3 Ways to Detox the Body Naturally
Detoxing the body is almost a trend now-a-days. Articles are everywhere on ways to detox (cleanse the blood). Drinks, fasts, diets, etc… all can help the body detoxify. However, the fact is that one of the major roles of the body is to detox and remove waste on its own. No gross green drink necessary!
So why are we trying to do what our body already knows how to do? Sometimes our lifestyle causes that process to become inefficient.
Below are three natural ways you can help your body be efficient in detoxing without any special drinks or diets.
1. Keep Moving
I call the lymph system the body’s “plumbing.” Very simply, one of the lymph system’s functions is to transport waste and toxins from the body to the veins and eventually into the kidneys for excretion as urine. And unlike the heart, which is the pump for blood circulation, there is no official pump for lymph flow. So in order for lymph fluid to move, it relies mostly on the body’s muscle contractions to squeeze the fluid through valves. So what does that mean? You have to move your body through walking and exercise to flush those toxins.
How much exercise do you need? Doctors recommend 30 minutes of physical activity every day. You should also aim to reduce the amount of sitting you do at once. If movement pumps your lymph fluid, imagine what sitting for long periods can do every day. If you have a job where you sit a lot, remember to take frequent walking breaks.
2. Get More Massages
Lymph vessels are located just below the skin, so getting a Swedish massage can stimulate that flow. When the therapist strokes the skin, they are helping the fluid flow manually. Getting a massage more frequently not only helps your stress level, it also helps keep things moving in the lymph system. And, if you want a full body detoxing massage, you can get a Lymphatic Massage from a therapist that specializes in this type of bodywork.
3. Drink Water
I know, everyone tells you to drink a proper amount of water each day. It’s become almost annoying. But, you need to know why it’s important to the detoxing process. Here are two reasons to keep drinking that water:
- Lymph fluid has protein content and in order for protein to be moved, it needs water. It will keep your vessels open and hydrated so everything can move properly.
- Water also helps keep your kidneys working efficiently. I am not saying “more water equals more flushing of toxins.” That is a myth. Your kidneys will do it’s job whether it’s with little or lots of water. However, if you become dehydrated, the kidneys will become stressed, causing more wear on the tissues and possibly kidney stones or infections. This can results in less efficiency. So keep drinking water throughout the day and it will keep your kidneys working as they should.
So how much water is enough? Is it the 8 glass rule? That’s a good rule of thumb. As for me, a simple indication is the color of your urine. It should be light yellow (except maybe in the morning). If it’s dark, then you may want to drink more.
Implementing these three simple tips to your lifestyle can help your body function as it should and keep your systems working and moving properly.
Resources:
https://www.kidney.org/content/6-tips-be-water-wise-healthy-kidneys
https://www.lymphnet.org/resources/the-benefits-of-water-for-lymphedema
