It makes good sense to regularly body cleanse not only on the outside but from inside as well. You may hear the words “cleanse” and “detox” flying around in health circles and think it’s another fad. Au contraire. Given the Western mode of living and toxins in our food, water, air, and personal care and household products, regular cleansing is necessary if we are to maintain good health.
Toxins that enter our bodies can be natural or synthetic. Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi are prevalent and can cause problems if our immune systems aren’t working optimally. In addition, heavy metals, preservatives and other additives in food can accumulate in organs and fat, eventually causing harm. Helping your body to eliminate toxins of any kind isn’t difficult and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on supplements or expensive equipment.
23 Steps for A Full Body Cleanse
You’ll feel like brand new in no time!
1. Bone Broth
You may think that animal bones are good only as a base for your more complex soups and stews but they’re packed with nutrients! Any animal bones will do (the downside if you’re vegetarian or vegan). Bones contain minerals calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus; vitamins K, B12, and D (the last two are hard to get from plants); and amino acids to promote a plethora of human bodily processes.
Bone broth is also:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Probiotic for digestive health, including leaky gut and irritable bowel
- Supports the immune system
- Hair, skin and nail health – bone broth contains collagen
- Joint support – gelatin is animal collagen and known to nourish connective tissue and bones. Glucosamine is an amino sugar found in tissues that keeps them hydrated and therefore elastic and mobile. Adequate amounts of this nutrient reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. (1)
- Insomnia and sleep quality – Glycine is an amino acid found in animal bones that improves the quality of sleep and makes it easier to fall asleep. In addition, glycine reduces the fatigue and other symptoms of not getting enough sleep. This is attributed to the increase in neuropeptides (neurotransmitter amino acid chains) that regulate sleep. (2)
You can find a recipe for bone broth here. Try it as a hot drink instead of coffee or tea at any time of day!
2. Dandelion Greens
This “weed” is a top-notch detoxifier. Dandelion greens are completely edible raw or cooked; they contain mucilage (a glycoprotein) and inulin (a prebiotic complex sugar and source of dietary fiber). Inulin isn’t digestible—which is a good thing, as probiotic bacteria facilitate its fermentation in the intestine. (3) Dandelion greens are a natural diuretic and anti-inflammatory that support and cleanse the liver and kidneys. (4) These organs bear a big chunk of the burden to clear the body of waste and are happy with whatever help they can get. Rich in vitamins and minerals, this oft-maligned plant provides health benefits that will make you think twice about pulling it out of your garden.
You can add these to your diet in a salad, smoothie, stir fry, or tea.
3. Dry Brushing
Lymph is moved around the body by way of muscle movement. Dry brushing the skin opens pores and stimulates lymph flow and the elimination of toxins through the skin (almost a third of the body’s toxins is released transdermally).
Added benefits to dry brushing include:
- exfoliates dead cells for fresher-looking skin
- can reduce the appearance of cellulite
- improves blood circulation
- energizes the entire body.
It’s important to use gentle, fluid movements when dry brushing. You can find instructions on using this detoxifying method here.
4. Hydrotherapy
Take a hydrotherapy shower after dry brushing to a) wash off dead skin cells and b) further stimulate lymph flow and drainage: stand in the shower under hot water until you feel hot, then turn the water to as cold as you can stand it for 30 seconds or so. Repeat 2-4 times, ending with cold water. This is good not only for lymph but blood circulation as well.