When it comes to our health, there is so much misinformation out there that it can be hard to find out the truth!
The wide variety of detox tips is a classic example. It seems nearly every week there is another trashy mag spruiking the latest detox diet, and which celebrity swears by it. Usually the “detox” consists of an entire week living off fruit juice – am I the only one that thinks they are a load of guff?!
If you’ve ever tried it, I’ll bet that not only were you left feeling lethargic, but any kilograms you lost soon returned – and brought along their friends!
Real Detox Tips
The truth is, many of these practices are extreme at best, and incredibly dangerous at their worst.
The good news is, the human body is designed to detox naturally and is very capable of defending itself against most environmental insults. This means you don’t need any of those crazy tonics or punishing celery smoothie diets. There are plenty of gentler ways to assist your body’s natural detoxifying process. Here are just a few …
Say Hello To Clay
No, this is not a joke. Clay has been used to treat a wide range of illnesses for centuries. We already use it to draw out oils and impurities in the skin as a face mask, but did you know that consuming clay has the same effect?!
Clay has been credited to assist with constipation, diarrhoea, anaemia, bacterial infections, leaky gut, skin ailments, heavy metal poisoning, exposure to pesticides, arthritis and stress relief. This isn’t some new-age mumbo jumbo either, this holistic practice has been well documented throughout history. The scientific process is lengthy to explain, but from what I understand, the minerals and ions in the clay are electrically charged and attach themselves to the toxins in your body, and once electrically satisfied, our bodies excrete both the toxins and the clay in the usual manner!
Add Natural Foods to your Diet
Adding foods that naturally cleanse your body is also extremely beneficial.
However, they should not be consumed as a standalone, but as an addition to a whole, real foods diet. This can include fruits that are high in liquid content and citrus value as they are easy to digest, wash out the toxins, and jumpstart the digestive tract.
Other consumables that boost your digestive tract and include many vitamins are raw vegetables like onions, carrots, kale, turmeric, oregano, broccoli, cabbage, beetroot and cauliflower. The best detoxing food by far is garlic; it stimulates the liver to produce cleansing enzymes that filter toxic residues from the digestive system. (Bit of trivia for you: I am married to a man of Italian/Maltese descent and he DOESN’T. LIKE. GARLIC. I know! What’s that about?!).
Get Sweaty
Get sweaty the only way you know how (no, not that way!) – by exercising. Not only will it release endorphins and increase your serotonin levels to make you feel happier, it’s an easy way to assist your body in its natural detoxing process. I have never been a fan of exercising, but even I have noticed that going for a walk stimulates the old digestive system!
Have you considered hot yoga before? Completed in 32 degree heat, a weekly bikram yoga class is like being in your own sweat lodge, wherein you sweat the toxins out of your body and relax your mind, aiding the cleansing process.
Brushing your Skin
Before you grab your broom out of the closet and start sweeping your legs, brushing your skin simply refers to exfoliating. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and is responsible for10 to 15% of total body elimination; it’s only natural that it benefits from a little extra TLC! By scrubbing your skin with an exfoliator brush, you can improve the appearance of your skin by removing dead skin cells and helping to regenerate new ones. It will also stimulate the circulation of your blood and lymphatic system.
So there you have it. Skip the extreme fad detox diets, and instead embrace natural methods to help your body do what it has been designed to do.
I am with you, just ditch the diets and add fresh foods and lots of water to your diet and it will all be good! Great sponsored post!
Thanks Eleise! I’m not so good with the exercise part though 😉
I do pretty much most of this (well, when it comes to exercise I try, fail and try again at a later date).
I have just started this brushing of skin technique. I don’t mind it. It new, its different, it may well help me look better. I’ll keep doing it 🙂
Yeah I’m pretty bad about exercise to be brutally honest!
dry brushing is one thing i have yet to try but want to – must get on that as i think it will help my kids as well from what i hear – thanks xx
Great post, Janet! I definitely agree that there are so many conflicting ideas out there about what it healthy that it can make us even more confused than we were to begin with. I love learning about natural medicine, but I’d never heard about consuming clay. That’s definitely something I’m going to look into now, so thank you 🙂 We love garlic over here – it’s our one-stop-shop for so many ailments … such a pity that it makes us stinky when we sweat though!
It kinda makes sense when you think about it. Hospitals get patients to drink charcoal after overdosing, to absorb the poisons, which is kind of similar …
I agree with water, getting sweaty and healthy foods! I think it’s about stripping back to basics and just doing everything in moderation. Ouch dry brushing? I suppose I shouldn’t knock it til I’ve tried it! xx
Great tips! I definitely need a natural detox given my last couple of weeks of over indulgence.
Great info! All about natural and lasting remedies rather than the quick fix stuff 🙂
My kids will be detoxing in their sleep after I accidentally overdid the garlic in tonight’s pasta 😉
Hot Yoga you say? 32 degrees you say, no need to lock yourself in a room to get that temp here just head anywhere outside and bam, at least 32 degrees without a doubt.
Seriously there were some great tips in here. Thanks for sharing
Leaving some fairy wishes and butterfly kisses from #teamIBOT
I’ve started drinking more water this week and I have noticed already that my body is feeling better for it. Although I am not such a big fan of the onslaught of pimples lol.
The pimples will pass as the toxins get flushed out but I do know what you mean!
Great post Janet! Like you, I never believed in the miracle detox therapy.
Clay! That’s interesting…
I love garlic and have heard about the benefits of it. Like your hubby, mine doesn’t like garlic too and he has Italian background!
Hubster read this post and he surprised me by saying, that actually, he LOVES garlic – he just don’t like the after effects!!! (Taste, smell etc).
Have you ever heard about “pulling” where you swish coconut oil around in your mouth for twenty minutes (no swallowing) and it’s supposed to draw all the toxins out. I tried it ONCE and nearly vomited, but some people swear by it.
Seriously?! I think I’d get the urge to chuck too!
How does one actually ingest clay? I’m assuming I just go to a pottery class and start eating the materials? 😉
See our toddlers had it right all along!!!