Why Detoxing Your Body Is Important

Sometimes we take better care of our homes, cars, and belongings than we do our own bodies. But the truth is, a healthy body will be one of the most important contributing factors to our long-term happiness. Learning some routine body-maintenance can go a long way in helping our bodies perform their best for a lifetime.

One of the best forms of regular body maintenance is detoxification. Our bodies can grow toxic from chemicals in our environment and even regular bodily functions and it’s important to eliminate them as efficiently as possible. Depending on the time of year you can support your body's detoxification process differently. Your body requires different support in spring compared to the colder, winter months. Also, a lot of disease, especially degenerative disease, comes from congestion and stagnation in the body which can be cleared through regular cleansing.

There are a lot of different cleanse protocols out there, typically ranging from one to ten days. It’s best to start slow and build from there rather than tackle too much all at once. Let’s take a look at 5 steps to a healthy cleanse.

Reduce or eliminate toxins: Cut out dietary toxins from things like alcohol, sugar, meat, dairy, fried food, food coloring, and preservatives, but don’t forget the toxins you put on your body such as beauty products too. The fewer toxic ingredients in your lotions, shampoos, make-up, and perfumes, the fewer your body has to clear out at all.

Eat whole, organic, nutrient dense foods: Some people choose to fast from solid food during a cleanse, but it isn’t necessary to do so, especially if this is your first time doing one. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and legumes are the best choices while cleansing. Be sure to include plenty of fibre to help keep your elimination system moving smoothly.

Drink plenty of water: Water is a very important detoxifier, cleansing through our skin and kidneys especially. Your body rids itself of a lot of toxins during a cleanse, so you want to be sure you are allowing those toxins to be eliminated by drinking 8-10 cups of water throughout the day.

Add herbal support: Herbs can be a great way to support the detox systems in your body during a cleanse. Cayenne pepper, dandelion root, echinacea, licorice root, milk thistle, nettle, parsley, and goldenseal can all help support elimination, filter toxins, and support the liver which is the most important detoxification organ.

Encourage sweating: If you are eating nutrient dense foods and drinking plenty of water, you shouldn’t have any less energy than usual during a cleanse. So be sure to include exercise in your cleanse protocol to keep your blood flowing and to encourage elimination of toxins through the intestines, but also through sweat. You may also enjoy a sauna or steam room which can increase the elimination of toxins through the skin. Just be sure to shower and rinse off all that your body has worked to sweat out!

Regular cleansing and detoxification helps to rejuvenate the body, treat disease, and bring greater vitality. Remember these tips in practicing one of your most important lifelong maintenance routines.