Many detox plans have gotten a reputation for being extreme, restrictive, and difficult to follow. However, the healthiest detoxes should be more about natural cleansing than starving yourself or choking down strange concoctions. Nutrition companies boast about the benefits of bodily cleansing products, but how beneficial can a natural detox really be?
Christine Gerbstadt, MD, author of The Doctor’s Detox Diet suggests incorporating more natural fruits and veggies, loading up on liquids, and cutting out as many processed artificial foods as possible. Here are a few other natural detox ideas to jump start a healthy diet this year. An excellent additional resource for you on this subject of detox is an article by Helen Nichols, “How to Detox Your Body: 35 Natural Strategies“. Helen is the editor in chief of Well Being Secrets.
Increase Your Fiber Intake
Natural fiber helps to cleanse the body and supports weight loss in healthy adults. It keeps the digestive tract working properly by pushing toxins and excess waste through more rapidly. Fiber is easy to find in healthy foods like beans, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Eat More Organic Foods
If you eat foods that were treated with pesticides before harvesting, you are consuming and digesting toxins that can build up and hinder the functioning of your bodily systems. Many nutritionists recommend choosing organic produce for fruits and vegetables that you eat the peel or outer layer of, like strawberries and tomatoes. An excellent additional resource for you on this subject of detox is an article by Helen Nichols, “How to Detox Your Body: 35 Natural Strategies“. Helen is the editor in chief of Well Being Secrets.
Cut Out Simple Carbohydrates & Fried Food
Simple carbohydrates like white bread, rice, and pasta can alter your blood sugar levels and deposit artificial preservatives into your digestive tract. Try to cut white sugar, white flour, and all fried foods out of your diet while pursuing a natural detox plan.
Blend Natural Detox Drinks
Consider replacing one meal per day with a detoxifying smoothie that includes lots of organic fruits and vegetables. This is a great way to jump start your metabolism and boost your digestive system’s functioning. Many people also feel an increase in their energy levels after replacing an unhealthy meal with a detoxifying blended drink. Here is a recipe idea from Natalia Rose, certified clinical nutritionist and author of The Raw Food Detox Diet: The Five-Step Plan for Vibrant Health and Maximum.
Green Detox Drink
- 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
Another easy green smoothie recipe requires you to blend just 1 cup of kale, 1 chopped Granny Smith apple, 1 ripe banana, and 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves. You can also create your own lemonade cleanse by mixing lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water. Dandelion tea and fresh cranberry juice are other great detoxifying drink options. Or you can get the benefit of the entire whole lemon, along with the juice, the pulp, seeds, skin and zest by substituting Seagate’s freeze-dried Lemon Powder for the lemon juice and reconstituting it with a little water.
Choose Natural Remedies Over Antibiotics
Antibiotics, which are meant to treat illnesses and health conditions, can actual contribute to toxins that cause illnesses in the body. Although some prescription medications may be necessary, try using natural home remedies for minor afflictions as often as possible. Our natural homeopathic Earache Remedy and Olive Leaf Nasal Spray can provide temporary relief of flu symptoms without the side effects of modern pharmaceutical drugs. Nopal Cactus which is high in fiber can help detox your intestines.
As you can see, there are lots of ways to help detoxify your body without ingesting chemical compounds that may end up causing more harm than good. Of course, working up a sweat while exercising, trying acupuncture, practicing meditation, and getting enough nightly sleep can work detoxifying wonders as well!
There are so many thousands of varieties of corals that it can sometimes be difficult to identify individual ones that are found while taking photos. The coral above falls under the categories of hard coral and cup corals. However, none of the identification books provide an example to identify this specific one. Shooting straight down, it looks like it was made like a vase for holding flowers. However, this vase might be more colorful than the flowers it could hold.