Detoxing is a trendy term at the moment. But it doesn’t have to involve juice cleanses or other extreme measures. It’s simply a way to support your body’s natural detoxification systems, particularly the liver and kidneys.
Spring is a great time to do this, since it is a time of renewal and new beginnings. And most of us get that urge to do a little purging around the house, too. So it’s time to shed that winter build-up and help your body renew for spring!
Here are 7 ways to support your body’s natural detoxification systems:
1. Get out your neti pot. Yes it’s kind of weird to dump water up your nose, but rinsing out the nasal cavity can help get rid of all the pollutants and germs we inhale and absorb through our noses every day. Plus it can really help with sinus congestion if you are prone to those pesky spring allergies. I recommend a ceramic or stainless steel one, which you can buy here or at Cambio Yoga. (Avoid plastic, which can breed bacteria and leech chemicals.)
2. Eat beets! They may not be something you consume regularly, but they should be! Beets help support liver function and detox the liver. Because the liver is responsible for removing all the toxins from your body, including alcohol, pesticides in our food, chemicals in our environment or skin care products, it can get overloaded at times. Eating beets can help the liver detox and function better. I’m a recent convert to beets myself (they do kind of taste like dirt), but I’ve found that squeezing some fresh lemon juice on beets brings out a sweet flavor and covers up that earthy taste. Give it a try!
3. Drink warm lemon water. I drink it every morning before breakfast as a substitute for coffee, and it is so great for stimulating the liver and the digestive system. Additionally, make sure you drink lots of water all day. A good estimate is to drink half your body weight in onces (if you weigh 130 lbs, drink 65 oz. of water per day). Staying hydrated and drinking water helps the kidneys flush out the toxins that the liver has excreted.
4. Eat more broccoli (or a good supplement with broccoli extract). Broccoli and other cruciferous veggies like kale and brussel sprouts contain lots of sulfer which helps the liver convert toxins to water soluble substances that we can excrete. If you really can’t stand broccoli, you can take a supplement with broccoli extract instead. (If you need a recommendation, let me know.)
5. Use a tongue scraper. Again, it might feel weird at first, but using a copper or stainless steel tongue scraper first thing in the morning, helps remove toxins and bacteria that have accumulated over the course of the night, and prevents you from reabsorbing them when you eat breakfast. Plus it helps keep your breath fresher all day!
6. Eat dinner early. Eating dinner by around 7pm most nights means your body can have enough time to digest your food before sleeping. Your liver does a lot of work removing toxins from the body at night, so eating earlier ensures that digestion won’t interfere with the liver doing its job.
7. Go to bed early. Make sure you are getting enough sleep (8 hours for most people) to help your body fully detoxify and recover from the previous day. A good night’s sleep aids the body in repairing cells, and ensures that your body’s natural detoxification systems have time to do their work and keep you healthy!
Try adding one or two of these tips to your routine this week, and give your body’s detox system a boost for spring!
xo 
