Supportive Detoxing Additions

So you’re planning a Detox are you? Having the right type of Detox is just as important as being totally prepared. There are many different types of Detoxes to choose from, here are just a few….

Fasts ~nothing in (food or drink)

Juice / Smoothie Fasts ~ only fresh squeezed juice or smoothies allowed

Herbal Detoxes ~Using Herbs & Spices to support the bodies organs in releasing toxins

Food Detoxes ~ Using specific foods to cleanse your organs (in a specific order as well)

There are so many reasons to do a Detox! Toxins are all around us:

Environmental ~ pollution, pesticides, industrial….

HouseHold ~ furniture, carpets, paint, cleaners….

Food ~ pesticides, food additives, colouring….

Lifestyle ~ smoking, drugs, medications, nutritional deficiencies….

Your body works 24/7 for you, trying to keep you the healthiest you can be, it deserves this wonderful break! Going thru with a Detox is a test not only of your eating (physical), but a deep test of your mind (mental). This Mind ‘thing’ is what I love more than the ‘eating’ thing. The first time I completed an 8 day Master Cleanse it felt so amazing to have the strength of mind over my cravings & the old eating thought patterns. You will learn about will~power, eating habits & how unconscious so much of it was, not to mention how unhealthy & damaging to your body & mind it was too! You may even have an ‘ah~ha’ moment.

Being prepared for Detoxing Symptoms is very important if you are to finish. If you don’t know what’s coming, you’ll never be ready~ & that can lead to failure! Headaches, Muscle Pains, grumpiness, Irritability, Angry, Hunger, Tiredness, being Irrational, these are just the beginning. Many people experience flu~like symptoms. These are all normal! It’s best to anticipate that these symptoms are headed your way. Staying clear of people will help, as will giving them a heads~up that you may not be yourself! These horrible symptoms are your body’s way of trying to trick you into giving into your old bad ways. Don’t let in, they should only last a few days. (everyone has detox or withdrawal symptoms; from smokers who are quitting to ones who are cutting out sugar~ it’s just the way our body reacts)

Some things that are just as important in Detoxing are the extra supportive things that you can & should do. Here I will outline as many as possible.

Dry Brushing ~ this is the act of using a special, but not hard to find, natural dry bristled brush to ‘brush’ your skin. It’s very effective in ridding dry skin, improving circulation, reducing cellulite & giving an overall glow to your body. Dry Brushing is something that I try to do on a daily basis, but it’s even more important during a detox. You want your circulation to be stimulated so that toxins can flow more freely out of your bod, & getting rid of dry skin helps you sweat better which is another way that toxins are released. Reducing cellulite is just something most people want help with anyways, so it’s a win~win! To dry brush properly it’s best to go from the Feet up & always towards your heart, small circular strokes work well. (always shower afterwards to rinse off the dead skin)!

Filtered & Alkaline Water ~ Upping your intake of fresh Filtered & Alkaline water is a no brainer, but during a detox it’s vital. Most people are dehydrated all the time without even knowing it but during a detox Dehydration equals danger! Mild dehydration stresses our hearts & prevents our Kidneys from doing it’s job of purifying our blood. If there isn’t enough liquid in your bod then your organs are going to hold onto it as best they can. Water floods our organs stimulating them to function, & boosts metabolism & that helps detoxing. If there isn’t enough water none of those harmful toxins are going anywhere, & toxins that are reabsorbed into your bod are even more harmful. If you really can’t down another cup of plain water try adding the lovely & alkaline lemon, or spice it up with cucumber or watermelon, also making it into a light herbal tea should be fine. Coconut Water is amazing during or after a detox aswell (I prefer Zico, find it’s benefits here)

~Another supportive Water addition is taking a warm bath with either Epsom Salts or Sea Salt. Adding a bit of Apple Cider Vinegar is an added bonus. The Salts draw toxins out of your skin while you relax. Taking a relaxing Salt Bath is always best to do 20-40 minutes before you go to bed. In the morning, a stimulating addition to your shower would be to alternate between warm/hot water (2 minutes) & cold (as cold as you can handle) for 45 seconds. This will help stimulate your circulation & in turn help remove toxins!

Coffee Enema’s ~ Yes I’m going there. Coffee Enemas. People dread talking about them, but they are quite popular & have been around for centuries for a good reason. Toxic Bulid up in your colon is a big BIG no~no for Optimal Health, & when you’re Detoxing, that’s what your goal is right? Optimal Health. Without getting you all nervous or embarrased I’m going to direct you to an amazing blog here, Jess does a wonderful job of showing you step by step the safe way of preforming a Coffee Enema. (G Rated). Enema’s can really cut down & reduce and sometimes eliminate detoxing symptoms too, so get on board!

Neti~Pots ~ These tiny nasal cleaners have been around for centuries. Easy to use, they are extremely effective in clearing out mucous & dust from your nose. It can take a bit of practice before you really get the hang of it, so try it in the bath the first few times ~ but don’t get discouraged because it really is a great addition to your Detox routine.

InfaRed Sauna ~ I love these! They heat up your body (instead of heating the air around you) & really encourage sweating & the removal of toxins (in your muscles & tissues especially). InfaRed’s are wonderful for not just detoxing, but arthritis too. It works at a cellular level & is much different then the dry or wet sauna’s out there. Infa Red’s can Increase Energy, Improve Circulation, Boost Cardiovascular conditioning, Imporove Skins tone, Boost Immunity, & can help Cellulite break up quicker. Try to find one, you won’t regret it!

Massage ~ I’m pretty sure I love these just as much as the InfaRed Sauna’s, they are both soooo Relaxing (although sauna visits are less expensive). Massage will help get the fluids & toxins flowing in your body, & therefore make it easier to remove from your body. Let them know that you are Detoxing & they should work more on specific areas like your Lymph nodes & such. Why not try a massage with the addition of a clay or mud wrap?

Exercise, Stretching & Sweating ~ These are very important. Stretching, Sweating, & Getting your bod moving gets everything moving! Usually when you sweat while working our you’re breathing harder & this will help clean out your lungs (so try not to work out in A/C or out in traffic) If you already exercise then you can take it down a notch so as to not strain it too much, & if you’re not an exerciser then start slowly (Yoga, Pilates). Your body is doing some heavy stuff right now with the Detoxing process, & overdoing it with exercise will set you back.

Meditation ~ Sometimes you just need a few quiet minutes. During a detox those minutes can be very helpful in finding the strength to keep going, remembering your purpose, clarifying what you want, or simply just giving you a few minutes of peace. If you need some guidance, try Chopra Guided Meditation, or some pre~made meditations online.

Salt Flush ~ An important step in the Master Cleanse, the ‘dreaded’ Salt Flush is used to scrub & clean out the colon. A tall glass of luke warm water with some proper sea salt, it comes out just as it goes in.  Extremely hard to stomach, if you can do it, all the more power to you! I suggest not leaving the house for up to 90 minutes afterwards as you really don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere needing a washroom.

Detoxing Wraps ~ So you’ve cleaned up your bod inside & out, you’re feeling great, but you now have some flabby skin ‘hanging’ around…. Why not try a Botanical based, all Natural wrap to help Tone, Tighten & Detox your skin even further. These wraps work deep down in your skin for 72 hours so you don’t need them all to often. A box of 4 lasts a while & you can see results in as little as 45 minutes.

Adding in as many of the above to your detox will help you get an all~around Body Detox Experience. Remember that detoxing symptoms occur to everyone, but if you are concerned, please contact your health advisor.

Here’s to you being You.Naturally.