How to Naturally Detox Your Mind and Body

Our world is highly toxic – our air is filled with pollution, water has heavy metals, our food is sprayed with chemicals or filled with sugar, salt, and preservatives, and even stress has a poisonous effect on our bodies! With so much exposure to toxicity in our daily lives, it’s important to take time and naturally detox our bodies and minds with a safe, gentle cleanse.

When I talk about cleansing the body and mind, I’m not referring to a special diet, taking pills, or trying any powders. I’m simply referring to simple, natural steps you can take to rejuvenate and revitalize so you can feel healthier, more vibrant, and more energetic!

Why Is A Detox Important?

Your body naturally has a natural “filtration system” in that your lymphatic system moves lymph through your body, cleansing toxins through your bloodstream and your liver filters everything that comes from your digestive system. When there are too many impurities in your blood, your liver may have difficulty filtering them, lymph doesn’t move through your body as effectively, and your body and mind end up feeling sluggish.

Symptoms of excess toxicity include:

• Fatigue
• Digestive problems and bloating
• Headaches
• Dry skin and rashes
• Weak immune health (frequent colds and “bugs”)
• Chronic inflammation
• Brain fog, poor memory

Think of a detox like cleaning a filter that’s dirty. By clearing out the “gunk” the filter works more effectively, allowing water or air to pass through with ease. A popular women’s health blog, Rooted Mama Health says cleansing your body and mind, your body can operate more efficiently!

Eating Clean to Cleanse Your Body

While you don’t need a special diet, you do want to be mindful of what you eat, drink, and consume. For seven days, eliminate these highly toxic things from your diet:

• Alcohol
• Processed sugar – candy, cookies, baked goods, soda
• “Diet” foods – Diet sodas and anything with sugar substitutes
• Enriched wheat products – white bread, white rice, flour tortillas
• Vegetable and canola oils
• Processed and high-sodium foods – Canned soups, lunch meat, boxed pasta dinners, chips

All of the foods listed above are difficult for our bodies to process and digest, causing inflammation in the body and a build up of toxicity. Try eliminating these foods for a week and see how you’re feeling!

Don’t worry about going hungry, though. Just focus on eating whole foods, such as:

• Fresh fruits
• Fresh vegetables
• Lots of leafy greens
• Healthy fats like olive oil and avocado
• Whole grains – brown rice, quinoa, oats
• Fresh meats and protein like chicken, beef, fish, eggs, and beans
• Nuts, like almonds, cashews, and walnuts

Flushing Impurities from Your Body

One of the best ways to cleanse your body is to drink plenty of water because it helps you absorb nutrients and release waste more efficiently. If you’re concerned about impurities in your tap water, consider getting a filter for your faucet or a filter pitcher.

Not sure how much water you get? A general guideline is one-half your body weight in ounces. For example, a 130-lb person would drink 65 ounces a day while a 200-lb would drink 100 ounces. Again, that’s just a recommendation. Listen to your body and focus on just staying well hydrated.

For an extra boost to your detox, squeeze fresh lemon juice into your water. Lemon has natural detoxifying properties and adds vitamin C and antioxidants which can improve your immune health. If you prefer a warm drink, enjoy a cup of antioxidant-rich green tea!

Use Yoga to Cleanse Your Body and Mind

Yoga is especially beneficial because it gently moves your body while stimulating your circulatory, digestive, and lymphatic systems!  This means lymph will move through your body more effectively, removing impurities, while your liver will be cleansed in order to filter toxins.

Even better, yoga is excellent for cleansing the mind, helping you reduce stress, ease tension, and improve your sleep, all of which support an effective detox! Join us for a few yoga classes and you’ll experience the difference!

Use Natural Products and Avoid Chemicals

As you’re reducing your exposure to chemicals and toxins, remember to think about the outside of your body. This means looking into more natural soaps, lotions, and cosmetics that are free of sulphates, parabens, and other dangerous chemicals, and using natural cleaners around your home. For example, use vinegar as a household surface cleaner instead of the store bought stuff!

Cleansing your body of toxins is an excellent way to experience more energy and enjoy better health Try these tips and see how you feel, and if you do feel healthier, keep going with it! Eating clean, whole foods, drinking lots of water, and enjoying yoga can be an all-the-time way to feel your best!

Join Us at The Yoga Connection in Smithfield!

Get the most out of your cleanse by joining us for yoga classes in Smithfield! We offer all types of classes, from gentle yoga and basics to classes for all levels Check out our class calendar or call us at  919-971-1431 to learn more.