How To Detox Your Body For Better Health - September 18, 2008
A few years ago I felt very low on energy feeling very tired and lethargic all the time. I'd seen my doctor several times, but each time was told that there was nothing medically wrong with me.
A friend of mine, who also happened to be a physiotherapist, recommended I was in need of a natural detox, and put some effort into learning how to detox your body and eliminate the build up of toxins in my body. I didn't know the first thing about detoxing, so I decided to learn all about it, and why so many alternative and complementary health practitioners recommend doing a detox and in particular the 7 day detox diet so avidly.
Another thing she suggested to me was to try a foot detox. I have a foot spa two or three times a week now, if I have the time, but as a suitable alternative, the detox foot patches can work just as well - but with the patches you don't get a relaxing foot massage at the same time
There are some very simple things you can do to help detox your body.
Make sure you drink plenty of water
Making sure you take in plenty of fluids is very important while you are following a detox diet because the water will help your body excrete toxins from your system. It also helps to prevent constipation, reduce bloating, and helps reduce the signs of aging by plumping up your skin. You should aim for about 2 to 3 liters a day, although you will need more in hot weather or on days when you are exercising.
A general pointer is to aim to drink an extra half liter of water for every hour you exercise. The healthiest type of water is filtered tap water. Ideally drink water that is at room temperature. If the thought of drinking that much water is overbearing, try herbal teas as well - loose leaf tea is the better option if it's available. Green tea, horsetail, camomile and roibosch (or redbush) in particular are great choices as their essential oils assist in the detox process. Roibosch and green tea is also beneficial as it is very high in OPC antioxidants.
How To Fit It All In
It's actually quite easy to drink that much water when you know how. Have a glass of water with a little freshly squeezed lemon juice or root ginger when you rise - it's the perfect way to start up your digestive system and bowel - then aim to drink little and often throughout the day.
Each time you eat something have a glass then, if you make tea of coffee during the day drink water as well, another glass when you get home from work and a final glass before you retire to bed for the night. Don't be afraid to "spice up" the water with a little lemon juice.
The Fresher The Food The More Power It Adds To Your Health
You should be looking to buy your food in as fresh a condition as possible and juice or blend them for maximum benefit or just eat them raw, in salads or as snacks or appetizers. Raw fruits and veg are still full of all their natural enzymes, vitamins and minerals. If the food stays in the fridge or on the shelf for long periods, or when it is cooked or preserved, it loses a lot of its nutritional value.
Try to buy your fruits and veg locally, preferably from farm shops and local markets. Food from other countries is generally harvested before it is ripe (so it will be short of it's full vitamin and mineral supply) and a lot of nutrition is lost during the journey to the stores.
Is Organic Better
Buying organic produce where possible is better for your health but not totally necessary, especially as the cost can be very high, but if you can manage one or two organic foods that would be great.
If you can't buy many organic foods, don't worry. It's more important that you eat plentiful amounts of fresh foods - even if they are non-organic - instead of eating too few of them. However, there are some good reasons for concentrating on organic food on a healthy detox diet.
Organic foods are free from artificial pesticides and sprays, and therefore they are much healthier being free from toxins and man made chemicals. It's also a very controversial subject as there is evidence that the build up of pesticide residues may be related to a lot of the serious health issues we face today.
There is a lot less processing of organic produce on its journey to your kitchen. The end result being that organic foods are free from artificial additives and hydrogenated fats. And you may notice that organic foods also taste better and have much deeper flavors.
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About Me
Looking after your health is one of the most important things you can (and should) do. But with so much information it's hard to know where to start or who to listen to. Hopefully by sharing my experiences and knowledge, I'll make the path to improving and protecting your health a lot easier to follow.
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