Simple Steps to Detoxification
IHH integrative nutritionist Sharon Meyer, CNC, reminds us there are many ways to support the liver, and the rest of the organs, as they work to cleanse and detoxify our bodies.
Your body is an amazing ecosystem that performs incredible feats every minute. There are ways to support your organs in their heroic endeavors without a lot of effort. Simple food choices and at-home practices can be the best place to start.
Cleansing Nutrition
Food can play a vital role in detoxification. First, eat as many vegetables as you can every day. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, bok choy and Brussels sprouts are especially good for supporting detoxification. Try to have at least one serving per day.
It’s also a good idea to hydrate throughout the day. Make sure you have plenty of fiber, along with some fermented foods, in your daily food intake to support your digestive system. These help facilitate bowel movements, which are a primary mode of removing toxins.
Additionally, try to begin the day with a cup of hot water with the juice of half a lemon, which is great for bile support. You can use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon in your water if you prefer. Vegetable broths and green juices are also good options, because they are full of phytonutrients (and chlorophyll, in the case of green juice), which support detoxification.
Cleansing Habits
Start your day with this Ayurvedic approach to oral detoxification. Swish a tablespoon of coconut oil around in your mouth for five to ten minutes. Push and pull the oil around your gums and between your teeth to flush out toxins. Be sure to spit the oil in the trash and not the sink, as it will clog your pipes. Remember that oil pulling is not a substitute for brushing and flossing.
You might also consider intermittent fasting as a regular or occasional way to support detoxification. When you take a break from eating, the gut has more energy to focus on healing and autophagy, the body’s way of clearing damaged cells in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells.
Cleansing Relaxation
A warm bath with Epsom salts is great for relaxation and detoxification. If you don’t have a bathtub, sprinkle Epsom salts on a warm washcloth and use it to exfoliate just before you shower. The magnesium in the salts helps with detoxification. You could also dry brush your skin just before bathing, which will wake up your lymphatic system, which plays a key role in detoxification.