Detoxification – it’s such an essential part of living well in this day and age, especially considering what our bodies have to deal with from our modern lifestyles.

But are you helping, hindering or wasting your time with your detox methods? Or are you completely new to this whole concept?

Let me explain…

For the same reasons we regularly service our cars, we need to regularly service our insides and give them a good clean out and reset. Otherwise we don’t run well, we age quicker and it puts a lot of strain on our major organs to do their job and look after us.

The main difference between us and our cars is that we have been intelligently designed with a ‘self-cleaning mode’ called your detoxification system.

However, if your body is undernourished and overworked then this ‘self-cleaning mode’ can’t do what it was designed for, which is mainly to dump out accumulated rubbish and toxic substances. If this is the case, then we start to get a backed up system and an overloaded liver. This causes all kinds of issues!

Ever tried to put more rubbish in an overflowing rubbish bin?

You get my point…

It may sound dramatic but the reality is, if you don’t clear out your colon of waste matter, you will die. Everybody is different but ideally you should be moving your bowels 1-2 times daily. They should also be forming properly. Get the scoop on poop here.

Main signs and symptoms your detox system may be overloaded:

• Lethargy
• Insomnia
• Moodiness, Anxiety, Depression
• Weight gain or inability to lose weight
• Constipation
• Gas
• Bloating
• Headaches
• Skin problems: acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis
• Bad breath
• Aches and pains

There are many ways to approach detoxing. Of course these methods and duration can vary depending on the severity of your symptoms and the outcome you are looking for.

The basics:

• Lots of fresh fruit and veges (chemical-free ones to avoid further toxins).
• Liquid fruit and vegetables in the form of organic cold-pressed juices can be really helpful. Read my juicing experience here.
• Lots of clean, filtered or spring water
• Rest and quality sleep (maybe an extra hour than normal)
• Movement to get your blood circulating – make it gentle and enjoyable
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, processed foods and sugars, grains, dairy and meat for 2-4 weeks. These are all hardwork on the digestive system and so it’s a good idea to give it a break for a while if you want to effectively cleanse and remove the backlog.

No matter how healthy you may eat, we are all exposed to toxins on a daily basis. Our bodies were not meant to cope with such an excess of toxins, so regular detoxing will support your colon and body in the fight to remove these deadly, disease causing toxins.

Other helpful tips include:

• Reduce your total body burden; change what you are using on the outside e.g. personal care, perfume, cosmetics, home care products (especially laundry powder!) and use safer alternatives. Many people miss this critical step – if you don’t it’s like letting the bath water out with the tap still running!
• Use high quality supplementation (e.g. probiotics, digestive enzymes, minerals) can help to support your detoxification organs to do their job, especially if they have been over-worked for a while or you struggle to regularly eat fresh fruit and vege. Whilst they are never a complete substitute for wholefood, it can really help in making the transition.
• The gradual approach of slowly introducing the good things and removing the bad things over a couple of weeks can be much more gentle on your emotions and bodily systems, especially if your wellness hasn’t been a high priority lately. Then you can take a more strict approach for another couple of weeks, meaning the whole process takes around 30 days. This also helps with maintaining good habits afterwards rather than feeling like you’ve been deprived and having to make up for it.
• Renew your mind at the same time, in whatever way that looks like for you. Prayer, meditation, reading, being still, doing something that will give your mind a detox at the same time. If you have a well-rounded detox plan this will naturally happen because of all the nourishment and self-care you are giving your body.

Once you’ve completed a detox, there are some good habits and foods you can introduce or maintain that will mean that all your normal detoxification pathways and organs are working efficiently and you are effectively ‘cleaning house’ on a daily basis! But those tips I will save for Part 2.

Of course all of this can be tailored to suit your current situation and desired results, because we are all on our own unique journey and one size doesn’t fit all. Like anything, you learn and develop wisdom as you go. Listening to your body is key. This means you actually have to stop, breathe and receive the feedback.

This will all result in a happier, healthier, more energised, more in-tune version of the beautiful and unique YOU!

If you have any questions about anything I’ve discussed, feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you and am happy to help ?
Happy Detoxing!