Yes, it's now time to give some attention to your beautiful and very clever body. Without any added stresses such as fatty foods, bad diets, excess sugar, chemicals, toxins, environmental pollution and your own "mental miss use" such as stress (which is highly toxic as it releases free radicals which accelerates aging) your body could quite efficiently detox itself via the skin (your largest organ) along with other key organs and circulatory systems.
However in the world we live today our bodies need all the extra support they can get for the efficient removal of harmful toxins.
Rather than give you an extensive list which can be overwhelming I felt it best to highlight five potent habits which are simple yet highly effective in detoxing your body naturally. Firstly, I'm keen to share my personal favourite.
Body brushing rocks:
I'm in love with body brushing and have been for years. It was when visiting my iridologist years ago he detected that my skin was not breathing at all. Even though my skin look perfectly fine to me, dead skin cells were invisibly lying on its surface blocking the elimination of toxins. This then put more pressure on my internal organs. Way back then the concept of my skin breathing was a total life changing awakening for me.
I immediately began giving full attention not just to my face and hands but to my entire skin covering my body. It soon started to breathe and detox with joy. The most obvious difference personally was increased energy levels.
Both sweating through the skins pores and dry or wet body scrubbing are fabulous ways for the skin to assist the body in detoxing naturally.
Five simple ways to detox your body naturally:
1. Dry body brushing:
It's easy, takes no more than five minutes before you shower and anyone can do it. Buy a brush mit or body brush (long brush is good so you can reach all the tricky places) from any health food store and give your entire body the attention, cleansing and stimulation it deserves.
Before you get into the shower or bath start by scrubbing the skin with gentle circular motions. This supports:
* removing dead skin cells
* unblocking pores
* stimulation of your lympathic system (very important)
* helps your skin breathe which in turn can oxygenate the body
In addition to a gentle circular motion you can vigorously scrub the skin which helps with cellulite and the removal of toxins at a deeper level.
2. Drinks lots of water:
Yes, I know boring, tricky for me to do in Winter but quite easy to manage in Summer when I tend to be thirster more often.
Drink as much fresh water as you can. Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp. Foggy thinking sets in when you are dehydrated.
Soft drinks, teas and coffees are not a substitute for water.
To make sure I remind myself to have lots of water during the day I have three glass water bottles. One beside my bed, one I take in the car and the other one beside the computer. I often leave one beside my handbag simply to remind me to take it with me when I'm going out. Even if I'm only going out for five minutes I'll still take it with me to keep the momentum flowing.
3. Focus on your breath:
The majority of people walking around this planet today have forgotten to breathe. Breathing can quickly make your thinking excited or calm, tense or relaxed, gentle and clear. Deep, slow and conscious breathing is the key to oxygenating your lungs, bloodstream, heart and whole brain.
Correct breathing (slow and deep) supports the removal of an enormous amount of carbon dioxide from your lungs and toxic gases from your body. It's also useful to imagine all stress, worries and laziness being released from your body as you exhale.
Opportunities to focus on your breathe throughout your day:
1. Before you get out of bed
2. Before you drive off in your car
3. Whilst sitting at your computer periodically during the day
4. Before you begin cooking
4. Sweat once a day:
Sweating regenerates your skin and helps detox the body. Living in a humid climate as I do in Queensland, Australia doesn't require much effort in getting the body to sweat. Couple this with drinking lots of water and you are well on the way to simply detoxifying your body. A sauna is another easy way to sweat with minimal effort on your part.
However exercise until you sweat is the ultimate way to detox the body as there are many many benefits with the physical work out as well.
Bikram yoga which I must admit to have not yet tried but have many friends that do is another option for allowing the body to sweat naturally. A bikram yoga class room is heated to 37 degrees (around the same temperature as our bodies temperature) and gives you the cleansing and detoxing benefits of a sauna along with the cleansing and detoxing benefits of certain yoga poses.
Here is a short youtube video on Bikram yoga in action.
5. Stretch:
Stretching improves blood circulation and releases toxins from your body. It is through my yoga practice, particularly the body twists which gently encourage the internal organs to release toxins. If you have never done yoga before I highly recommend it.
If getting to a yoga, tai chi, dance or stretch class is difficult there are lots of fabulous DVD's that you can buy for use in your own home or search you tube to learn more about stretching sequences you can do in your own home.
Thanks for reading my article.
Peace, love and lots of healthy bodies to you all, Carole.
Similar articles:
Detox your money worries: Free wealthy habits calender
Delete obstacles and welcome a rush of new opportunities:
Vitamins that fuel your soul:
Carole is a freelance writer and facilitator of a Womens rejuvenation retreats in Bali.
Her blog The Healthy Living Lounge offers regular doses of inspiration, comfort and wisdom for your body, mind and soul.
http://www.thehealthylivinglounge.com
