an empty stomach in the morning and at night.

Keeping your nasal passage clear is another process of detoxification. Using a neti pot or a syringe and breathing salt water up through one nostril and out the other can help to flush irritants or mucus from the nose.

Using a sauna or steam room can help eliminate some toxins by heating the body and causing it to sweat. In addition, both are said to help reduce stress, aid in weight loss, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Intermittent fasting can also be a way of detoxing because it can aid in weight loss and help to reduce unnecessary caloric intake. During a period of fasting, the body will burn through the consumed calories and then start burning fat.

Detoxing Your Body Naturally with Food

The way you eat is crucial to maintaining optimal body function. Different foods aid in different ways. Eliminating processed foods, sugar, alcohol and empty carbs, like pasta, is important.  Focus on eating a plant-based diet, including raw foods, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, natural, unrefined nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains.

Incorporating these foods into your diet and eliminating the bad ones will help you to maintain your health. Rather than focusing on a temporary “diet,” try to slowly change the way you eat in general to create sustainable habits.

Certain herbs and natural supplements like milk thistle, dandelion root, bentonite clay, turmeric, and probiotics can aid in digestion, organ support, reducing inflammation, gut support, and toxin elimination.

The Best Foods for Natural Detoxification

1. Lemons are great to add to your water and help to support metabolism, the liver, and the immune system.
2. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower help support liver function.
3. Vegetables, in general, are rich in phytonutrients that are all around beneficial and help in preventing disease. Vegetables should make up most of your caloric intake. Beets, asparagus, jicama, collard greens, and spinach are all great choices.
4. Choose healthy fats like avocado, pecans, walnuts, sunflower, pumpkin, and chia seeds. These are high in fiber and aid in healthy digestion. When cooking, use unrefined, cold-pressed oils such as coconut oil, flax oil, or olive oil.
5. Coconut water, in addition to water, is a great way to stay hydrated.
6. Raw juice is filled with essential nutrients, supports the immune system, and aids in weight loss. Whole fruits are excellent as well but are high in fiber. Combined with a high fiber diet, juice may be a better option to give your digestive system a break.
7. Green CBD Tea supports metabolism and helps to give you a little boost when you’re feeling tired.
8. Wild-caught salmon reduces inflammation, provides immune support, and is rich in antioxidants.
9. Wild game and organic, free-range, pastured chicken are low in fat and good protein sources.
10. Legumes are a good source of fiber and aid in weight loss.
11. Honey is an excellent natural sugar substitute. It aids in digestion, has antibacterial properties, and is full of antioxidants.
12. Whole grains like barley are a good substitute for carbs. Barley is high in fiber and can also help reduce cholesterol.