As the latin saying goes: “Mens sana in corpore sano”- meaning “a sound mind in a healthy body”- wellbeing starts from the inside out. While emotional and psychological health is important, it is also essential to maintain a healthy body to maintain a good balance.
Detoxing is a great way to
restore balance in your body. All too often, detoxing is associated with deprivation, but the truth is that you can detox easily and for optimal health,
without taking the extreme route.
Here are eight of my
favourite gentle detox tips:
1. Drink a glass
of lukewarm water with the juice of half lemon every morning.
Enjoy this drink ten
minutes before you eat your breakfast, it’s truly refreshing and energizing!
There are a myriad of health benefits, as lemons are packed with Vitamin C,
calcium, iron, magnesium, fiber, vitamin B complex and potassium. It will give
your immune system a boost, cleanse your system by helping to flush out toxins,
aids digestion and help reduce inflammation. The anitoxidants in the lemon juice
are great for skin too.
2. Drink more
water
Your body is made of 70
per cent water and you need to keep it hydrated to help flush out toxins. The
European Food Safety Authority recommends that women drink about 1.6 litres of
fluid and men about 2.0 litres of fluid per day. That's about eight 200ml
glasses for a woman and 10 200ml glasses for a man. If you don't like the taste
of plain water, try sparkling water or add a slice of lemon or lime. Cucumber is
very refreshing too.
3. Use a body
brush
Skin is your largest organ, so give it the care it deserves and help discharge waste through daily body brushing. Before you take a shower or a bath, use a body brush- preferably made using firm, natural bristles - and sweep it over your body in the direction of your heart, working from the feet up, with firm strokes. Exfoliating with a body brush will help improve blood circulation and immune system, as well as the appearance of your skin.
4. Drink a green juice daily
This recent health-fad is not unfounded: green juice benefits are numerous. Green juices are alkalizing, cleansing, healing, hydrating and restorative. They are also packed with chlorophyll, which helps purify your liver and regulate digestion. They are also nutritious,yet help keep blood sugar levels low. There are plenty of great combinations to play with, but a personal favourite is kale, celery, apple,cucumber, parsley and ginger. Replace your latte with these and you’ll be surprised at the benefits.
5. Cut down on caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
Avoid drinks such as coffee, tea and cola, as well as fizzy drinks. These can all dehydrate the body, leading to migraines and luring your body into false feelings of hunger. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, so cutting down can help reduce anxiety levels and lead to better sleep.
As for alcohol, drinking regularly can cause serious health problems: from liver damage to a greater risk of having a heart attack. It’s also empty calories, which will leave you bloated. And we all know why smoking is bad, so kick your habit for good with appropriate medical support. Cutting out all of the above will leave you with more energy and less cravings.
6. Avoid processed foods
Stick to foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, such as organic fresh fruit and vegetable, nuts, gluten-free whole grains, seeds and organic meats. Try to eat dinner at around 7pm and keep it light, as your digestions slows down throughout the day and it will disrupt your sleep. Speaking of…
7. Get plenty of sleep
Did you know that the deep, most regenerative sleep occurs between the hours of 10pm and 2am? This means that after 2am, your sleep is superficial. If you lack sleep, you will still feel fatigued in the morning. Make a conscious effort to switch off electronic devices after 9pm and get into bed with a book, perhaps.
8. Move your body
Do this daily. Moving does not have to involve an intense workout. Simply leaving your desk and heading out for a walk throughout the day to release tension and take some “me” time, to focus on the present and practice mindfulness. I like to start my day with some gentle yoga and meditation. The benefits are truly wonderful. For a mental detox, meditation is essential. I explain why I meditation works in this blog post.
Skin is your largest organ, so give it the care it deserves and help discharge waste through daily body brushing. Before you take a shower or a bath, use a body brush- preferably made using firm, natural bristles - and sweep it over your body in the direction of your heart, working from the feet up, with firm strokes. Exfoliating with a body brush will help improve blood circulation and immune system, as well as the appearance of your skin.
4. Drink a green juice daily
This recent health-fad is not unfounded: green juice benefits are numerous. Green juices are alkalizing, cleansing, healing, hydrating and restorative. They are also packed with chlorophyll, which helps purify your liver and regulate digestion. They are also nutritious,yet help keep blood sugar levels low. There are plenty of great combinations to play with, but a personal favourite is kale, celery, apple,cucumber, parsley and ginger. Replace your latte with these and you’ll be surprised at the benefits.
5. Cut down on caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
Avoid drinks such as coffee, tea and cola, as well as fizzy drinks. These can all dehydrate the body, leading to migraines and luring your body into false feelings of hunger. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, so cutting down can help reduce anxiety levels and lead to better sleep.
As for alcohol, drinking regularly can cause serious health problems: from liver damage to a greater risk of having a heart attack. It’s also empty calories, which will leave you bloated. And we all know why smoking is bad, so kick your habit for good with appropriate medical support. Cutting out all of the above will leave you with more energy and less cravings.
6. Avoid processed foods
Stick to foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, such as organic fresh fruit and vegetable, nuts, gluten-free whole grains, seeds and organic meats. Try to eat dinner at around 7pm and keep it light, as your digestions slows down throughout the day and it will disrupt your sleep. Speaking of…
7. Get plenty of sleep
Did you know that the deep, most regenerative sleep occurs between the hours of 10pm and 2am? This means that after 2am, your sleep is superficial. If you lack sleep, you will still feel fatigued in the morning. Make a conscious effort to switch off electronic devices after 9pm and get into bed with a book, perhaps.
8. Move your body
Do this daily. Moving does not have to involve an intense workout. Simply leaving your desk and heading out for a walk throughout the day to release tension and take some “me” time, to focus on the present and practice mindfulness. I like to start my day with some gentle yoga and meditation. The benefits are truly wonderful. For a mental detox, meditation is essential. I explain why I meditation works in this blog post.
Would
you like to try a yoga or meditation class? Find out more information here
or contact me at dadaj@londonandmeditation.org.uk
Namaste,
Dada Jyotirupananda
Namaste,
Dada Jyotirupananda
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