I was amazed at just how strong that ‘go on a diet’ programming is when that thought popped into my head after my recent holiday here in the UK rather than abroad in the sunshine by the sea.
I am a firm believer in the mantra ‘what you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while’ and that the best response to a blow-out is to just get back to your usual routine: that lifestyle that gives you the body you want.
I haven’t dieted for a few years now, so what is it that triggered that old thought? I am sure that it was the extreme sense of feeling unwell, unbalanced and bloated as a result of eating refined carbs - particularly bread - every day and eating dairy, especially enjoying locally made ice creams.
I felt a great desire to cleanse my body and lose those pounds that were making my clothes feel tight.
So how do you detox your body naturally?
Our body is very clever and designed to eliminate toxins; it doesn’t require any 'special' diets or expensive supplements to cleanse it.
We can enhance our body’s natural detoxification system by following the principles below.
For me, that is going back to that awesome routine I've created that keeps me feeling energised and well and maintains my weight loss.
2. Drink more water. Water regulates your body temperature, lubricates joints, aids digestion and nutrient absorption, and detoxifies your body by removing waste products. I struggle to keep a good water habit and so I had easily fallen into having orange juice with breakfast and coffee during the day, especially cappuccino which I rarely drink. I’m now back to alarms to remind me to drink water first thing, if I feel hungry and before I eat as it also helps reduce my appetite.
3. Reduce your intake of processed foods. Eating out at all, let alone eating junk foods, means eating processed foods that contain sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. These foods lower our energy levels and are considered to be the cause of obesity and harm your liver and kidneys. While I had enjoyed a break from cooking, my feeling of wellbeing was deteriorating - despite being on holiday. In fact, I was longing for some home-cooked food.
4. Eat more foods full of antioxidants. Antioxidants help your body fight oxidative stress which is linked to chronic conditions. Examples of antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Prioritise the vegetables on your plate, eat berries or grapefruit for breakfast, snack on fruit, nuts or cacao, and drink green tea and coffee. My first meal back was stuffed marrow that I harvested from the garden and I have a fridge full of chard and beans from my parents. I’ve bought my usual go-to foods of broccoli, spinach and avocado as they are high in nutrients and antioxidants and have decided to add beets to the shopping list this month as they are also high in antioxidants - I love them roasted or in falafel.
5. Eat more foods high in prebiotics. Good gut health keeps our body’s detox system working well, boosts our immune system and keeps our serotonin levels high which makes us feel so much better. Tomatoes, onions and garlic are my favourite prebiotic and feature in most meals. Sadly, my tomato plants died while we were away, but my mum has given me plenty from her garden. I’ve bought asparagus as it’s good for your gut health, is a diuretic and it’s full of antioxidants. The bananas are in the fruit bowl and I’ve already had a muesli for breakfast made with oats. In addition I’m going to try cooking artichokes as they are not only good for your gut health but are also high in antioxidants.
6. Sleep 7-9 hours a day. Getting enough sleep is paramount to supporting your body to maintain its immune system and remove toxins from your body. This was one of the aspects of my routine that I maintained well while on holiday and now I need to ensure I continue to get those 8 hours of rest that is perfect for me so that I feel energised with my brain and body working optimally the next day.
7. Get moving. Movement is great for reducing inflammation and supporting physical and mental wellbeing. While on holiday, I had averaged about 10,000 steps per day which made me very happy and the trick for me is to keep movement in my routine on my return. There’s plenty of gardening to be done and when the rain stops I look forward to walking through the local fields.
What will you do now to support your body to maintain its optimum detoxification systems?
If you would like support with overcoming your habits that are preventing you from being your best you and with creating that lifestyle that will give you the body your desire, then give me a call and we can discuss how I can help you level up your life.
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