January 1st, 2018
January is the time of year when we start turning our focus to all things health related! After indulging your way through the holidays, a detox can be an excellent way to reset your body and renew your health! Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain energy, reduce inflammation or get clearer skin, a detox can be the jumpstart you need to meet your goals. There are simple ways to naturally detox and many reasons why your body actually loves it, especially after the holidays. It’s time to put away the holiday treats, cork the wine, and fill your grocery cart with veggies for a post-holiday cleanse!
Here are the top 3 reasons a detox may be right for you!
Detoxing purges your body of built up toxins.
Just like your car runs better after a tune-up, your body also functions better when you have eliminated built-up, toxic waste. Chemicals, pesticides, and environmental toxins, that we are exposed to daily, get stored in our tissues which slows down and weakens normal bodily functions which, over time, sets the stage for disease. A good detox can prevent disease and help your body function optimally.
Beneficial Side Effects
While an effective detox flushes your system of toxins and can reset your body,many people also experience:
- Weight loss
- More energy
- Clearer skin
- Improved digestion
- Better sleep
- Mental clarity
- Less aches and pains
Simply put, you just feel better!
Serotonin and dopamine are the “feel good” neurotransmitters our body naturally produces. 90% of serotonin and half our dopamine are produced in our gut, so when we remove the foods that are causing inflammation and irritation, we will naturally produce more of these hormones. Realize that when we are making poor food choices, we are also limiting how well we can feel emotionally. A good detox will make you feel lighter, energized, and an overall sense of well-being.
Revamp your Grocery List!
There are many foods you can include in your daily diet that are naturally detoxifying and will support your body’s natural cleansing systems. Below are 10 detoxifying foods that you can find in the produce section of your grocery store and incorporate into your diet to jumpstart your cleanse.
Lemons By releasing enzymes and vitamin C, lemons boost digestion and make toxins easier to be eliminated.
Green veggies Chlorophyll in green veggies helps to dispose of toxins, increases oxygen, and purifies the blood. Boost things like spinach, kale, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, etc.
Green Tea contains high amounts of antioxidants, trace minerals and nutrients to help rejuvenate, rehydrate, and replenish your body.
Garlic The major detoxifying compound in garlic is allicin, which is a natural anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and is high in antioxidants.
Pomegranates have more antioxidants than green tea and helps the liver eliminate toxins, protect against carcinogens and cleanse the body.
Cruciferous Veggies Broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, arugula, and bok choy are some of the most nutrient dense veggies. They are high in fiber which promotes a healthy digestive system, they are powerful cancer fighting agents, and even help to balance hormones by metabolizing estrogen.
Beets contain antioxidants called betaine which help the liver eliminate toxins. Beets also contain pectin, a fiber that helps clear toxins that have been removed from the liver so they do not get reabsorbed into the body.
Cilantro is an amazing detoxifier and more specifically helps to eliminate toxic metals from your system. It’s also known for being a natural blood pressure reducer and protects against osteoporosis. Cilantro is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K, calcium, potassium and folate.
Apples More specifically green apples, are high in nutrients that stimulate the production of bile. Bile is used by the liver to release toxins.
Sauerkraut Naturally fermented sauerkraut is rich in beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that help to create a healthy gut microbiome. Probiotics create a strong immune system, regulate digestion, decrease stress, anxiety and depression and bind to and eliminate toxins.
Detoxing doesn’t have to mean juicing for every meal or only drinking water with lemon + cayenne … it is actually a process that can begin in the simplest of ways! Perhaps you start by drinking a cup of green tea, adding lemon to your water, snacking on a green apple, or incorporating more green veggies at dinner. Taking these easy, first steps and introducing a few of these foods into your diet can jumpstart your cleansing work without a huge to-do! Stay tuned every monday during the month of January for more detoxing tips to get you on track with your 2018 health goals!
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Written by Bailey Horner, Certified Nutritional Therapist
Instagram: @returningtotheroot
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