Does your body need a spring detox?

We tend to associate spring with cleaning; as if the winter created stagnation and some sort of mess. For many people, the need to clean up the outside also means they want to "clean up" the inside. But is a juice cleanse or boxed detox really what your body needs? I find that with my years of experience in health and wellness, so many individuals associate spring with a need for a cleanse. There are trends on social media, and in your health food stores pushing detoxes. It can be products, supplements, or the latest eating trends. There are so many options on the market to assist with spring cleaning, it might be difficult to know where to begin or what works best for you. Spring cleaning can mean so much more than a two-week cleanse. It can also be mental/emotional, as well as physical. There are a lot of ways that you can ‘spring clean’ in a gentler fashion that will allow you to take these new habits and incorporate them into your daily life.

Here are four ways to gently regenerate and cleanse your physical body: 

1. Sweat!

Our skin is our largest organ, and sweating is one of the best ways our body eliminates waste products. Sweating is a great way to eliminate environmental toxins, heavy metals, and BPAs! Scientists are able to measure these compounds from human sweat, showing that this is by far one of the more superior ways to rid unwanted toxins from our body. So, find yourself a sauna and/or work up a sweat. Get your system moving and get cleaning; all the while enjoying the added benefits of exercise and relaxing saunas!

2. Try herbal teas.

Adding a gentle tea to your daily routine, such as nettle or dandelion tea, can be a great way to get a gentle cleanse. Our liver is one of the most important organs for detoxing and eliminating waste! It is constantly active and working nonstop to keep harmful chemicals from entering your blood stream. The liver can benefit from supporting herbs such as dandelion, nettle, and milk thistle as they work to improve the liver’s ability to breakdown toxins by getting your liver in top shape! These herbs are easily accessible, and you can readily find a variety of herbal tea formulas in your local health food store.

3. Buy yourself a dry body brush.

These are affordable and do wonders for your skin! They help to stimulate your lymphatic system, which is a major body network that is responsible for ridding your body of unwanted toxins and waste. Dry brushing is something you can do daily. Start from the bottom of your feet and work your way up to your chest. Apply light pressure, and always use a circular motion upwards. Finding videos on how to properly dry brush is easily accessible on YouTube.

4. Eat more fiber and hydrate!

Fiber from fruits and vegetables will get one of your VERY important detox systems moving well. You guessed it: your bowels. If you do not have a daily bowel movement, your cleaning system may be a little sluggish. Along with eating adequate amounts of fruits and veggies, you can try adding one or two tablespoons of ground flax to your breakfast, lunch or dinner. Remember: it is always important to drink enough water to help flush everything out. You need to be well hydrated in order for your bowels to function properly. Drinking enough good, clean water, along with adequate amounts of healthy fiber, will help aid in removing waste from your body.  

So before you go reaching for those expensive weight loss teas, juice cleanses, or boxed detoxes, try adding a few of these tricks to your daily routine to see if it helps!