Practical detox

So often people ask me if they should do a cleanse, or fast, and which one to do. I have tried several cleanses in my life just to experiment to see how they work and what they do to my body. Any more, I am just not a huge fan of the "trendy" cleanse. I like to keep things practical, and easy.

What I have found from doing the "trendy" cleanse...

~some can be very expensive
~there are a LOT of pills, powders, and shakes to take
~they can be very harsh to the intestines...cramps, urgent running to the bathroom
~they won't let you eat...sometimes at all! (lemonade cleanse, NOT a fan)
~they are very low calorie and I end up not having enough energy to get through my day

In today's Huffington Post, Dr Mark Hyman posted a fantastic article on toxins, and how to get them out of our bodies. He gives a clear, practical, reasonable, and healthy way to detox...

10 Simple Steps to Enhance Detoxification

Proper detoxification is so essential for health that you need to start enhancing your body's ability to detoxify today. Here is how to do it:

1. Drink Clean -- Drink plenty of clean water, at least eight to ten glasses of filtered water a day.

2. Eliminate Properly -- Keep your bowels moving, at least once or twice a day. And if you can't get going, then you need some help. This can include taking two tablespoons of ground flax seeds and taking acidophilus and extra magnesium citrate capsules. If you have any chronic diseases or problems, you have to be careful about taking supplements and should work with your doctor.

3. Eat Clean -- You should also eat organic produce and animal products to eliminate the toxins, hormones, and antibiotics in your food.

4. Eat Detoxifying Food -- You should eat 8 to 10 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables a day, particularly family of the cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, collards, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi) and the garlic family (garlic and onions), which help increase sulfur in the body and help detoxification.

5. Minimize Drugs -- Avoid stimulants, sedatives, and drugs, such as caffeine and nicotine, and try to reduce alcohol intake.

6. Get Moving -- Exercise five days a week with focus on conditioning your cardiovascular system, strengthening exercises, and stretching exercises.

7. Avoid the White Menace -- This includes white flour and white sugar.

8. Sweat -- Sweat profusely at least three times a week, using a sauna, steam, or a detox bath.

9. Supplement -- Take a high-quality multivitamin and mineral supplement.

10. Relax -- Relax deeply every day to get your nervous system in a state of calm, rest, and relaxation.

Mark Hyman, MD

Here are a couple of things that I do to incorporate these habits...

*First thing in the morning, drink 1 liter of water to flush out.

*Sweat, move, get strong, and stretch with some yoga at Down Dog Yoga.

*Use Natural Calm Magnesium (sold at Whole Foods)

*Take Organic Life Vitamins (you can buy them HERE or from me)

I encourage you to get started on some of these. Let me know how it works for you!