Life can be really hectic and complicated. Sometimes I just want to hit the reset button and start over. Life, unfortunately, doesn’t come with a reset button, and you can’t ever really start over.
I guess what I’ve actually been after is to be refreshed, recharged and renewed.
So I recently decided to detox over the course of 5 days. Summer is such a great time to embark on this kind of journey. Whether you’re battling health problems, addiction or stress, detoxing can help you attain your personal wellness goals.
But what does it really mean to detox? Well, I promise it’s not just a buzzword or a bunch of hullabaloo. That’s probably what you’re thinking. Essentially, detoxing — short for detoxification — is simply the process of ridding the body of toxic and unhealthy substances.
Detoxing is a really good way to cleanse both your mind and body. There are several benefits to detoxing, including improved skin, boosted energy levels and clearer thinking.
Here are a few things I learned over the course of my detox.
Detoxing the Body
Aside from eliminating bad, unhealthy foods from my diet during the detox process, I made sure that I was:
- Staying hydrated
- Eating clean
- Drinking detox drinks
- Helping the detox process
Staying hydrated and eating clean are both pretty straightforward concepts. So let me delve a little deeper into the other two.
Detox Drinks
While drinking only water during detoxification is perfectly fine, you can give yourself a nice boost by making detox waters and drinks. The fruits in these drinks not only aid in detoxification, but also provide essential nutrients to the body.
I began my detox with a concoction of water, watermelon, fresh spearmint leaves and lime. This is a great drink to kick-off your efforts.
Kick-Off Detox Drink
- 1 liter of water
- Few slices of watermelon
- Half of a lime (sliced)
- A handful of fresh mint leaves (approximately 5)
- Ice cubes
Slice a good amount of the watermelon into cubes, including the white part of the rind and seeds. Slice the lime into wedges. Add fruit and a handful of spearmint leaves to a jug and pour in around 1 liter of purified water. Allow the mixture to steep overnight in the refridgerator. Pour some of the drink over ice and enjoy throughout the next two days.
Watermelon naturally contains citrulline. Citrulline is a compound that helps the kidneys and liver get rid of ammonia, which can be damaging to the body.
Lime is also great for the digestive tract. It stimulates the production of bile by the liver, thins bile and relieves constipation, heartburn and gas.
Spearmint not only adds a refreshing essence to your drinks, the leaves are also a miracle-worker for the digestive track, helping bile move from the liver to the gallbladder. It boosts digestive tract efficiency and relieves stomach cramps.
Warm Detox Tea
If you prefer warm drinks, try this detox tea by warming up water then putting in a few slices of raw ginger root and a slice of lemon. Add some raw, unprocessed honey to sweeten the tea.
Green Detox Drink Recipe
This vegetable detox drink is a great booster. It’s chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, organic compounds and other goodies! The effects of this drink will be enhanced as you go through the cleansing process, and it makes a great lunch substitute.
- 3 carrots
- 3 kale leaves
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 beets
- 1 turnip
- ½ bunch of spinach
- ½ cabbage
- ½ bunch of parsley
- ½ onion
- 2 garlic cloves
Mix all ingredients with some water and puree in a blender. (Source: Gaiam)
Spring Cleaning Detox
Flaxseed remains ever popular amongst health gurus and for good reason! The tiny, but powerful, seed is power packed with fiber, antioxidants, omega 3s, vitamins and minerals. The carrots, ginger and apple also lend their share of amazing health benefits. Here what you’ll need:
- 1 teaspoon of whole flax seeds
- 1 red apple, peeled and sliced
- 8 snack-sized peeled carrots (or 2 normal carrots, peeled and chopped)
- 1/4 inch nub of fresh ginger root, skin removed (should be moist)
- 1 cup of lukewarm water
Be sure to soak the flaxseed in water to soften the tough outer shell. Put everything into the blender, including the flaxseed and soaking water. Blend until smooth and frothy. This is a really refreshing drink. You can find the original recipe here.
Helping the Detox Process
Being our largest organ, the skin is where the body excretes many of its toxins. Sweating, cell turnover and even acne are all ways the body rids itself of toxins through the skin. In my research, I found this website that details many ways to supercharge the detox process.
Visiting a sauna can open the pores and cause sweating. Exercise can also be an energizing and healthy way to excrete sweat and eliminate toxins.
One of my favorite methods of enhancing the effects of detox includes dry brushing. It’s such a treat and always makes me feel like I’m physically brushing away all the bad stuff in my life.
Using a soft bristled brush, gently and rapidly stroke the skin, starting from the top of your head and going all the way to bottoms of your feet. Do this before showering or bathing. Dry brushing the skin a few times during detox has many positive effects:
- Encourages cell-turnover
- Increases circulation
- Unclogs pores
End your treatment with a nice, warm bath and good moisturizing lotion or body balm. Be sure to cleanse your brush between brushings.
Detoxing the Mind
Any good detoxification process will include methods to keep your mind and spirit clear and free of negativity. Light some incense, candles or sage, put on some music and just allow your mind to get in tune with your peaceful surroundings.
Here are a few of my favorite things to do during a 5-day detox that will help you align and your mind and body.
Meditation
Meditation is a wonderful way to release negative thoughts and strengthen your mind and spirit. It is something that can be enjoyed regardless of your spiritual beliefs.
Whether you prefer guided meditation, listening to calming music or simply sitting in silence, it is important to free yourself from distractions while meditating. You can set the mood with your favorite scents, using candles, incense or essential oils.
Try not to use artificial scents, as many of them contain neurotoxins and other unnatural ingredients that can counteract all of your detox efforts.
YouTube and Spotify offer many options to choose from, including soothing spa music or relaxing guided meditations.
Fasting
You probably noticed I never gave a drink for the last day. That’s because I saved that day to fast and only drink water.
Fasting can be used for both spiritual and physical reasons. During your detox, I would encourage you to fast for at least one meal. Step it up by fasting for an entire day (preferably your last).
The University of Southern California concluded that fasting for just 3 days could be highly beneficial to the body. The immune system is energized during a fast, causing an increase in the body’s production of white blood cells. Fasting was even found to decrease the toxic effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients.
Fasting also seems to reset the body, which makes the day after your fast perfect to eat clean and start cutting out any unhealthy foods you’ve always wanted to give up.
If you don’t want to give up food, consider fasting from social media and TV for one or all days of your detox.
Having reached the end of my 5-day detox, I feel renewed and energized. I’m actually eager to do another one in the next few months.
Whichever methods you choose to incorporate into your detox, be sure to ALWAYS consult your physician first. Listen to your body and your mind during the entire process. Hopefully the tips I shared here will inspire you go through your own journey.
Have you ever gone through a detox? Share your experience.
