Detox Diet—Five Ways to Cleanse and Recharge Your Body For Summer

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June 2016 View more

Are you feeling sluggish or simply out of sync? It might be time for a full body detox—a deep cleansing of your internal system that’ll help you get ready for a healthier summer season.

Often a number of negative health issues may seem to gang up on you all at once such as digestive problems, skin issues, dark circles under your eyes, or aches and pains, just to name a few. However, if you’re in overall good health, experts say a full body detox might just do the trick to give you that extra spark this summer. You can start simply by lightening up your toxin load but cutting alcohol, cigarettes, saturated fats, sugar, and extreme caffeine from your body. Next, try to cut stress from your day. Yoga and meditation can slow the release of stress hormones into your system.

Your body does a great job of detoxing on its own. Your lungs, liver, kidneys, and digestive system work together to try and keep your body clean. But you can give your body’s natural detoxing powers a little boost. Test it for two weeks and see how you do. This version of “clean” living can work for a lifetime, but even focusing on these five areas for two weeks can have a positive impact.

Hydrate, Hydrate!

Most of us meet our daily hydration needs by letting thirst be our guide. Water makes up about 60 percent of our body weight. Once dehydration hits, there’s not enough water present for normal functions to work. It all starts with you feeling tired, having zero energy. Research has been done on the topic of how much water to drink, but no single formula fits everyone. We’ve heard the advice to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. There’s no hard evidence to support exactly that, but it’s easy to remember. According to the Institute of Medicine, the adequate intake for women is about nine cups a day. For men, it’s about 13 cups every day.

Get Your Zzzz’s

Seven to nine hours of solid sleep each night allows your body to rejuvenate and cleanse and allows your organs responsible for detoxification to get fully recharged so they can function efficiently. Adequate sleep is especially good for your brain. Medical research shows a direct connection between the amount of sleep and cognitive function.

Fill up on Fruits and Veggies

Green vegetables will bring chlorophyll right to your digestive tract, which keeps your system clean. Try to add some of these greens to your diet: asparagus, green beans, zucchini, peppers, broccoli, and kale. Even mushrooms, onions, cauliflower, oregano, fennel, and turmeric help to clean your body. However, if possible, you should try to skip potatoes, winter squash, beans, and grains during your detoxing period.

Citrus fruits are helpful in flushing out the toxins in your body. Think lemons, limes, and oranges. Lemon juice is especially healthy for your liver. Start each day with fresh lemon squeezed into a glass of water.

Protein Power-up

If you start your day with a protein-packed breakfast, you can better balance your blood sugar levels and cut down on food cravings. In fact, protein at every meal is optimal. Turn to eggs, fish, chicken, nuts, and seeds.

Break a Sweat

Since skin is the body’s largest organ, sweating does a great job of eliminating extra body salts and toxins. Daily workouts will get rid of the toxins that have built up over time. If you exercise on a regular basis, you can help your body cleanse efficiently on a regular basis.

Medical experts, however, caution against detoxing for children, nursing moms, patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis. Talk with your doctor to see if detoxing is right for you.