7 Ways to Detox your Life

(Additional text for ebook)

 

#1 Detoxify your environment

It's probably a good thing that we don't always know what we are breathing in because if we did, we'd probably never leave the house. However, there is one place where we can better control the toxins that we breathe in…our homes. There are many ways to help detoxify your environment that should be performed on a weekly and/or monthly basis. Dust, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and all that we track in from outside can lead to a toxic environment. Of course, everyone knows not to buy and use products that contain toxins or other harsh chemicals, and that an air purifier is essential but here are a few things to put on your "to-do" list to make your home not only cleaner but healthier as well.

 

• Change out your filters

You don't necessarily need to purchase expensive "allergen-free" filters but get into the routine of switching out the old filter to help improve the air quality in your home. Of course, ou can pat yourself on the back for being committed enough to living more toxin-free by purchasing an air purifier but don’t forget, they have filters that need to be switched out to optimize their usefulness.

 

• Shampoo your carpets

This is extremely important if you have children and/or pets. They spend a lot more time on the floor than we do and are at ground zero for bad pathogens. Look for a carpet cleaning company that uses natural products and specializes in "allergy-free" cleaning. If you can't afford to have your carpets professionally cleaned, you can rent a cleaner from your local grocery store usually for more than half the cost of a professional cleaning.

 

• Wash your curtains & pillows

People often forget to wash their curtains and bed and/or throw pillows but they collect as much dirt and dander as the floors. If they are machine washable, that's great. Be sure to use a chemical-free detergent. However, if you have to have them dry cleaned, make sure to use a dry cleaner who uses toxic-free cleaners. If not, you are just trading one bad toxin for another.

 

 

#2 Detox your grocery list

Have you struggled with eliminating complex carbs, sugar, processed foods from your grocery list? I struggled with this as well until one day it hit me…make a list of all the foods that help my body work better, write it down, and that's all I'm going to buy at the store. I know it sounds sort of silly but once you are going down the aisles, you find yourself thinking "oh, that sounds good to eat" and plunk it goes in the cart. If you don't trust yourself not to bring toxic food home, almost every grocery store chain now has online shopping where you can order online, create a shopping list, and pick-up at the store or have your order delivered to your door. So create a shopping list with all the super-foods and cleansing items you will need and stick to it.  You can't eat or drink bad things if they aren't around.

 

Here are some words to avoid when it comes to food buying.

• Anything that has most of the alphabet in it

• Processed

• Refined

• Sugar

• Enriched

• Artificial

• MSG

• High Fructose Corn Syrup

• Potassium Sorbate

 

#3 Detox Drinks

This is truly for those who are dedicated to becoming more toxin-free. It's not that it is too hard or a radical way to accomplish this, it just takes a little practice to get into the routine of dedicating a day or two and making that detox smoothies or creating a cleansing drink. Plan one weekend a month or maybe every Monday to balance an "unhealthy" weekend. Once you get into the habit of drinking these healing concoctions, you will be amazed at how much better you feel and how quickly you lose those "sluggish" and "bloated" feelings behind.

 

Here are a few common cleansing drink recipes.

 

Apple Fennel Cleansing Juice (use to replace one meal a day)

1/2 fennel bulb

2 apples

1/2 small red cabbage

Small wedge of lemon or lime

 

Green Smoothie (use to replace one meal a day)

• 1 cup kale or collard greens firmly packed, stems removed, coarsely chopped (4 ounces)

• 1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped

• 1 ripe banana

• 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Combine kale, apple, banana, parsley, and 2 1/4 cups water in a blender; blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more water.

 

Lemon, Maple Syrup, Cayenne Cleanse (recommended once a month for 1 or 2 days)

*Pour ½ tsp. of cayenne pepper into a 10-ounce glass.

*Add 4 Tbsp. of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

* Fill the glass with warm water and stir thoroughly.

*Add ½ tsp. of organic maple syrup to sweeten the mixture, if desired.

*Drink on an empty stomach each month to cleanse your colon.

*Cayenne pepper breaks down mucus in your colon, while lemon juice eliminates toxins.

*Do take the time to experiment with your threshold for cayenne pepper so that you don’t hurt your stomach.

*Be prepared that this can elicit immediate reaction and that it may be unusual for you to experience at first, but it’s a great cleanse.

*This is really not intended for weight loss, but rather for a good natural cleanse that your body needs no more than once per month.

 

Apple, Ginger, Psyllium Cleanse(recommended once a month for 1 to 2 days)

* Juice enough apples to fill an 8 oz. glass.

* If you do not have a juicer, fill the glass with organic apple juice.

*Add 1 tsp. each ground ginger and ground psyllium husk.

*Mix thoroughly or blend on low until smooth.

*Psyllium binds waste materials together, while ginger flushes toxins from the colon so it’s a great combination.

*The nutrients in the apple juice will support your colon during the cleanse.

*Do be sure to drink plenty of water after this cleanse to keep the digestive system moving.

*You can enjoy some light eating after you perform this cleanse, but give it time to take effect..

 

 

#4 Detox by Fasting

I know what you're probably thinking…how can not eating for a whole day be good for me? I'm not saying to just drink water and put a padlock on the fridge! A healing fast involves drinking natural, organic juices from fresh fruits and vegetables (like those listed above). When you fast, you give your body a chance to not have to be focused on digestion and breaking down food and potential toxins. So your body has a chance to recharge providing you with more energy and a more effective digestive system once your fast is over.

 

Here are a couple of tips to have a successful fast.

• Do it on the weekend at home

By doing it over the weekend, you will be able to stay in, rest, and be away from temptations.

• Set your alarm

Set your phone alarm or any other digital alarm to remind you to drink every few hours (preferably every 3-4 hours). It is important that you stay hydrated.

• Don't forget the water

Don't just drink fruit or vegetable drinks. Drink water (especially with lemon) throughout the day to stave off that hungry feeling and to help remove toxins.

 

 

#5 Detoxify what you drink

A key part of detoxing is to drink a lot of water but if you are drinking contaminated water, you are defeating the purpose of drinking it. It amazes me that many of my friends drink water right out of the tap and even give it to their kids and pets to drink as well. Although every city has set rules for water purification, their idea of "pure" drinking water often includes such things as chlorine, fluoride, and other "allowable" elements at "acceptable" levels. Consider buying a water dispenser and get water delivered to your home. Or purchasing purified or distilled water at the grocery store. Also, stop drinking soda not only because it is full of caffeine and sugar but if you can use it to to clean the gunk off your car battery by pouring it on it….is that really something you should be drinking?  Many people can't do without their morning coffee because they have become addicted to caffeine. Easy enough…switch out your coffee for green teat which has caffeine in it but is a naturally detoxify drink.  Buy green tea with dandelion added to it and you are off to a great start every morning to staying toxin-free.

 

 

#6 Detoxify with Natural healing

We have been taught in this modern world of medicine that when we get sick, we should rush to the doctor where we will receive antibiotics and other pills.  With every medication we are given, we are dumping toxins into our bodies. For example, did you know that 342 million people globally are diabetic? One in every 2 adults in North America have diabetes or pre-diabetes. All of them are put on medication to balance their blood sugar levels. These medications while doing their job are not good for a patient's overall health. Before running off for a quick fix of your current health issues, consider a few toxic-free and detox-freeing ideas below.

 

Healing herbs

For centuries people all over the globe have and still do use herbs to aid in healing and cleansing their bodies. Using these herbs in teas and in dishes can greatly aid in your toxin-free lifestyle. Before you use them, make sure to research how to use it and how much to take according to what medicines you are currently taking.

 

• Green Tea

• Garlic

• Basil

• Cilantro

• Dandelion

• Turmeric

• Milk Thistle

• Cypress

• Hydrangea Root

• Gravel Root

 

Massages

Massages should not be considered as a "luxury" that we give ourselves on special occasions. A deep tissue massage not only makes you feel wonderful, it is actually an amazing way to get rid of built-up toxins. When you are getting a massage, the masseuse pushes on pressure points or spots where toxins tend to build up, helping your body to release them. This helps you to naturally detox the body and get rid of the things that often are making you ill. It is important to use a registered massage therapist. If done incorrectly, you can cause your body more harm than good. Also, be sure to drink a lot of water after your massage to help flush out those "loosened up" toxins.

 

 

Acupuncture

People don't often think about acupuncture as a way to get rid of toxins. However, it is one of the better ways to cleanse. This holistic and ancient practice works by helping to release zones in your body that are blocked due to toxins or other harmful substances. Instantly, people think you're crazy to pay someone to stick you with needles! This practice has been around for many centuries and maps out our body into "zones" where blockage occurs so that your body can begin to heal. It really is pain-free and often when it is finished, people often report a sort of euphoric feeling. Of course, it goes without saying but be sure to go to a licensed acupuncturist. If done incorrectly, it can cause damage. But if you are looking to get help with not only releasing toxins but sinus problems, migraines, menopause issues, etc. this is truly a great way to a healthier body without any medications.

 

#7 Detoxify your mental health

Battling mental health issues not only affects our outlook on life and how we feel but it also opens the door for toxins. We live in a generation where millions of people are depressed, full of anxiety, and often mentally exhausted. We go to our therapist and more often than not are handed a prescription for anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication. These wreak havoc on your body. Many people have legitimate reasons for their poor mental health but more often than not, it could be related to what you put in your body and what you allow to be around you. Toxins not only affect your body but your mind as well. Add to that that other people can be toxic by the way they treat you or what they put in your mind. Add all of this up, and being a happy and healthy individual is hard to do.

 

Here are a few ways to detoxify your mind.

 

Meditation

Learning to block out all that is around you is a true talent. Meditation is a great way to detox your mind. You don't necessarily have to buy a mat, sit cross-legged, or learn to hum. Start with just taking the first 5 minutes before you wake up and remind yourself 3 things that you did well the day before, decide on 3 things you want to do better today, and think of 3 positive words that describe you as a person. If you do this simple exercise every morning, you'll be surprised how your mental health can become better and safeguards it throughout your day.

 

Yoga

Everyone knows that yoga is good for you. Not only does it include meditation but it also helps with its deep breathing technique to help your organs heal and prevent toxin damage.  Staying limber and building muscle aids in losing built-up body fat that is toxic to your organs while creating lean muscle that makes your body into a well-oiled machine.

 

Get rid of toxic people

It would be so lovely to always be surrounded by people who are cheerful and supportive but we can't always control who is around us. There is that guy at work who is always down and takes it out on those near him.  The streets are full of "road-ragers" who can completely spoil your daily commute. Or you have a friend who is always sad and brings drama to your doorstep. Maybe you have a parent or spouse who constantly points out where you are failing or everything they consider that you are doing wrong.  That's a hard one since you can't often just seclude yourself from family and friends. However, you can make a decision to try and surround yourself with positive people who will be "cheerleaders" for you. Rid yourself of people who are always negative. Sit down with your mother or a sister or brother and have a real conversation about how what they say affects you. It's much hard to be down on yourself if you encircle yourself with positivity.

 

Find your "happy place"

Everyone has a "happy place" that they love to go to whether it is a garden, a park, a favorite restaurant or any other place that makes us happy and brings a smile just thinking about it.  More important than that, is creating a "happy place" that you can go to in your mind. This is great for those places we get stuck in like the doctor's office waiting room or a grocery store checkout, for example. You can even use this technique if you are suffering from insomnia because you can't turn off the noise in your head. Literally, lie down for 5 or 10 minutes and remember a place that made you the happiest.  Maybe picture a person sitting with you that whenever you are with them, makes you calm. Fill in the details….is it outside and the sun is shining? Are you sitting on a wooden bench or a swing set? What are the noises and smells that are around you? Once you get it in your mind's eye, it will be a tranquil place just waiting for you when toxic places and toxic people surround you.