HOW TO NATURALLY CLEANSE YOUR BODY
Up your water intake
About 60% of our bodies are made up of water, so it is essential for the proper functioning of every organ and bodily system. Staying properly hydrated makes for an overall healthier body with optimal skin health. Keeping on top of your water intake will flush toxins out of the body more efficiently, boost metabolism and help keep your skin plump and clear.
If you are struggling to drink enough water during the day, add lemon or cucumber slices which will flavour the water whilst also helping to neutralize the skin.
Cut down on processed sugar
Having too much sugar in your diet can have many negative effects on our body including.
- Weight gain – eating excessive amounts of sugary food may lead to excessive weight gain.
- Higher risk of heart disease and other health conditions – Researchers have found a strong correlation between the consumption of heavily sugared food and high rates of cardiovascular disease.
While it’s difficult to completely remove sugar from your diet, there are ways to we can all reduce our sugar intake throughout the day. For example, at breakfast swap cereals that are high in sugar for sugar-free alternatives such as porridge or wholegrain cereals. To add sweetness, we recommend adding fruit such as bananas, prunes or blueberries.
At lunch instead of picking up the chocolate bar or crisps, choose healthy nuts and seeds and at dinner-time try to cook from scratch so you know exactly what you are eating. Many ready-made sauces and meals have a high sugar content that isn’t always overly obvious.
Add more vegetables to your diet
Vegetables are high in fibre, which means your digestive system will work more efficiently and regularly when your vegetable intake increases. Some easy ways to add more vegetables to your diet include.
Breakfast
- Make a green juice in the morning (See some easy recipes here)
- If you are having scrambled eggs or an omelette, boost your vegetable intake by adding, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers or spinach.
Lunch
- Go for lunch options that incorporate vegetables this can be sandwiches, wraps or salads.
Snacks
- Raw vegetable sticks are handy snacks to reach for when you’re feeling peckish, try green or red peppers, green beans, celery or carrots and add a side of hummus to make them extra tasty.
Dinner
- Try to cook meals that include a variety of vegetables.
- You can add vegetables to soups, stews and pasta dishes.
Move your body
Exercising helps to cleanse both your body and your mind. Regularly moving your body will improve your health in a number of ways, some of which include:
- Control Weight: when you engage in a physical activity you burn calories, thus help to manage a healthy weight.
- Help combat health conditions: regular exercise can help to prevent or manage a wide range of health issues, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, as well as mental health conditions including depression and anxiety.
- Promotes better sleep: Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and get better quality sleep.
Eat good skin food
Feed your skin from within. One of the best ways to get more antioxidants to your skin is to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Go for as much variety and colour as possible in your diet.
- Aim for your 5-a-day: Fruit and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that help to protect skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals. Eat a rainbow of colourful fruit and vegetables and aim for at least five portions a day.
- Up your Vitamin C intake: Vitamin C is a super antioxidant that supports the immune system and promotes radiant skin.
- Include Zinc in your diet: Zinc helps the normal functioning of the sebaceous glands in the skin. Try to include zinc-rich foods such as fish, lean red meat, whole-grains, poultry, nuts, seeds and shellfish in your diet.
Swap caffeine for cleansing beverages
Swap one of your daily coffees for a calming herbal tea. Herbal teas have many health benefits including improving digestion, boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation. If herbal teas aren't for you, try this warm, cleansing and nourishing immune boosting hot drink of lemon, ginger, turmeric & honey from Proactive Nutrition.
- Juice ½ a lemon
- Grate 1cm piece of fresh ginger
- Grate 1 cm piece of fresh turmeric
- ½ tsp honey
Mix the above ingredients in warm (not hot) water, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Don’t use really hot water as it will destroy many of the beneficial nutrients.
Remineralise the Body
Finally, treat yourself to a weekly seaweed bath. While we know that seaweed baths are deeply relaxing, they are also the ultimate way to detoxify the body by removing unwanted toxins. Plus, seaweed baths also have a host of other benefits which include:
- Hydrating and moisturising nails, hair, and skin.
- Soothing aches and pains.
- Aiding the healing process of skin conditions: psoriasis and eczema.
- Helping against the signs of ageing and cellulite.
- Stimulating blood circulation and the lymphatic system.
- Breaks down lactic acid
