Nutrition & Lifestyle Habits For An Effective Detox

The human body has an amazing natural ability to defend, repair and heal itself. The two main obstacles to this process are – toxins that block cell functioning and a lack of nutrients needed for this process to occur. 

With 70,000 industrial chemicals in constant circulation and 1,000 new synthetic chemicals introduced each year, escaping them is simply not possible. Toxins build up in our cells and tissues more quickly than they are eliminated. 

Cleansing and detox is a modern "must" of life. This is even more important as we age and our organs become less efficient at detox. Successful detox will help with a variety of symptoms including excess weight, headaches, saggy skin, dark circles around the eyes, acne, allergies, depression, low energy, poor concentration, chronic fatigue, inflammation and pain.

Read on to discover some of my nutrition and lifestyle tips that will help your body to eliminate toxins and boost your overall health!

How to eliminate toxins from your body and boost your overall health?

Make sure you engage all of your channels of detoxification

The main channels of detoxification are bowel, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood and lymph. Herbal medicine is a powerful tool to support various organs and systems involved in detox. My detox protocol includes herbs that stimulate bile production and enhance liver function, diuretic herbs to increase elimination via kidneys, lymphatic tonics that enhance circulation, clear toxins from lymph and purify the blood, and carminative herbs to support enzyme secretion and speed up metabolic function. 

Everyone is individual and the programme should always take into account unique characteristics of each person, their health challenges, digestive capacity, levels of stress and toxicity to ensure the best results. Some people achieve results quite quickly, for others the shift may take longer, because there may be some obstacles such as hormonal imbalances or digestive problems that will need to be addressed.

 The same can be said about the diet especially given the amount of food intolerances and preferences that people have these days. However, some principles below will apply to most.

Eat whole foods

Make sure you buy fresh, organic whole foods and, where possible, local and seasonal produce as it will have the highest nutrient content. The more variety of recipes you include each week, the better! Avoid processed, sugary foods and anything that contains irritants and allergens. 

Reduce acidic foods (meat, rice, sweeteners) and add more alkaline foods (most vegetables, buckwheat, quinoa, lentils) into your diet.

*Apple cider vinegar is acidic on contact, but is actually alkaline for the body and should not be excluded.

Up your fruits and veggies!

Aim for around 8-10 portions a day and try to include as many colour varieties as possible, in other words... eat a rainbow! Including a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet will ensure you're absorbing as many nourishing nutrients as possible that will aid digestion, offer protection and support your body's toxin-elimination processes. 

Reduce the workload of digestion

Eat smaller portions and include at least two blended meals a day (soups, smoothies, broths), as these are metabolised faster; allowing your body to enter detox mode. 

Allow at least 12 hours between the last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day. Detox mode starts eight hours after your last meal and you need approximately four hours for proper cleansing. 

Stay hydrated

Avoid tap water if you can as it contains drug residues such as hormones and antibiotics, heavy metals, chlorine, gasoline, pesticides and disease-causing micro-organisms. 

Aim to drink around 2 litres of water a day using a water filter or bottled spring water. Start the day with a cup of warm water with the juice from ½ squeezed lemon to stimulate liver cleansing and kickstart your metabolism. 

Prioritise sleep  

Try to get around 8 hours of sleep per night. Good-quality sleep will encourage healing in the body, supporting cellular regeneration and repair. Avoid blue-light exposure from screens at least 90 minutes before bed as this can disrupt your sleep hormones. 

Sweat it out

Sweating is a great way to eliminate toxins from the body. To do so efficiently, the circulatory system must be invigorated. Just 20 minutes a day of heart-pounding exercise is all that is needed. If this is not possible then try brisk (power) walking for ¼ hour to ¾ hour. Swimming, dancing, yoga, pilates; anything will help according to your abilities.

Intermittent fasting

For more powerful health benefits and weight loss consider intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is when you eat during a specific period of time, and you fast the rest of the time. There are several different types of intermittent fasting. Some people fast for one or two days at a time, while others fast for 18 hours a day. For many, the easiest way to fast is to skip an evening meal.

The benefits of intermittent fasting extend beyond weight loss and detoxification and include increased energy, reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation, better memory and concentration, cellular repair, improved heart health.

Colonic Hydrotherapy

Colonic hydrotherapy is extremely powerful in removing different pathogens and toxins, such as bacteria, parasites, and heavy metals from the colon. Due to the colon’s folds, these toxins cannot always be excreted during our natural elimination process and can accumulate for many years. Colonic hydrotherapy works by using warm water to gently remove waste matter, rehydrate and exercise the large intestine; stimulating natural nerve and muscle action to encourage bowel function.

Cleanse the lungs

Pranayamas are breathing exercises developed by the ancient yogis for purification of body and mind. Prana is the universal life force. It is the vital energy needed by your physical and subtle layers of your being. Prana flows through thousands of subtle energy channels, called ‘nadis’. The quantity and quality of prana, and the way, in which it flows through the nadis, determine your state of mind.

Clear the mind

Harmony within the body is greatly dependent upon the balance of the mind! Try meditating when you're feeling stressed, enjoy finding stillness on a calming walk in nature, practice deep breathing techniques (see above) or write a gratitude list every day. Check out our blog post all about how to effectively detox your mind. Even adopting just one of these habits for a short time each day can be hugely transformative for your mental health. 

Are you interested in learning more about detox? Perhaps you're ready to invest in your health this New Year and finally put yourself first. 

Utilising the power of herbs, I can support you through a safe and transformative detoxification journey. Herbs are extremely effective in boosting your nutrient intake, stimulating bowel production and encouraging the elimination of toxins. They keep your detox pathways open and flowing, and will kickstart the cleansing process. 

Many herbs have a particular affinity with different parts of your detox system, including the liver, colon, lymphatic system, kidneys or skin. I will work with you to understand your personal detox goals and build a programme that is tailored to you. 

Join my 30-day detox programme and get your power back!

What's included?

★ 1 x consultation with an in-house herbalist including an individualised diet and wellness plan ★ 4 x infrared sauna sessions ★ Herbal supplements and a dietary plan included ★ Ongoing WhatsApp support during the program ★ PLUS, a complimentary massage BONUS, worth £135 - 1 x detoxifying massage at our premium spa ★

Offer valid until February 14th, 2023. The first 5 bookings will receive a gift of a Body Brush for at-home lymphatic drainage.

Price £499, with a free bonus worth £135!

If you'd like to learn more about detox and discuss the programme in more detail, click below to book your complimentary 15 minute discovery call with me::

BOOK FREE 15 MIN DISCOVERY CALL 

EMAIL: [email protected]

02033011012 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author: Jenya Di Pierro

Founder, Naturopath & Herbal Medicine Practitioner

BSc, MSc, DipCNM, AMH, ANP