Many of you may focus on the foods you eat and getting proper exercise, but there are other factors to living a healthy lifestyle. We hear a lot about detoxing and cleansing the body, what about doing that in a natural way? We are going to look at simple, natural ways to help you remove toxins from your body.

A smoothie in the morning, made from natural ingredients, not those sugary premade concoctions, is a great start.

Green smoothie:

1 cup of kale or collard greens firmly packed, stems removed, and coarsely chopped (I use spinach)

Granny Smith apple coarsely chopped

1 ripe banana

1 cup loosely packed fresh flat leaf parsley

Combine listed ingredients with 2 1/4 cups water in a blender until smooth, if too thick add a little more water.

A really easy way to detox your body is to eat organic as much as possible. Every year since 1995 The Environmental Working Group (EWG), has released a list called the Dirty Dozen. This is a list of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticide residue. EWG is a non-profit organization that educates the public on agricultural practices, natural resource protection, and the impact of chemicals on human health. You don’t have to eat everything organic, however, if you can eat the peel or outside of the fruit and vegetable you should opt for organic. Strawberries, apples, and tomatoes are good examples.

A good deep-tissue massage helps to rid your body of toxins, this is not the same as the luxury massage you receive at the spa. A deep tissue massage focuses on pressure points within the body. These pressure points are where toxins tend to build up. Pushing on these areas breaks up and releases toxins.

After the massage, you need to drink a lot of water to flush out your system and rid your body of the toxins right away. Be sure that you consult with a registered massage therapist that has experience in ridding the body of toxins.

A few weeks ago, I did a post on drinking water. Water is a natural way to flush toxins from your body, so be sure to drink enough for you. The old adage of 8 glasses a day, is just that old and outdated. Keep your body hydrated. Proper hydration leads to clear skin, organs that function as they should, and adequate functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, and digestion systems.

Drink coffee every morning? Try substituting your coffee a few times a week with a cup of green tea. Green tea does have some caffeine, but it is loaded with antioxidants in there most natural form. Green tea helps detox the body and gives you antioxidants for the long and short term.

My time of year has arrived, during the Spring, Summer, and up until the late Fall months, I walk as a form of exercise. Weather permitting, I walk every day. I’m not fast walking, but at a leisurely pace and long enough to break a sweat. Exercising until you sweat not only helps you shed fat and excess weight, but along with the sweat toxins come out, cleansing the body. The exercise also helps with digestion, circulation, and keeps your organs functioning as they should.

As you exercise the perspiration, movement, and breathing help the body achieve fitness, and get rid of potentially harmful substances that have built up over time.

Be sure to add some of the superfoods to your diet, examples are salmon, tuna, avocado, walnuts, flax seed, and olive oil. They all contain nutrients and antioxidants which your body needs to fight off infections. Don’t forget fruits and vegetables, especially those bright in color. These include blueberries, raspberries, kale, spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, and oranges.

Eating more fiber, in its natural form, contributes to weight loss and cleanses the body of toxins. Our digestive tracts hold onto substances that enter our bodies, some of which contain toxins. After a while, you may start to feel bloated and tired. This may be due to toxins, preservatives, from the food we eat, or waste not properly disposed of by your body. Eating more fiber prompts your body to move through built up waste rapidly. Fiber supplements are on the market, but y’all already know! Get your fiber by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains.

Simple carbohydrates like white bread, white flour, and white rice, can result in toxins you don’t want in your body. They are filling, but in the background, they are playing yo-yo with your blood sugar. That is neither good for your blood sugar or your health. The deposit of preservatives and harmful substances result in toxins that nor only slow you down but can make you sick.

I have shared a monthly practice that removes toxins from your body overnight. Simply slice an onion, place the slices on the bottom of your feet, and secure with socks. Leave the onions overnight and the next morning they are soaked with toxins they have pulled from your body.

How to live our lives is a choice, all of the suggestions in this Blog, I practice. I share this information to let you know there are simple little lifestyle changes you can make to live a longer, healthier, life. Start by making a few changes at a time and before you know it you will have adopted a healthier lifestyle.

Until next time,

Peace, Love, and Blessings 💖