Detox tips for health and weight loss
The average American has 116 synthetic compounds in their body according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. We’re exposed to toxins from food additives and preservatives, dry cleaners, smog and exhaust, digestive distress, our environment, non-organic foods, pesticides, xenoestrogens, chemicals and so much more.Toxins are stored in fat cells. All toxins brought into your body have to be processed by your liver. Toxic overload and a congested liver make it difficult to lose body fat.
Spring time is the ideal time to detox. If you want to change your body, feel better, and look your best ever, implement my simple and easy detox tips into your life.
Detox = Reduced Inflammation = Lower Body Fat
1. Consume an appropriate amount of filtered water daily. Your body is 85% water and physiologically water works as a catalyst to most functions within your body. Water is important for eliminating toxins from your body. Add the juice from a fresh lemon and/or lime.
2. Stay away from anything called a diet, including hCG. Diets are a major stressor to your body that destroy your metabolism and create hormonal disruption, muscle loss, fat storage and added weight gain once you’re off the diet. Eating healthy is a lifestyle for health, vitality, longevity and fat loss.
3. Opt for organic foods over commercially, non-organic foods that are full of antibiotics, pesticides, chemicals and xenoestrogens. Start with grass-fed, free-range animal protein and eggs.
4. Go easy on the booze. Excessive alcohol consumption disrupts you blood sugar, your hormones and adds inches to your waist line.
5. Drink more organic green tea. Also, include detox teas such as Pau‘d Arco, red clover and dandelion tea.
6. Avoid all artificial sweeteners such as NutraSweet, Equal, Splenda and aspartame. Instead, use Stevia, an herb that will not elevate blood sugars and has zero calories.
Artificial sweeteners come with endless side effects including:
•Increased risk of heart disease
•Bloating and digestive distress
•Headaches
•Rashes and hives
•Cravings for carbs and sugar
•Weight gain
•Brain seizures
•Cancer
7. Practice yoga or qigong, bounce on a rebounder, brisk walking or any workout that cleanses the body of toxins. Rebounding on a mini trampoline is extremely beneficial for every cell and organ in your body, flushes the lymphatic system, plus bouncing boosts your immune system.
8. Eliminate refined sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, soda, processed wheat, pasteurized dairy products, gluten, table salt, processed soy and hydrogenated trans fats. Most of these products cause stress to your body, create disease, dysfunction, and stimulate fat storing hormones = added body weight.
9. Eat small mini-meals every 3-4 hours. Always eat breakfast that includes an organic protein source and healthy fats. Individuals who consume a diet deficient in protein have trouble detoxifying environmental toxins/pollutants. Your brain chemistry is made from amino acids. Disrupted brain chemistry causes depression and anxiety versus feelings of calm, happiness and clear thinking.
10. Include plenty of organic fruits and more vegetables. Add variety. Consider fresh vegetable juices.
11. Practice at least 2-5 minutes of deep, full diaphragmatic belly breathing daily. Deep breathing is the source of all energy in your body. It transforms your energy and releases endorphins that make us feel happy. Without sufficient oxygen, cells begin to die and energy cannot be sufficiently produced.
Benefits of deep breathing include:
Toxin elimination, less stress, increased energy, composed mind, improved mood, enhanced appearance and changes to your physiology on a cellular level.
12. Don’t eat after 8pm. Night is the time for your body to rest and detox, not digest your food. Eating before bedtime disrupts sleep, creates digestive distress and minimizes your production of growth hormone.
13. Quality sleep. Keep a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and waking around the same time. Optimally, asleep by 10pm, awake by 6am. Your body repairs physically and psychologically at night during sleep. This is a time for your body to balance hormones, repair tissues and regenerate. If you’re highly physical, more sleep may be needed.
14. Ditch toxic cleaning products and switch to more natural products such as white vinegar and baking soda.
15. Detox your mind. Your thoughts are the most powerful way to maintain health and well-being and to heal your body. Turn off the news. Minimize time spent with energy vampires. Generate positive emotions and thoughts. This is key to detoxifying your mind. Practice affirmations daily. Write 5 things you are grateful for daily in your gratitude journal. Express gratitude every day. Be Authentic!
16. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Form win-win relationships. Determine who is trustworthy and displays character traits of integrity, honesty and authenticity. Dissolve those relationships that no longer serve you in a positive light. Enjoy relationships that nourish your soul and make you feel good.
17. Keep a food journal for one week. Research shows that people who journal what they eat tend to lose twice as many pounds and make healthier food choices.
18. Reward yourself. Allow yourself time to rest without feeling guilty. Give yourself a daily dose of sunshine (vitamin D). Indulge in a warm bath with Epsom salts and a relaxing essential oil such as lavender. Dry brush your skin prior to your shower. Schedule a massage or sauna. Listen to your gut (intuition) and give your body, mind and soul the support it needs.
Text: Dr K Gowthaman, Medical Director, rVita (rVita Ayurveda Centers)
Image: Flickr Creativecommons lululemonathletica
DASH stands for “dietary approaches to stop hypertension”. Diet plays a major part in controlling high blood pressure and as an adjunct to medications itself. Antihypertensive become more effective when taken along with a low salt high fiber diet.
