Healthy Ways to Detox Your Body For A Fresh Start to the New Year

Dec 29, 2021 08:00AM ● By Boitumelo Masihleho

the word DETOX, spelled out in chia seeds, with the O as a green juice, and surrounded by avocado, lettuce, apple, grapes, and leafy greens

It typically implies following a specific diet or using special products that claim to rid your body of toxins, thereby improving health and promoting weight loss. If you associate a "detox" with a 7-day juice fast, it's time to makeover your notion of a cleanse. While detox programs and plans have become hugely popular, detoxing doesn't require you to make extreme diet choices, since your body is made to flush out toxins on its own.

Fortunately, your body is well-equipped to eliminate toxins and doesn’t require special diets or expensive supplements to do so. That said, you can enhance your body’s natural detoxification system. Today, people still choose to detoxify their bodies in order to look and feel their best. Detoxifying your body can be one of the best ways to restore its natural balance. Try out one of these safe and effective ways to detox your body naturally.

Limit Alcohol and Drink Water

More than 90% of alcohol is metabolized in your liver. Liver enzymes metabolize alcohol to acetaldehyde, a known cancer-causing chemical. Excessive drinking can severely damage your liver function by causing fat buildup, inflammation, and scarring. Hydration could quite possibly be the best healthy detox you'll ever give your body. Water does so much more than quench your thirst. It regulates your body temperature, lubricates joints, aids digestion, and nutrient absorption, and detoxifies your body by removing waste products. Aim to drink at least half your body weight in ounces in clear fluids or enough that your urine is very pale in color.

Drink a Lot of Tea

Not only is tea full of antioxidants, but it also hydrates you (especially if it's herbal) and fills you up. This means you will be less likely to overeat or eat the wrong things. Keep in mind, the caffeine in tea is different than the caffeine in coffee as it's gentler on your system. Green tea’s polyphenols, GTE and EGCG, have been shown to induce detox pathways in the liver as well as protect the liver from damage when it is exposed to mycotoxins and aflatoxins during the detoxification process. They also both appear to inhibit certain enzymes, CYP2E1, that when overactive can lead to increased oxidative stress and higher cancer risk.

Try Out Some Chlorella

Chlorella are tiny, single-cell algae, which live in freshwater ponds and lakes. Animal research shows can increase the elimination of heavy metals like mercury through urine and stool. It’s filled in a long list of vitamins and minerals, including 50-60% protein, all nine essential amino acids, omega-3, lutein, vitamin K, calcium, potassium, vitamin Cand iron. Another study found chlorella supplementation in pregnant and lactating women reduced the levels of dioxin, a harmful environmental toxin, in breastmilk.

Eat Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Antioxidants protect your cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Oxidative stress is a condition caused by the excessive production of free radicals. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help your body fight oxidative stress caused by excess free radicals and other toxins that increase your risk of disease. Fiber-rich fare like fruit, veggies, and beans, as well as nuts, seeds, whole grains, lean protein, and probiotics, can aid gut and liver function so any unwanted buildup gets out of your system stat.

Minimize Environmental Toxins

Plastics, heavy metals, personal care products, and household cleaners all contribute to our toxic load. Many of these chemicals are known as obesogens and endocrine disruptors, interfering with normal metabolism and weight management. Reducing exposure to these types of toxins puts less stress on our detoxification pathways so our systems are not overwhelmed. Many people like to use essential oils such as a Thieves Household Cleaner in place of chemical-based cleaning products. Thieves Cleaner is made up of clove, cinnamon, lemon, and eucalyptus oils.

Decrease Your Salt Intake

Consuming too much salt can cause your body to retain excess fluid, especially if you have a condition that affects your kidneys or liver — or if you don’t drink enough water. This excess fluid buildup can cause bloating and make clothing uncomfortable. If you find yourself consuming too much salt, you can detox yourself of the extra water weight. While it may sound counterintuitive, increasing your water intake is one of the best ways to eliminate excess water weight from consuming too much salt.

Source

Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own YouTube channel where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content.