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15 Natural Ways To Detox Quickly And Easily (#11 Is Wicked Cool)

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Are you thinking about doing a detox to prepare yourself for the upcoming holiday season? Although it is true that the body has its own detoxification system, we were never designed to handle the level of toxins that are present in our everyday, modern environment.

We are exposed to toxins, including biochemical and industrial toxins, daily in our lives through our food, water, and working or home environments.

Some typical signs and symptoms of an accumulation of toxins in the body are unrelenting fatigue, sluggishness, headaches, acne, rashes or other skin problems, arthritis, persistent bad breath, congestion, bad breath, weight fluctuations, hormone disruptions, and more.

Detoxification assists the body in flushing out the toxins that tend to accumulate in the gall bladder, liver, and kidneys.

Doing regular detoxification will increase your overall immunity, minimize allergies, improve energy levels, aid in digestion, greatly improve mental clarity and concentration levels, clear up the skin, improve metabolism, fight fatigue, and provide your body with healthy nutrients.

Some detoxification programs are so difficult, both on the body and in practice, many people put them off longer than they should. So we have put together a list of 15 ways you can detox quickly and easily. These won’t interfere with your daily life, and it won’t make you feel as if you are coming down with the flu.

Ready to do a detox, and get your body working at its optimum levels so you can fight off the flu and cold season that is just around the corner? Keep reading!

1. Incorporate Super Foods Into Your Daily Meal Plans

Super foods contain numerous nutrients, antioxidants, and trace minerals that are vital for supporting the body’s immune system so that it can naturally fight off infections and viruses. Our body also needs super foods to keep all the body’s systems working properly, including the body’s own natural detoxification system.

Try to include some of the following omega-3 rich foods in your daily diet such as:

Olive oil
Salmon
Almonds
Tuna
Walnuts
Avocado
Flax seeds

You should also add plenty of fruits and veggies that have bright colors or darker colors because these contain plenty of antioxidants which are vital for cancer prevention and anti-aging. Try to add at least two of these into your daily meal plan:

Butternut squash
Blueberries
Oranges
Raspberries
Apples
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Kale
Carrots
Eggplant
Tomatoes

Adding these super foods to your diet each day is a quick and easy way to help your body rid itself of the harmful toxins that have accumulated, and fight off any harmful agents that might be trying to make your body their home.

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2. Dry Skin Brushing

Most people think nothing about brushing their hair and teeth each day, but few people think about brushing their skin. Brushing your skin with a fine bristle brush designed for this purpose is a great way to stimulate circulation and encourage your body to remove toxins through the skin. You can buy a brush made just for brushing the skin for less than $20. Brushing your skin only takes about fifteen minutes, and it is easy to do just before you shower. You have to wait for the water to get hot anyway, right? Start at your feet, and use slow but steady pressure to brush upwards towards your heart. You should brush hard enough that you feel it, but not so hard that it leaves your skin reddened. Brush all parts of your body (avoiding the genitals), and you’re done! Of course, you can spend more time brushing your skin if you like, but just a few minutes three or four times each week is enough to get all the health benefits brushing has to offer.

3. Raw Juices

Drinking raw vegetable or fruit juices, such as those containing carrots, spinach, oranges, apples, grapefruit, blueberries, lettuce, beets, and cucumbers, is not only a super tasty way to nourish your body, but it also removes toxins and heavy metals. You should limit the amount of fruit juice you consume each day, because even though they are really tasty, they are also high in sugar and calories. Focus on drinking limited quantities (about eight to ten ounces) of fresh, organic fruit juice each day or add some fruit to other juices to sweeten them up and make them more appealing. For example, you could try blending about five medium organic carrots with three stalks of celery, one small beet, one small cucumber, half of a lemon and either one banana or one apple. For better nutrient absorption, drink this slowly or divide it into three portions and drink one portion with each meal.

4. Get More Sleep

Americans have a terrible tendency to view sleep as either a luxury or as something only weak or lazy people indulge in. The truth about sleep, however, is that it is every bit as vital to your body as eating the right foods and exercise. When you don’t get enough sleep, you will find that you gain weight easily, your hormones quickly get out of whack, you lack natural energy, and your immune system becomes compromised, leaving your vulnerable to infections and viruses. Although an occasional sleepless night or late night out won’t hurt you, habitually skimping on your sleep will cause you great harm in a short period of time. Work on your schedule so that you get seven or eight hours of sleep each night so that your body can clear out toxins, build new tissues, and prepare you for the activities that will require energy the next day.

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5. Lemons

Lemons are one of Mother Nature’s most powerful detoxifiers as well as an alkalizer. Lemons stimulate the liver to produce more bile, which not only helps to remove toxins from the body, it also improves the body’s ability to absorb important minerals. The high vitamin C content of lemons strengthens the immune system. Lemons are also high in antioxidants, especially one called d-limonene, which activates enzymes in the liver that will help it remove toxic substances. Mix the juice of one organic lemon with a glass of water each morning to stimulate the liver to produce more bile. You can also drink your water with a squeeze or two of lemon juice as often as you like during the day. If you can stand the heat, you can mix a half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and one tablespoon of honey into a glass of lemon juice and water to stimulate both the liver and the metabolism for some extra detox power.

6. Swedish Massage

Although some people think that a massage is just a relaxing luxury, an intense massage, such as a Swedish or sports massage, is a terrific way to help the body detox. Getting an intense massage that focuses on the pressure points of the body can help release the toxins that tend to build up in these areas. You want to focus on getting deep into the muscle tissue to make this type of massage work well for you. When your massage therapist presses hard on certain pressure points, it releases the toxins from the tissues, allowing them to be absorbed into the blood, where your body can remove them. Be certain that you use a registered massage therapist and explain to them the reason you want such an intense massage. Drink a lot of water after each massage to help your body remove the toxins that the massage released. Make massage a regular habit, and you will feel more than just relaxed afterwards — you will feel super energized and super cleansed!

7. Epsom Salt Soaks

Epsom salts aren’t really salts at all but flakes of magnesium. Almost everyone in America has a magnesium deficiency due to our depleted soils. By making Epsom salts a part of your life, you can not only get regular doses of magnesium, you can also help your body to detox from heavy metals and other toxins. This is a relaxing and easy way to detox! Simply mix one or two cups (depending on the size of your tub) of Epsom salts to your bath and soak for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times each week. If you have hypertension or heart problems, you should skip this method. For everyone else, this is a great way to help remove toxins from the body via sweat. It also helps relieve stress and general muscle aches and pains. If you like, you can also add five or six drops of essential oils, such as lavender or chamomile, for extra stress relief and a super relaxing scent.

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8. Organic Foods

Although you don’t have to rely on expensive organic produce in every situation, you should get in the habit of eating organic as much as possible to limit your exposure to toxic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Read our dirty dozen list, which contains lists of foods that are so filled with toxins you should consider not eating them, instead of just avoiding conventionally grown varieties. A good rule of thumb is that if you eat the peel or the outside of the produce (such as apples and strawberries), you should go organic. If you will peel the produce (such as avocados or oranges) then you can go for conventional in most cases. This is a simple detox method. When you consume fewer toxins, your body has fewer toxins to accumulate and remove. Being diligent about choosing organic foods, reading food labels, and staying away from foods that can cause you great harm, can help you to get your body reach a much cleaner and healthier point.

9. Turmeric

Turmeric is probably best known as being a terrific anti-inflammatory, but did you know that turmeric also purifies the blood, detoxifies the liver, and is good for your overall lung and colon health? Turmeric has super antioxidant and anti-cancer compounds that simply cannot be ignored. The simplest way to consume turmeric is to mix a tablespoon of turmeric powder in a glass of milk, and drink once each day. You can also add a bit of honey if this tastes too strong. Another method is to boil two cups of water and add half a teaspoon of both ginger and turmeric, and simmer for ten minutes. Strain, and then add the juice from one half of a lemon and one tablespoon of either raw, organic honey or pure maple syrup. Mix well and drink once each day.

If you have gall bladder issues, cancer, diabetes, or thyroid problems, or if you are pregnant or are nursing, please speak with your doctor before consuming turmeric.

10. Green Tea

In one study performed in 2011 at Newcastle University, researchers found that drinking green tea offers some serious protection from many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Regular consumption of green tea will improve your metabolism, improve your skin and hair, and help protect the liver from toxic damage. Green tea contains powerful antioxidants, which help the body to detox from free radicals, the root cause of many chronic diseases. One antioxidant in particular, EGCG (epigallocatechin-3- gallate) has been shown to protect the body from dangerous toxins.

After your first morning cup of coffee, try alternating between water and green tea. Always brew your own fresh green tea. The stuff they sell in bottles and cans contain absolutely none of the healthy antioxidants you want from your green tea. If you prefer, you can take green tea extracts. A typical dose is somewhere between 100 and 750 mg each day. Speak with your doctor about the proper dose for your unique situation.

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11. Green Smoothies

This is one of the easiest ways to detox the body and get tons of nutrition at the same time. Green smoothies will rid the body of toxins while providing you with plenty of chlorophyll, which is great for detoxing. These types of smoothies also help rid the body of heavy metals, especially the kind found in pesticides and the industrial pollutants we encounter daily. Try the following recipe for your morning meal to improve your metabolism and provide you with tons of energy.

Put one chopped green apple, one cup of chopped kale, half a cup of fresh parsley, and one banana in your blender. Add about 2.5 cups of water (a little less if you like it thicker, a little more if you like it thinner) and blend for about a minute or until everything is incorporated. Start by drinking just one of these each day. As your body adjusts to the greens, you can increase the amount until you are drinking about four cups of green smoothie mix every day.

12. Stinging Nettle

Although stinging nettles do NOT feel good in your hand, once the stinging part is removed, they certainly do wonders for the body. Nettle is a terrific way to detoxify and purify the blood. Nettle is also a natural but mild diuretic, which helps the body remove inflammatory waste through the urine. Nettle also simulates the lymph system, which is part of your body’s detox system.

Packed with B complex vitamins, vitamin A, C, and D, along with healthy doses of magnesium, iron, potassium, and chlorophyll, nettle can also provide you with some serious nutrition. You can drink nettle tea two or more times each day or consume a supplement. Please speak with your doctor for the proper dose for your unique condition. If you have kidney problems, this might not be the right herb for you. As always, talk with your physician if you have any health condition before consuming any herbal product.

13. Dandelion Root

Always remember: Dandelion root is NOT a weed! This is an important herb with numerous health benefits. If you do not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers on your lawn (and we hope you don’t), you can simply pull dandelions, root and all, for home use.

Dandelion helps the body relieve itself of excess water, calms the digestive system, cleanses the bladder and kidneys, and stops chronic constipation. Dandelion also has healthy levels of B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.

Dandelion is great for detox purposes. This herb is often recommended for purifying the blood, helping the liver to detoxify itself, and for its mild diuretic compounds. Use dandelion to make one of the best teas for detox: boil about two teaspoons of dried root in one cup of water. Once it boils, turn off the heat, cover the pot, and allow it to steep for ten or fifteen minutes. Strain and drink two cups each day. If you have gallstones or problems with your gall bladder, you should consult with your doctor before consuming dandelion.

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14. Oil Pulling

This simple, age-old therapy works as a natural detoxifier by pulling toxins from deep within the tissues of the body. In addition to detoxing, oil pulling fights problems such as bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay due to the antimicrobial compounds in the oil. This ancient Ayurvedic compound can offer some serious relief from things like constipation, cold sores, candida infections, and other problems. For this therapy to work, you need to do it first thing each morning, on an empty stomach, before you brush your teeth and before you eat or drink anything.

Take one tablespoon of either coconut oil, sunflower oil, or sesame seed oil in your mouth and swish it around like you would a mouthwash for ten minutes or until the oil becomes thin, milky looking, and foamy. It might take less than ten minutes the first few times you do this as the oil removes toxic buildup. When you are finished, spit out the oil into the trash can (don’t spit it in the sink or toilet where the oil can harden and cause a clog), and then rinse your mouth with water. Do this for at least two weeks to see results you won’t believe.

15. Licorice Root

This is one of the best herbal teas for detoxification, as well as for liver support. Licorice root will curb sugar cravings, which will go a long way toward helping to detox the liver. Sugar consumption impedes detox efforts. Licorice root is also a terrific anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immune system-improving compounds. Licorice root will also help you when you have a cold or the flu, as it has expectorant and super soothing compounds for the lungs. Drink one cup of licorice root tea each day over a two week period. Licorice root is a powerful herb that can cause very unpleasant side effects, such as retention of salt and increased blood pressure if you consume too much. If you suffer from hypertension or any other type of chronic health problem, you should speak with your doctor before consuming licorice root.

In addition to the remedies above, you should also maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, eating plenty of high fiber foods will encourage the body to have regular bowel movements, which is an important part of the natural detoxification process. Avoid alcoholic beverages while you are detoxing, as well as saturated fats, refined sugar, and cigarettes. Learn to manage your stress levels by practicing meditation and yoga or deep breathing exercises.

A proper cleansing program will go a long way towards helping you feel great and achieving amazing health benefits.

References:

Phytomedicinejournal.com

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Asiaph.org

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