A big part of healthy living is what you put into your body -- and another important aspect is what you take out of it. While your body has systems in place to remove toxins, it’s a good idea to help it whenever possible, so you function at your best.
When you have too many toxins bogging you down, you’ll feel sluggish and off. Here are a few simple things you can do each day that don’t require restrictive juice cleanses or coffee enemas.
Clean out your bowels
Eat right to nourish the good bacteria in your gut, and you should have things moving along quite regularly. But if your bowels are having trouble expelling waste, constipation can cause more than just a backup in the intestines. Get those toxins out by making sure to eat enough fiber-rich foods, think veggies, veggies and more veggies.
Making sure you are hydrated helps with this a ton, too. Aim to drink AT LEAST half of your body weight in ounces each and every day.
Get sweaty
It might feel uncomfortable to drip with sweat, but this is a good thing for your body. When you sweat, your glands are pushing out all the toxins. Go for a run, bike ride, or get that heart pumping in whatever way you enjoy.
Exercise is good for the mind and body and produces the sweat needed to rid your skin from impurities. A more relaxing way to do it is to take time in the sauna or steam, which will dilate your blood vessels and give you the same effect while you sit there and unwind.
Slather on masks
Masks that are made from mud, clay, or activated charcoal are simple and effective ways to extract toxins, heavy metals, and chemicals out of the fatty tissues underneath your skin. If you can’t get to a spa for a treatment, consider doing your own in the privacy of your own home. Health food stores are treasure troves for these ingredients, and they’ll cost much less than a day at your favorite 5-star spa.
Or give this simple and effective DIY clay mask recipe a try:
1 teaspoon bentonite clay
1 teaspoon raw honey
1 teaspoon warm water
Mix clay and honey in a glass or ceramic bowl, using a wood spoon or chopsticks. It will be a thick paste.
Add enough warm water to transform the mixture into a thin paste.
Immediately apply to face and neck - avoid your eyes.
Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Use a dark washcloth soaked in hot water to remove mask. The hot water helps to steam the mask so you don't have to scrub.
Focus on your lymphatic system
One of the methods your body has in place for removing waste is the lymphatic system. Often though, particularly as we age, it can get slowed down. Simple inversion practices can help with this. It is not necessary to use an inversion table or hang upside down, you can lie on the floor, placing your hips up to the wall and extending your legs vertically.
You can also jump on a rebounder or trampoline each day to help with moving the lymphatic system along.
Brush toxins away
Dry brushing removes dead skin cells while boosting that lymphatic flow. You don’t need anything special either, just a soft brush or even a dry washcloth. Stroke the skin from the feet up all in a circular motion moving toward your heart. Do both legs, then your abdomen, then each arm. In just 5 minutes a day, you can improve your detoxification efforts.
Start with one of these daily detox habits and then add them all in if you can. Which one are you excited to try first?