Food can be tempting, but we have to be wary of what goes into the body. This is where detoxification comes in. It is the process of following a specific diet or using special products that claim to rid your body of toxins, thereby improving health and promoting weight loss.
You don’t need to do so much because your body is well equipped to eliminate toxins and doesn’t require special diets or expensive supplements. Here is how to optimise your body’s natural detox system:
1. Limit alcohol
Excessive drinking can severely damage your liver function by causing fat buildup, inflammation, and scarring. Generally, drinking too much alcohol reduces your liver’s ability to carry out its normal functions, such as detoxifying.
2. Sleep
Sleeping allows your brain to reorganize and recharge itself, as well as remove toxic waste byproducts that have accumulated throughout the day. Poor sleep has been linked to short- and long-term health consequences, such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
3. Drink more water
Water does so much more than quench your thirst. It regulates your body temperature, lubricates joints, aids digestion and nutrient absorption, and detoxifies your body by removing waste products. In addition to its many roles in your body, water allows your body’s detoxification system to remove waste products from your blood.
4. Cut your sugar and processed foods intake
You can limit junk food by leaving it on the store shelf. Not having it in your kitchen takes away the temptation altogether. Moreso, replacing junk food with healthier choices like fruits and vegetables is also a healthy way to reduce consumption.
5. Take anti-oxidant rich foods
Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help your body fight oxidative stress caused by excess free radicals and other toxins that increase your risk of disease. Focus on getting antioxidants from food and not supplements, which may, in fact, increase your risk of certain diseases when taken in large amounts. Examples of antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Berries, fruits, nuts, cocoa, vegetables, spices, and beverages like coffee and green tea have some of the highest amounts of antioxidants.
6. Eat foods rich in prebiotics
Eating foods rich in prebiotics can keep your immune and detoxification systems healthy. Good food sources of prebiotics include tomatoes, artichokes, bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic, and oats.
7. Decrease your salt intake
Consuming too much salt can increase water retention. You can eliminate excess water — and waste — by increasing your intake of water and potassium-rich foods.
8. Be active
Regular physical activity lowers inflammation and allows your body’s detoxification system to work properly. Some lifestyle and dietary modifications may enhance your body’s natural detoxification system