The word detox might inspire images of someone starving on just lemon water and cayenne, or maybe you think of that friend who did a juice cleanse and had a migraine for three days. Detox doesn’t have to be that extreme! It can simply mean that you focus your efforts on changing some of your routines to help create a more balanced mind and body.
Due to environmental exposure, our bodies can become overwhelmed by toxins that enter into our bodies via water, air, food, pharmaceuticals, or other drugs.
Detox Made Simple
Cleansing the body does not have to be as extreme or restrictive as some diets you’ve maybe heard of, or even tried yourself. Simple changes, such as considering changes to the following are great ways to start the detoxification process:
Water- Start each day with a glass of spring or filtered water and the juice of one lemon to help flush toxins and alkalize the body. Be sure to also continue drinking water throughout the day.
Vegetable Juice- Drink freshly made vegetable juice daily that includes hearty greens such as spinach helps to cleanse the cells of toxins.
Oils- Eliminate toxic oils from your diet such as vegetable, peanut, and canola. Instead, use oils high in omega-3s, -6s, and -9s, such as extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, hemp oil, or avocado oil.
Tea- Teas such as dandelion, milk thistle, and nettles are great for detoxification.
Raw Fruits and Vegetables- Fruit and vegetables contain enzymes that improve nutrient absorption and aid digestion.
Sugar- Avoid white sugars and any other artificial sweeteners, as they can toxify the body. Instead, opt for natural sweeteners such as stevia, honey, coconut sugar, date sugar, molasses, or maple syrup.
White Flour- Consuming white flour overworks the digestive system and can cause digestive disorders. Substitute with other flours such as spelt flour, kamut flour, quinoa flour, or brown rice flour.
A Detoxifying Smoothie Recipe
Kick-off your morning with this Sunrise Detox Smoothie:
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 cup coconut water
juice of one lemon
Instructions:
Place ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
This smoothie is layered to look like a sunrise, so to get that gradient effect, blend the raspberries and other fruits separately and then pour in layers to create the effect. Of course, it tastes just the same and has the same benefits if you just throw it all together too.
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