Learning how to detox can help you achieve optimal health. What is detox? It is a process of removing toxins and chemicals from the body to restore energy levels and improve overall health. On a daily basis, our bodies are attacked with toxins from a variety of sources including: industrial gases, exhaust fumes, pollutants, tobacco, alcohol, food additives, prescription drugs, harmful chemicals, obesity, stress, and other contributing factors. Don’t waste your money on expensive detox powders, drinks, juices or supplements. You can detox with a simple change in dietary habits and easy health care routines. Discover easy ways to detox at home for beautiful skin!

ANTIOXIDANT FOODS

Change your bad eating habits. Eliminate or at least reduce the intake of alcohol, refined sugar, saturated fat, coffee and tobacco from your diet. These toxic obstacles will slow down the detoxification process. Instead, eat a healthy serving of antioxidant foods. Colorful fruits and vegetables with vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene have high concentrations of antioxidants. Foods like: carrots, oranges, spinach, apples, strawberries, peas, green peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli are some healthy foods with antioxidant benefits. There are many more antioxidant foods!

ANTIOXIDANT DRINKS

Stay away from drinks with a high sugar content. Look for 100% natural fruit juices or make your own, freshly squeezed, homemade juices. Pomegranate juice has many antioxidants. It is a very healthy drink for the heart! Other good antioxidant drinks include: grape juice, cranberry juice, black cherry juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, apple juice, white tea, and green tea. Adding an antioxidant drink to your daily routine can be very convenient for those with busy schedules.

Drink water and flush out those toxins! The Mayo Clinic suggests the “8 x 8” average rule. The skin is made up of cells that contain water. If it doesn’t get the right amount of water, it can become tight, dry, flaky, less resilient, prone to wrinkles, develop acne, blemishes, and show signs of other poor skin conditions. If you are trying to get rid of blackheads, blemishes, or acne and notice a worsening effect of drinking water, don’t worry, this improved condition is only temporary. Toxins have accumulated over time and are now being removed from the skin. Acne breakouts will be less likely once the toxins are removed from the skin.

WARNING! Don’t drink too much water. Drinking too much water can cause mild to serious health problems and even death. It can overtax your circulatory system, putting too much stress on your heart and kidneys. It can cause hyponatremia, having too little sodium in the blood. It can cause mild to severe headache and intercranial pressure.

DETOX DIET WARNING!

Be careful if you are on a “detox diet”. Detox diets may not be for everyone. They are not recommended for normal or active adolescents, people with diabetes, heart disease, or chronic medical conditions. Detox diets should be avoided if you are pregnant or have an eating disorder. Detox supplements can have side effects. Many supplements are laxatives that cause dehydration, mineral imbalances, and digestive problems. Also, fasting can cause a slow metabolic rate. Do not stop eating from any of the major food groups without talking to your health care provider.

Be smart. Look up detox diet recipes with nutritious foods and antioxidants. Check local bookstores for detox diet cookbooks. These cookbooks are also available online. Reading consumer recommendations before shopping online can help you decide if a certain cookbook might be better for you than another.

DRY SKIN BRUSHING

Dry skin brushing has been used around the world for centuries. This gentle and effective process stimulates the lymphatic channels and nerve endings, increases blood circulation, removes dead skin cells, improves skin texture, increases skin cell turnover, removes clogged pores and further! Dry skin brushing is a powerful way to cleanse the lymphatic system. Skin brushing stimulates the release of waste material from cells near the surface of the body. Eventually, most of the toxins, with their carrier cells, reach the colon for elimination. Dry skin brushing cleanses the skin without removing the protective acid mantle. Skin can tighten, show a reduction in cellulite, and have an overall radiant, youthful appearance. Many beauty salons use dry skin brushing as part of their program.

Use an all-natural, non-synthetic plant fiber brush. Synthetic fiber brushes can irritate the skin. Brushes come in short or long handle types. Long-handled brushes are best for hard-to-reach places, like your back. Dry brushes are made to be used dry, although there are some brushes that you can use wet. Before bathing or showering, brush the skin in continuous motions from the outer extremities to the center of your body. Start on the soles of the feet. BAIL! Avoid brushing rashes, wounds, cuts, infections, poison oak, poison ivy, or broken areas of the skin. Do not dry brush your face, breast nipples, or any sensitive area of ​​the body. Use delicate, light strokes around the breast area.

Next, take a warm shower or bath and a cool rinse to invigorate blood circulation, then dry off well. Afterward, you may want to massage your skin with natural plant oils including: coconut, almond, avocado, sesame, sunflower, or apricot oil. It all depends on your preference.

Clean your brush at least once a week with soap and water. Try not to get the wood too wet when cleaning it. Wet wood can cause warping. Store your brush in a dry, open, sunny place to prevent mold and mildew growth.

DETOX BATH

The prolonged immersion time, in hot water, eliminates toxins through perspiration and lymphatic drainage. Stimulates blood circulation and promotes skin cell renewal. Detox with a steam bath, sauna, spa or in a hot tub at home! Bath salts can help cleanse, exfoliate, detoxify, and soften the skin. Bath salts with regular sea salts, Dead Sea salts, goat’s milk, and MSM (methylsulfonymethane) are especially effective. MSM is a natural, organic, non-toxic and odorless white crystal. It looks like table sugar. MSM is a powerful detoxifying ingredient! MSM allows water and nutrients to flow freely into cells while allowing waste and toxins to flow out. Skin care benefits of MSM include: reduces inflammation, relieves painful arthritis, eases muscle or joint pain, reduces scar tissue, detoxifies the body, increases blood circulation, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and helps to heal small wounds

Soaking in a tub with commercial or homemade bath salts allows an osmosis process to facilitate the exchange of toxins from inside the body for the necessary minerals dissolved in the water. Commercial or homemade bath salts may be unscented or have aromatherapy benefits.

FACIAL CREAM WITH GREEN TEA

Look for a commercial or homemade face cream with natural extracts, including: rosemary, cucumber, allantoin, Roman chamomile, cornflower, and green tea! Green tea, especially, is a powerful antioxidant. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Rejuvenates the skin, reduces puffiness, prevents sun damage, increases elasticity, tones and protects.

EXERCISE

Most of us lead busy lives, but a regular exercise routine can: tone muscles, increase oxygen and nutrients to cells, remove toxins from the body, and improve digestion. It is important that you do not overload your system with too much stress or tension. Learn to control your own pace. For example, when you walk, aim for about thirty minutes a day, at least three days a week, at a comfortable, invigorating pace.

RELAX AND BREATHE

Deep breathing occurs by contracting the diaphragm, a muscle located between the chest and stomach cavities. It is different from shallow or chest breathing. Deep breathing exercises help burn fat, boost metabolism, increase energy, reduce stress, reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, strengthen abdominal and intestinal muscles, flush out harmful toxins, and relieve general aches and pains. Allows a release of endorphins throughout the body. The up and down movement of the diaphragm increases blood flow and helps flush out toxins.

Yoga therapy is a way of learning to control deep breathing. This ancient discipline from India is known for its mental, physical and spiritual insights. It is known to have an overall calming, relaxing and calming effect on the body. However, you don’t have to take Yoga to breathe deeply. People breathe deeply even while sleeping. If you can, try to pay more attention to how you’re breathing throughout the day. Most shallow breathers are unaware of their condition.

BE SMART

Be smart about detoxifying your body. Choose nutritious, healthy, and antioxidant foods and drinks. Be more aware of the ingredients in your commercial or homemade skin care products. Make time to get active and move your body! Relax and take a deep breath, from time to time. Your body is already designed to purify itself!