7 Ways to Detox Every Day ...

Drinking hot water with lemon first thing in the morning is one of the easiest ways to detox on a daily basis. Although lemon tastes sour and acidic, it’s actually an alkaline food that helps restore balance to the body. Lemon also aids in liver function, which is key if you’re trying to get toxins and sludge out of your system. Drinking hot (not boiling) water with freshly squeezed lemon juice is a simple and effective detox method that’s gentle enough for every day.

Green smoothies are another alkaline option for detoxing. Most Americans struggle to meet the standard 5-7 servings of fruits and veggies a day. Few people realize how important these vitamin and mineral-rich plants are for restoring balance between acidity and alkalinity in the body. A green smoothie that’s full of greens like kale, Swiss chard, or spinach is a great way detox and start the day off right!

If you’re trying to up your intake of fruits and veggies, try incorporating them into as many of your meals as possible. It’s as simple as starting lunch with a giant salad of leafy greens and other raw veggies before indulging in your main course. Eating raw veggies with salsa or hummus as a snack also facilitates the detox process.

Did you know fruit usually passes through a healthy digestive tract is as little as 20-30 minutes? Fruit is very cleansing and easy to digest, so when it’s consumed on an empty stomach, it frees up a lot of energy for the body to spend on detoxing. If you don’t consume fruit on an empty stomach, often times the fruit can ferment, as it’s basically waiting for your body to digest the other starches, proteins, and fats you’ve consumed throughout the day before it gets to the fruit.

Fiber is one of the top foods Americans don’t get enough of. It’s an essential part of any detox program to ensure better digestion and elimination. Strive for 25-30 grams of fiber a day, gradually upping your intake until you reach a fiber level that’s comfortable for you. It’s as easy as putting some chia seeds into your morning smoothie, eating raw fruits and veggies throughout the day, adding flax to your dinner salad, and choosing brown rice over white rice at dinner.

Herbal tea is another great technique to promote detoxification. Herbs like ginger, cinnamon, fennel, peppermint, milk thistle, nettles, and oregano all promote the elimination of toxins from the body. I personally like drinking ginger tea after dinner. It cleanses my palate and helps me digest my food better before going to bed at night—not to mention it keeps me from noshing on junk food late at night.

Water is a critical component for effectively detoxing. Most doctors and health care practitioners will tell you to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. But if you’re detoxing and/or exercising, you might need even more water to effectively get rid of waste and toxins that have built up over months and even years. Drink at least two liters of water a day to stay hydrated and facilitate detoxification.

Detoxing doesn’t need to be this scary diet you undergo fraught with body aches, headaches, and intense food cravings. There are plenty of natural, easy ways that you can get rid of toxins without going on some crazy plan. What are some of your favorite ways to naturally and gently detox?

Sources: Kim Snyder, The Beauty Detox Solution: Eat Your Way to Radiant Skin, Renewed Energy and the Body You've Always Wanted