The 15 Best Ways to Detox Your Body Naturally

Our bodies are exposed to pollution and toxins of all kinds present in the air (pollution, chemicals and many other toxins), our food (pesticides, chemicals, GMO ingredients, preservatives, etc.), in the water (fluorides, other chemicals, etc.), drugs, pharmaceuticals, etc. All this exposure can indeed overwhelm our body.

The best way by which you can heal your body is by detoxification. Detoxification is the process of cleaning your body inside-out, flushing out the toxins and providing your body nourishment and rest. Typically, our body eliminates toxins via the kidneys, lungs, skin, lymphatic system and intestines.

However, when any of these systems are compromised because of pollution or disease, they stop functioning efficiently and do not eliminate the toxins properly which results in toxin buildup. The process of detoxification essentially removes the impurities and toxins from the blood. Here are some of the ways by which you can help your body to detoxify naturally so that it flushes out the toxins it is exposed to on a daily basis.

Drink a Lot of Water

There is nothing better than simple H₂0 to detoxify your body. Not only is water essential for survival, it is extremely important to flush out the toxins from your body. Water is not only a great detoxifier, but is great for weight loss, helps to boost your energy levels and also keeps your skin youthful and glowing.

 

While you may be drinking water all through the day, you may not be drinking enough. And, while drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily is an excellent start, your body requires at least around 90 oz of water all through the day for detoxification. And, if you don’t like the taste of plain water, then squeeze some lemon into it or add some mint leaves, cucumber slices, orange segments or strawberries and make detox water, which is not only healthy but extremely yummy too.

 

Eat Clean and Fresh

A great deal of toxin accumulation occurs due to consumption of highly refined, processed, fried and packaged foods. Too much salt, sugar and oil in your diet act as toxins and cause health problems. Also, the insecticides and chemical fertilizers used for vegetables and fruits can be quite hazardous. Try and eat fresh and natural foods and opt for organic vegetables and fruits. Follow a real and whole foods diet and add foods that help to naturally detoxify your body.

 

Exercise

Not only does exercise keep you healthy and fit, it’s a great way to detoxify naturally and effectively too. When you exercise, not only does your body shed the excess weight and fat, it also flushes out the toxins which is removed from the body when you sweat while exercising. Apart from this, exercising also helps circulation, digestion and all the organs of your body functioning efficiently.

 

The movement, breathing and perspiration when you exercise not only helps the body to keep fit but also remove all the potentially harmful substances that have built up in your body over time. And, including exercise as a routine not only helps to release the “feel good” hormones, it can also help to naturally cleanse your body on a regular basis.

 

Drink Green Tea

While a little caffeine may be fine, you must be careful about your caffeine consumption as it can be harmful to you if you overdo it. And, in the long run, too much caffeine may actually turn into toxins in your body. So, it may be a good idea to switch your cup of coffee with green tea and see all the good it can do for you.

Green tea contains antioxidants that can be extremely beneficial for your body, helps to eliminate toxins from the body and it also gives you the caffeine boost that you want to jumpstart your morning. So, replacing your coffee with green tea can help you detoxify every day and stay healthy.

 

Sauna Therapy

There are heavy metals and other types of toxins present all around you and these enter your body via air, water and food and build up in your body over time. Sweating can help you not only to cool you off but also flush out the heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, etc. and other toxins from your body. And, sauna therapy stimulates and helps to increase sweating and circulation which can help to flush out the toxins and detoxify your body.

 

Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is a great way to detoxify. Intermittent fasting is essentially when you alternate between periods of eating and fasting throughout the day. The best way of doing this is known as the “16/8 method”, which essentially involves 16 hours of fasting followed by eating only during the 8-hour period. For example, you would eat your breakfast at around 11 am and eat your last meal before 8 pm, with a small snack in the period between your breakfast and dinner times and then remain without eating until 12 noon the following day.

 

Intermittent fasting is excellent for detoxification as it activates the process known as autophagy in your body, which helps to flush out all the wastes and toxins in the body, right down to the cellular level. This process basically boosts up the regular detox system in your body and allows it to clean on its own.

 

Go on a Juice Diet

For around 2-3 days, cut out all types of solid foods and consume only liquids such as water, veggie and fruit juices, tea, protein shakes, etc. Liquid diets not only help to detoxify the body by flushing out the harmful toxins, they also help to jumpstart weight loss by limiting your calorie intake. However, ensure that you include vegetable and fruit juices in your liquid fast so that your body gets sufficient nourishment and you get the maximum benefits.

 

Choose the right veggies and fruits that will not only help to cleanse your body by removing the toxins but also help to introduce proper nutrients that may be lost during the process of cleansing. Try out a new kind of juice once or twice in a week until your body gets used to it and stay on it until you make juicing an integral part of your life.

 

Replace a Meal with a Detox Smoothie

Replacing one meal in a day with a “detox smoothie” can do wonders and help to naturally cleanse your body. This will not cause any harm and can be a great way to help your body eliminate the wastes and things it does not really need. Replacing one of your meals with a smoothie helps to jumpstart your body’s metabolism and get your digestive system working efficiently.

 

Smoothies are not only very tasty but are extremely nutritious too. Always opt for smoothies made of natural ingredients. You can make your healthy “green smoothie” using veggies like kale, spinach, cucumber, lettuce, etc. or you could make an “antioxidant-rich smoothie” with veggies like carrot, beetroot, banana, apple, strawberries, etc. A smoothie for breakfast or as an evening snack will not only refresh you and fill you with energy, it will help to detoxify efficiently too.

 

Clay

Bentonite clay has great detoxification properties. Bentonite clay has a unique structure and resembles very small business cards. The clay has a negative charge at the molecular level and attracts toxins which are positively charged. The wide surface of each card-shaped clay is negatively charged, while the edges have a positive charge. This offers a large surface area and powerful attraction properties.

 

Most toxins have a positive charge and are attracted by the surface of the clay. The bentonite clay draws the toxins, holds them at the core and eliminates them naturally, without allowing them to get absorbed by the body. Consuming the clay internally or making use of it in a foot bath are easy and effective ways by which you can help your body to flush out the toxins and detoxify. When consumed internally, the minerals in the clay absorb the toxins, heavy metals, etc. in the gut and it also helps to add essential minerals to your diet.

Get Sufficient Sleep

Sleep is not a luxury but an absolute essential for good health. According to the National Sleep Foundation, on an average, adults require 7-9 hours of sleep. A study reveals that while you sleep, the space between the brain cells increases and allows the fluid present around the brain to flow freely and flush out the toxins and wastes that have accumulated when you’re awake. These wastes also include toxic proteins which are linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, etc. and also prevents issues like brain fog.

Dry Brushing

Dry brushing or skin brushing is an Ayurvedic practice of exfoliating the face and body using a dry brush or with shower gloves before getting into the shower. Dry brushing helps to slough off the dead skin cells and opens up the pores, allowing the toxins to escape. Also, the massaging action dislodges the toxins into the circulation system and flushes them out. The main advantage of exfoliation is that the technique is extremely easy and quick, can help with both internal and external detoxification and you can easily make skin brushing a part of your routine twice a week in order to ensure that your body stays fresh and healthy all the time.

 

Souping

Known as “the new juicing”, souping is an excellent way to detox. In souping, you consume low-calorie, nutrient-dense cold and hot soups that are plant based and also have bone broths that are extremely nourishing. This is an excellent way to consume a lot of fiber and nutrients and it removes all the toxins from your gut and colon. The main benefits of souping are that it provides fiber and does not cause cravings and sugar crashes that you may experience on a juice cleanse. The fiber and the liquid ensure that you are satiated and does not cause hunger pangs. Souping is a great way to get the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities of a lot of veggies, which may be difficult to eat all in one go.

 

Add More Probiotics to Your Diet

Healthy bacteria are found in foods like yogurt, which help to restore your body’s balance. Usually, the toxins from the refined, processed and junk food you eat collect in your stomach and digestive system. Probiotics help to introduce good bacteria into your body that not only help your body to detoxify but also contribute to a healthy gut, especially if you suffer from digestive problems. And, consuming probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt and also in the supplement form each day is a great way to introduce the beneficial bacteria into your digestive system.

 

Get Massages Regularly

Getting a good massage is not only a great stress buster, it also helps you relax and reduces all your aches and pains. Making regular massages a part of your routine can also help your body eliminate the toxins and detoxify. Getting an intense massage such as a Swedish or a deep tissue massage, which focuses on the pressure points of the body where the toxins usually build up and help to release them. This helps to detoxify your body naturally and get rid of all the harmful toxins.

 

However, always ensure that you get your massages done by a registered therapist, who knows how to eliminate the toxins properly. And, to make the detoxification process more effective, drink a lot of water after your massage to flush out the system effectively.

 

Consume Cleansing Supplements

Supplements such as herbs, nutrients and compounds such as dandelion root, chlorella, milk thistle, cilantro, selenium, zinc, MSM, NAC (N-acetylcysteine), magnesium, etc. have detoxifying properties and help to cleanse your tissues and organs by means of in-depth detoxification. These are natural detox agents that work on specific systems and organs and help in removing the toxins from your body. These supplements also have antioxidant properties that help to fight oxidative stress and boost energy while detoxifying the body.

 

There are several ways by which you can detoxify your body. However, adopting several at the same time can be quite overwhelming for your body to adjust to. So, it’s a good idea to start out with one or two that you like and you can add a few more gradually to your “clean and healthy” living routine. Detoxifying your body can indeed help to get rid of all the toxins from your body and ensure that you live a healthier and happier life.