When we think of detoxing, strict and restrictive protocols might come to mind. Where the only thing on the menu is green juices and copious amounts of lemon water. There is certainly room for specialised detox programs under the guidance of a qualified health practitioner in specific situations. But let’s also remember that our body is literally a detoxing machine by design.
Our body is in the process of detoxing all day, everyday.
If you’re not expelling or detoxifying properly, you may suffer a whole array of symptoms, such as:
- Brain fog
- fatigue and low energy
- allergies
- poor digestion
- constipation
- bad breath
- skin problems like rashes and acne
- headaches
- gas and bloating
……just to name a few!
A healthy diet and lifestyle, that includes an array of nutrients, regular movement, adequate sleep, mental and emotional balance is foundational to optimal physical health. This provides our body a safe space to detox as it naturally does. However, there are also some other habits and tools that you can incorporate into your routine to provide clearer pathways for your body to release waste. Even if it’s just on a weekly basis, they can make a huge difference in helping you feel more vibrant and energetic!
1. Dry body brushing
Dry brushing is something that may feel weird to begin but really has amazing benefits. It is a process of simply using a dry body brush to brush your skin in a specific manner to increase circulation and promote drainage and detoxing.
A great time to do a dry brush is right before getting into the shower. It helps to open up pores and to get rid of dead skin allowing toxins free flow and release through the skin with the aid of the warm water.
It is also stimulating your circulation and moving your lymphatic system are essential components of the detoxification pathways. Not to mention boosting your immune system and giving you a health glow. Be sure to brush toward your heart eg. brushing up the legs and up the arms.
2. Infrared Sauna
Infrared saunas are not the same as you typical saunas. They don’t heat the air around you, instead they use infrared lamps to warm your body directly. The infrared lights penetrate deep into your joints and muscles to increase circulation and oxygen flow. An infrared sauna produces these results at lower temperatures than does a regular sauna, which makes it accessible to people who can’t tolerate the heat of a conventional sauna.
3. Epsom salts
Warm to hot baths are already great at opening up your pores and helping you sweat toxins out.
But the real magic happens when you add Epsom salts. The two main ingredients of Epsom salt are magnesium and sulfate. It is believed the combination of both ingredients stimulates detoxification pathways. Magnesium is a natural substance that aids a variety of bodily functions, including the removal of toxins. Sulfate can help flush out toxins and heavy metals. The process is called reverse osmosis, and it literally pulls toxins out of your body.
It is recommended to add at least two cups of Epsom salt to bathwater and soak for 40 minutes total. The first 20 minutes is said give your body time to remove toxins from your system while the last 20 minutes will allow you to absorb the minerals in the water.
It is important to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and support the detoxification process and to focus on rest and relaxation after your bath as they can be quite powerful. Bathing at night is a great way to prepare for sleep.
4. Tongue scraping
This is one of the easiest practices to include in your daily routine to help remove toxins from the body. You know when you wake up in the morning and your tongue is coated in gunk? That’s waste that your body has started to expel in your sleep and it has collected on your tongue. Hello morning breath!
Tongue scraping removes this gunk, which in turn alleviates bad breath clearing out bacteria from the oral cavity. Using a metal tongue scraper and stroking the tongue clean [seven to 14 times], especially in the morning is a great way to assist your daily toxin removal.
5. Deep breathing
That’s right, every time you are inhale and exhale you are in a process of detoxification. Your lungs fill with oxygen, which is then transported by your blood to your detoxing organs such as the lymphatic system, kidneys, colon, and even the uterus for women.
And then with every exhale, we are eliminating part of the body’s waste in the form of carbon dioxide. So by breathing in deeply we take in more oxygen that cleanses the body, and by exhaling deeply we eliminate more waste from the body.
Practicing deep rhythmic breathing helps the diaphragm to expand. It relaxes the body, and massages your lymphatic system which helps in the release and flow of toxins. The fluids in your lymphatic system love movement. And if we are not breathing deeply or moving regularly the lymphatic system becomes stagnant which then makes it very difficult to eliminate waste. You may start to feel some of the symptoms that we listed above as a result of a poorly functioning lymphatic system.
Considering we have access to our breath in every moment, it is one of the easiest, quickest and cost effective way to assist our body in releasing what is being stored in our body.Inhale deeply until you feel your belly full of air, hold your breath for 2-3 seconds and exhale slowly and deeply until all air is expelled.
By just taking a few minutes a day to focus on your inhalation and exhalation, you are doing something really amazing for your body.
For any advice or guidance on how to support your body through detoxing, book in for a personalised consult with our Naturopath Candace Borg to help you on your way to better health and happiness .
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be medical advice or to be a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. If you have any medical concerns, please consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment.