Cleaning Out Your System by Detoxing (Part Two)

A detox diet provides a method of both cleansing the body as well as allowing the natural healing process to take over.

Detox diets are not necessarily one size fits all. They vary from person to person based on gender, age, individual fitness level and whether or not the person has restrictions to observe in terms of their diet. For the most part the foods you need to include in your diet are whole grains, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and yogurt with probiotics in it. You also need to include ample sources of protein such as beef, salmon and nuts. Drinking plenty of water is essential as is the consumption of fruit juices, such as acai berry. It is important that color and variety are well represented in your detox diet. All four food groups need to be eaten each and every day.

Detoxing your body can support both your physical and mental well-being in being the absolute best that it can be. Taking the time to detoxify can also provide an incentive to improve your diet on a more permanent basis. If your body is functioning the way that nature intended then everything will be in synchronicity. This means that not only will your body work better, but you will feel better and look much better as well.

Foods to Eat for a Successful Detox

There are plenty of foods that make for a successful detoxification. Leafy green vegetables are one of the best. Your liver can be helped tremendously by consuming these types of vegetables because they contain an abundant supply of chlorophyll. Some examples of the types of vegetables that will work well on a detox diet and beyond include broccoli, collard greens, Swiss chard, kale, romaine lettuce and spinach.

Any of these vegetables can be eaten raw or can be steamed and eaten that way. You can easily incorporate them into your diet by way of casseroles, soups, salads and gravies. If you like you can even juice these vegetables. For getting rid of toxins that have built up in the system nothing works better then leafy green vegetables.

If you are not used to eating sesame seeds then it is about time you did. Sesame seeds are composed of a substance called tahini and this substance is extremely effective at correcting chemical imbalances in the body and getting rid of harmful toxins. Sesame seeds also provide a sufficient amount of protection and safety for liver cells in terms of alcohol consumption. For centuries sesame seeds have been an integral part of the Chinese culture. If the thought of eating sesame seeds does not appeal to you then try something a little smoother such as sesame seed oil. Sesame seed oil can be included in cooking and recipes such as a shrimp stir fry.

You have probably heard about all of the many benefits that garlic brings to the body. It is excellent for the heart while it also helps to detoxify the liver and works well in terms of flushing toxins out of system. It also works as a liver stimulant. Find as many ways as possible to incorporate garlic into your daily diet.

Cleaning out your system by detoxing would not be complete without green tea (and a little lemon thrown in for good measure!).Green tea is an antioxidant that works well as a detoxifying agent as it helps to eliminate harmful toxins from the body. Drinking green tea with lemon is a smart choice as you double your detoxifying benefits by two. Double the effort, double the efficiency! Just remember, there is no milk, cream or sugar allowed.

Cleaning out your system by detoxing can improve your overall quality of life and make you feel like you are on top of the world. Following a detox diet can also pave the way for a healthier and brighter future!

Get more information on body detoxing here.

Now what are you waiting for? It’s detoxing time!

Samantha

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Cleaning Out Your System by Detoxing (Part One)

Detoxification is a way to clean out your system when it is overloaded by toxins and it also acts as a means of improving your way of eating.

Are you feeling stressed out, starved for proper nutrition and just generally yucky? Do you lack energy? Has your hair lost its sheen? Is your skin looking a little worse for wear and your eyes are no longer glowing with good health? If yes, then it may be time to look at a nature form of cleansing for your body.

What does that mean? In a word- detoxification!

Detoxification (or detoxing for short) is the process whereby the body gets rid of toxic substances that have built up over time in the cells and organs. Toxics can exit the body by way of urine, feces and sweat. The toxins that accumulate in the body can cause inflammation and illnesses to occur.

Toxin build-up takes place as a result of many of the foods we eat. In particular, processed, fatty and fried foods can leave a trail of harmful food chemicals in the body. Pollutants also enter the body by way of the water we drink, the air we breathe and the environment at large.

The liver and colon are the two organs that are at the center of the detoxification process. While they do the best they can, keeping up with a barrage of new toxins all of the time can cause these organs to need to work harder and harder. The more help we can provide them by the way we live, the better.

The digestive system and the kidneys get rid of whatever toxins they can. Whatever is left goes into the bloodstream and from there finds its way to the liver. The liver then does its part to flush the toxins out of the body at as rapid a rate as possible.

The Purpose of Detoxing

Detoxing provides the body with a break in order that it can work better in terms of absorbing nutrients and getting rid of waste. It is also a method of getting rid of extra pounds that have crept up. A body detox will cleanse the body and help to facilitate the process of healing. It can provide relief for problems such as sluggishness, frequent headaches, aches and pains, and an overall feeling of malaise. If you feel that your body is being dragged down and your energy is not what it once was then detoxing might be exactly what you require to get back on the track of glowing and vivacious health!

What to Do and What Not to Do

When most people think of detoxifying the body, thoughts of deprivation and dietary extremes come to mind. While you can go the route of fasting, such as going on a water or juice fast, experts says that it is healthier and gentler on the body to not do anything drastic. Being too drastic puts undue pressure on your heart and can be a shock to the system.

Think of a detox instead as a much-needed nutritional break. A detox should last for an average of a week. During this time you need to consume a diet that is nutritious and as well-balanced as possible. Make sure all of the foods you eat are high in antioxidants, essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. It is important that you drink lots of water and plenty of clear natural juices. Get plenty of rest while detoxing as your body is going through a transition and fatigue can  be a common side effect. Exercising while detoxing is a good idea but keep your physical activities to a moderate level.

Read my next post for some more information on detoxing the body in part two of this series.

Samantha

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The Process for Dry Skin Brushing

Dry skin brushing is an excellent way to improve the look and the function of your skin and the process will take only minutes a day.

First of all, buy the right kind of brush. The best type of brush for dry skin brushing is a natural bristle brush that will not damage the skin in any way. Choose one made with vegetable bristles.  Aim for a brush with bristles that are not too soft but not too stiff and unyielding either. Also look for a brush with a long handle in order that you can reach those hard-to-reach areas such as the middle of your back. 

Once you have the brush, you are all set. Dry skin brushing is one of the least expensive forms of alternative healing that you will come across. The best time to brush your skin is in the morning or at night before your shower because you have to disrobe to do it. No clothes allowed! This is also the best time of day to do it because the dead skin cells that are brushed off your body can be washed away in the shower afterwards. Dry skin brushing can be done once a day and even twice a day if you tend to have two showers a day or a shower and a bath.

Make sure your skin remains dry for the duration of the dry skin brushing- thus the name DRY SKIN BRUSHING.

Here is the procedure:

1. The feet contain pressure points that are associated with all of the body’s major organs so begin at the soles of your feet. Brush gently but with a steady movement.
2. Next, brush your ankles, calves and thighs. You should feel the bristles of the brush on your skin but it should feel tingly as opposed to uncomfortable. If it does feel uncomfortable then you are being too rough and need to ease up a bit.
3. Brush across your stomach and then move the brush around to do your buttocks.
4. Now brush your lower back and then move up to do your middle back and then your upper back and your shoulders.
5. Once your shoulders are finished, do the front of your neck and then the back but be gentle.
6. Now it is time to do your arms and hands. Do one arm and hand on one side of your body and then do the same on the other side. The brush should follow a circular type of motion in order to get the very best results.
7. Do your chest last but use caution when you brush around the breasts. Avoid brushing the nipples and all sensitive areas.

Important Points about Dry Skin Brushing

– This is the general procedure for dry skin brushing but you can modify it to suit you. For example, some people prefer to do their feet and calves but then return to do their legs and knees closer to the end, right before they brush their chest. See what works best for you.

– Always brush in the direction of your heart and it is important that you do circular counter-clockwise strokes when you brush your abdomen.

– Dry skin brushing should never be done on the face.

– Fluids are lost from the body when dry skin brushing is done and therefore it is recommended that you drink plenty of water following the procedure.

– Every couple of weeks wash your brush in water and then allow it to air dry.

Samantha

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Detoxify Your Skin with Dry Skin Brushing

Dry skin brushing is a form of detoxification for the skin that can help rid it of many harmful toxins that reside under the surface.

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in the body? The skin is also one of the most important organs of elimination and is responsible for ¼ of all of the detoxifying that your body does on a daily basis.

Dry skin brushing is a simple technique that is exactly as the name implies- you brush your skin (yes your skin!) with a dry natural bristle brush. It may sound strange and when you first do it, it may feel strange too but it will also feel good. Plus it is good for your body in so many ways!

What is so good about dry skin brushing?

Dry skin brushing aids the lymphatic system in cleaning out toxins that can lead to skin eruptions, boils, eczema and a whole list of other skin disorders. It is a form of natural healing that can be done by anyone. Dry skin brushing gets rid of dead skin cells that can clog pores. The result is increased cell renewal, better circulation and skin that looks and feel invigorated and more alive!

If you have cellulite and hate it (who doesn’t?!) then dry skin brushing can help to stimulate the cells in this area. The action of the brush can improve the texture of the skin as well as to firm and tighten it. The fatty deposits that lead to the development of cellulite can be broken up with regular use of dry skin brushing in order that they do not accumulate. This helps to slow down the process of aging. You can say goodbye to expensive cellulite creams that don’t work thanks to dry skin brushing!

Dry skin brushing must be done in a gentle manner so as not to damage the surface layer of the skin. That is why a natural bristle brush is recommended as opposed to a synthetic one that can scratch the skin.

As if that was not enough, dry skin brushing strengthens the immune system and it also strengthens the skin. It makes it much more difficult for bacteria to find its way into the skin. Dry skin brushing also improves muscle tone and the way in which the cells work together. This simple procedure which can be done once or twice a day before you shower also has a positive effect on the digestive system.

With all that dry skin brushing has going for it you must be wondering why this is the first time you have ever heard of it?

Stay tuned for more on my next post.

Samantha

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