Simple & Gentle Detoxes for the End of Winter

In the past, whenever I heard the word “detox,” I thought of processes that took the body for a wild ride. Think: fasting for days, only eating cayenne pepper-laced smoothies for a period of time, taking extreme measures to make sure one or more holes of the body were squeaky clean. Cut to today, and as a health coach, I have a better understanding of the natural detox processes in the body and how to support them daily with gentle and effective strategies. After all, no one wants to end their winter by lying on the bathroom floor with a coffee enema…right? (I’m right.) 

Your body already knows what it’s doing

Our bodies are beautiful, glorious things. They are actually magical if you want to know the truth. The fact that we are living and breathing all the time is just a wonder considering all the processes our body must go through to make that happen. Not only that, but our bodies are so brilliant that they contain all of the healing we already need. All we have to do is remove the obstacles standing in our way. And that includes the toxic load we modern humans have become accustomed to carrying.

You probably already know that your liver is a key organ in detoxification of the body. But it doesn’t work alone. Your kidneys, intestines, bladder, skin and more all have a role to play, too. Elimination and detoxification occur through sweat, urine and stool, after toxins have been transformed from fat soluble compounds to water soluble compounds in the liver. You body has been performing this process many times a day for your entire life, but taking the time to give it more support will help you to get rid of even more toxins as we step into spring.

Some signs you may be carrying a higher toxin load include: fluid retention, skin breakouts, congestion, red eyes, waking consistently between 2a and 4a, PMS or an erratic cycle, “hanger,” constipation or diarrhea, bloating, weight gain, low energy and irritability. 

How to support your body’s natural detox process

It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require some intention. Here are some basic ways to support your body in detoxing. (Bonus points if you are already doing some of these!)

Breathe

Taking deep, slow breaths is a great way to help your body get rid of toxins through the lungs. If you want to take it one step further, elongate your exhales OR when you are done exhaling, push out a little more air to fully empty the lungs. Then, take a nice deep cleansing inhale. 

Drink Water

Hydration is a KEY to helping your body with the elimination process, but most of us aren’t drinking enough water. Aim for half your body weight in ounces daily. If you are sick of water, throw in lemon, lime or even an electrolyte supplement like LMNT. 

Move

Our bodies send toxins out through our skin in the form of sweat. You don’t need to workout for hours every day to reap some benefits. Start with something easy, like 10-30 minutes a day of moderate movement. Whether that is dancing, a brisk walk, lifting weights or HIIT is up to you! 

Try herbal teas

Many herbs offer an excellent support for your body’s gentle detoxification. Dandelion is one of the more well-known, but nettle is also a great support. Both can be found at most health food stores. Just check with your doc if you are pregnant, nursing or have any other underlying medical conditions.

Support digestion and gut health

Some keys to healthy digestion include chewing food all the way and eating slowly and mindfully. You can drink some warm water with lemon or apple cider vinegar to aid digestions further. For a healthy gut, eat plenty of fiber and try to eat at least one fermented food daily, such as yogurt, kimchi or sauerkraut. 

Eat the rainbow

Colorful fruits and vegetables contain many different antioxidants that have different jobs in the body. Therefore, variety is your best friend. See how many colors you can get on your plate daily or weekly! Fresh salads and soups are a great way to do this. 

Switch out your beauty products

The hard truth is that many of us are putting toxins on our skin every day, only to be absorbed into our bloodstream. See if you can make some swaps for more planet and body-friendly cosmetics and beauty products. Find an exhaustive list here: https://www.ewg.org/areas-focus/personal-care-products

Choosing one or two of these to start with is a great way to support your body’s natural detox processes this season. As we finish out the end of winter and head into springtime, you can mirror mother nature and clean out the cobwebs before enjoying the freshly blooming season!