Can you believe the first month of the year is almost over?! Did you set New Year Resolutions? Most resolutions revolve around health, i.e. getting back to the gym, eating right, losing weight, stress reduction, better sleep, etc. Let’s be honest, the holiday season can be stressful, unhealthy, tiring, and can leave us with the Ultimate Holiday Hangover. Over the Holiday season we are bombarded with stress, sweets, overeating, late nights, and too much alcohol. The toxic load this time of year is overwhelming. To make your resolutions easier and more sustainable we recommend a detox to start things off right. Over time the toxicity of our environment and lifestyle can take its toll accumulating in the body leaving us fatigued, anxious, achy, agitated, fat, and miserable. These toxins come from the foods we eat, the water we drink, the air we breath, beauty products and cleaners we use, and medications that many people take. With too much toxicity in the body it is close to impossible to lose weight, increase your energy, or be your healthiest self. Here are some simple steps to help you detox this year:
Start Doing:
- Drink plenty of filtered water: What is half your weight? That is the minimum amount of ounces you should consume in a day. (ex. 150lbs./2 = 75lbs → 75oz per day min.)
- Sauna sessions: The best built in detoxification system is sweating.
- Regular exercise: Exercise that requires multiple body parts and varied movement will not only induce sweating but will enhance blood flow and will stimulate lymph movement.
- Juicing: doing a “juice fast” can be a great way to detox and give the digestive system a rest. This means for 3-5 days you are consuming no food and only fresh juice and water. Make sure your juices are mostly vegetables and organic if possible. A high quality green drink can also be beneficial especially for individuals that have a busy schedule.
- Detox Supplementation: Certain nutrients can help stimulate liver and tissue detoxification. If you are in need of a severe detox I would recommend Aceva’s ultimate body cleanse. You may even have to do this multiple times in a year if severely toxic. If there are no major clinical signs of toxicity I would recommend a daily detox concoction of BioCleanse, a natural blend of amino acids that act as binding agents, and a buffered form of Vitamin C that will act as a protective antioxidant and stimulate the immune system (enter code MS01 for a discount at checkout). We carry daily detox in our clinic and believe it is a great way to prevent the buildup of toxic substances in the body. It is also 10% off in the month of January – first come, first serve!
Stop Doing:
- GMO Foods: Not sure why there is controversy over this. Altering the natural genetic makeup of plants in a lab and then spraying them heavily with chemicals to kill the “pests” around them, and then feeding these chemical-laden foods to humans? How can this possibly be healthy? Eat organic when possible.
- Toxic household cleaners: Many of the cleaners on the market contain known toxins, hormone disruptors, and cancer causing agents. Use natural solutions. Most stores now carry natural products and if you struggle finding them try online sources such as Amazon or Thrive Market.
- Beauty products: Same as the cleaners, there are numerous additives that act as hormone disruptors, and can possibly contribute to certain cancers, allergies, and other illnesses. Our skin is our largest organ and the things we put on our skin will get absorbed into our bodies. “If you would not eat or drink it, then don’t put it on your skin,” especially in areas like your armpits where there is greater absorption rates!
This is by no means an all encompassing detoxification program but is a great start to make sure that you limit your toxic exposures and support your natural detoxification systems on a daily basis. If you wish to have further expansion on any of the recommendations above please let us know and we will dive deeper in another article. We are almost into February now…. don’t fall off the health wagon!
In Health,
Livin’ Well Family Chiropractic and Cheyenne Weight Loss Team