How to start a gentle detox

At the start of each year, it's easy to get caught up in the onslaught of media advertisements touting various weight loss programs, intense workout plans, "miracle" body transformations, and detoxes. After a celebratory period of indulgence and comfort, we are more prone to feeling guilty about our bodies and are more likely to fall into the trap of making resolutions for the year that only focus on punishing ourselves rather than honoring and loving ourselves. Instead of listening to diet commercials, what if you turned inward this year and listened to what your body really needs? In the winter cold of January and February we don't have to deprive ourselves, we have to feed ourselves. However, there is a big difference between nourishing yourself with healthy exercise, whole foods and replenishing self-care practices…. And sitting in front of the TV and finishing the extra boxes of Christmas chocolate. To find the right balance between what we need and naturally "detoxing" from what we don't, read on for your guide to a kind, gentle way to start detoxifying to let go of what you don't need and bring it with you in what you do.

What does detoxification mean?

Despite the convincing advertising, these diet teas, powders and pills on the market are not doing your body any good…. If weight loss is an important factor in your health, you should know that losing weight quickly often results in you gaining it back very quickly, so throw those too-easy diets out the window, along with self-criticism.

Detoxification is the process of removing toxic substances from the body, and your body does this naturally all the time. The main detoxification organs in the body are the liver, intestines, skin, lymphatic system, lungs and kidneys, but although they are equipped with antioxidant and detoxifying defenses, we have not evolved to deal with the sheer amount of toxins in our body every day. Toxins aren't just in what we findThink about itas toxins (alcohol, sugar, etc.) they are all around us. Things like tap water, processed foods, cleaning products, makeup, traffic pollution, deodorants, household mold, and even our clothing and furniture all have the potential to add toxins to the body. If you want to know whether something is a poison or not, just ask a simple question: Does this thing exist purely in nature? If the answer is yes, then it is very likely that it is not a poison (although of course there are poisonous plants and mushrooms that we do not want to consume). If the thing you are thinking about is man-made; if it is delivered wrapped in plastic; If it has an unusually long ingredient list with unpronounceable words, or even if it's not truly organic, it probably contains at least some toxins.

Instead of overwhelming you with a detox to-do list, the most helpful way is to simply start supporting your body's natural detoxification systems, and this part is easier than you might think.

How to detox gently

1. Lass deine Haut atmen

About 70% of what we put on the skin is lostinof the body, which can contribute to problems such as cancer, heart and liver disease, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Skin care should never contain harmful toxins such as parabens, aluminum, artificial colors or synthetic perfumes, as these are all “endocrine disruptors” and, as the name suggests, can massively disrupt our hormonal balance. Choose natural skin care products like the (link removed)–The vegan lavender-scented bar is 100% plant-based and made from a combination of natural ingredients. Use a product like this (link removed) to deeply hydrate your skin, without parabens, SLS and SLES and the (link removed),which is versatile and can be used on even the most sensitive skin, with 99.9% natural and organic ingredients.

In addition to detoxifying your skin care routine, it is important to support the skin's natural functions, such as shedding dead cells and sweating, which are two important components in removing and releasing toxins. Brushing the dry body stimulates the removal of dead skin cells, but also the lymphatic system, thus improving the health of the immune system and circulatory system. Before a bath or shower, use the brush in a circular motion from the feet up to the heart. The practice can be both stimulating and stress-relieving. After brushing the body, a half-hour salt bath is a great way to draw out excess toxins from the body. You will need a high quality bag of salts such as: Cleaning salts from Westlab, and be sure to drink water during and after your bath to stay hydrated. Two final tips for skin detoxification are to sweat frequently, whether through exercise or finding the nearest sauna, and to make sure you use an all-natural deodorant. Sweating is an essential part of detoxification, and when we wear antiperspirants, the toxins that cannot escape through the armpits are pushed inward, potentially damaging the lungs and kidneys. Choose something without heavy metals like this (link removed)

2. Liebe deine Leber
   Alle Giftstoffe, auf die wir stoßen, müssen von der Leber gefiltert werden, was bedeutet, dass Ihre Leber nach einem Wochenende (oder einem ganzen Monat) mit Leckereien und Getränken etwas Liebe braucht. Mit der richtigen Unterstützung kann sich sogar eine beschädigte Leber erholen und Teile von sich selbst nachwachsen lassen, aber wir möchten sicherstellen, dass dieses Organ jederzeit gut funktioniert, um Dinge abzubauen, die wir nicht im Körper brauchen, einschließlich alter und auch überschüssige Hormone.

Show your liver some love by drastically cutting back on sugar, processed foods, and alcohol. Many people focus on doing a 'dry January' or 'vegan' at the start of the year, but you could really do your body a ton of good by trying a no processed food January or even an 'organic January'. When we eat non-organic food, we also eat the pesticides and chemicals that have been sprayed on that food. So try to buy these foods in organic form, even though it may seem expensive, as they are all on the 'dirty dozen', meaning they harbor more pesticides or are sprayed with chemicals more than other foods. This is the list compiled using data from thePesticide Action Network UK:Grapefruit, clementines/tangerines/satsumas, strawberries, most packaged salads, grapes, lemons, peaches, pears, spinach, chili peppers, apples, most dark berries.

There are also specific foods to support liver health, including apples, beets, grapefruit, blueberries, green tea, coffee, cruciferous vegetables, asparagus, lemons, onions, garlic, artichoke and rosemary (again, organic if possible). Also try making meals from scratch so you know all the ingredients in your meals. Use recipes from books such as:Simple Vegan Bible: 200 Easiest Plant-Based Recipes and (link removed), with recipes for every season.

3. Wählen Sie eine Entgiftung für die psychische Gesundheit

In addition to the natural and regular “detoxification” of our body, our mind also benefits from a gentle peeling! What we “consume” is not just limited to food and drink, but also social media, sounds, sights and personal interactions. A stream-of-consciousness journaling practice first thing in the morning can help you "throw" everything that's in your head onto the page, allowing you to uncover and release thoughts and emotions that often get "stuck." Holding thoughts and feelings in your head can be harmful - emotions are energy in motion, and they really need to move! Choose thatNotebook Nikki Strange Elements writing down how you feel every morning and noticing how much lighter your mind is for the rest of the day.

Another way to mentally detox is to pay attention to your relationships, both online and in the real world. Are there people in your life that you would describe as “toxic”? The ones that seem to drain your energy or put you in a negative state of mind? Try to spend less time with these people and more time with those who make you feel good. As you scroll through social media, also pay attention to how you're feeling. Are there any reports that make you feel bad or seem to trigger your inner critic? Do you spend more time looking at other people's lives online with envy than focusing on your own? Commit to unfollowing two accounts every day that don't serve you and follow the ones that bring you genuine joy. (link removed) is a great reminder to look up from the screen more often too.

This January, try these sustainable and gentle detox techniques to start 2022 on a positive note!