By Lorna Jane Clarkson, Founder and CCO of Lorna Jane Australia
Do I need to detox my body? Like most women, this is a question I quite often ask myself – when the reality is that our bodies are amazing and work really hard to maintain balance and remove toxins on their own. But what we do every day can also help them detox more effectively (or, at the very least, not make it more difficult!), especially now that there are so many added ‘toxins’ around us.
From processed foods and preservatives to environmental pollutants, the reality of today’s world is that we find ourselves surrounded by a lot of manufactured products (and by-products) which unfortunately can have a negative effect on our health.
Enter the detox conversation! So, do you need to detox? Yes. But not necessarily in the way you might think.
A lot of recent ‘detox diets’ have been about short-term change aimed to quickly rid our bodies of toxicity. They’re normally very restrictive and are designed to be followed for around a week. After that, some offer meal plans up to around 30 days to follow but a lot… just stop. Seven days and you’re done!
This type of detox may help flush out some waste and give your organs a little respite from being overworked, but how much benefit will it add long term?
Much like working out hardcore for a week and then going back to minimal exercise won’t result in abs of steel and amazing guns. When it comes to detoxing your body you need to look at the big picture and what you want to achieve. Remember, long term benefits and results in anything that you do require a long term, sustainable approach.
So, like everything to do with my health and wellbeing, when it comes to ‘detoxing’ I recommend taking a more holistic view and see my detox practices as more of an ongoing cleansing and supporting routine rather than a short term ‘fix’. And, I keep it as simple as possible, because this stuff doesn’t need to be complicated. Because let’s face it, who’s got time for that?
Here are some of my key cleansing practices:
Start the day with warm water and lemon juice.
This helps to stimulate your liver and digestive systems and flush out any unwanted waste as well as starting to hydrate you for the day ahead. Lemon also helps boost your immune system and works to balance the pH levels in your body. I like to add a pinch of cayenne pepper into mine for an added metabolism boost.
Move your body.
I practice yoga every day. Not just to strengthen my body and mindset (it has been scientifically proven to relieve stress), but to also support balancing and cleansing my body. Exercise basically kick-starts and speeds up all of the processes your body needs to eliminate toxins. Plus, it boosts your mood, so you feel amazing.
Image via Pinterest
Eat Good Food
Yes, it is the title of my new book – but it’s true! When you nourish yourself with fresh, unprocessed and wholesome foods (instead of processed foods with preservatives and chemicals that your body has to work overtime to remove) you’re giving your body premium fuel to perform at its best with minimal added toxins.
It’s also important to add foods into your daily diet that specifically support your kidneys, liver and digestive system, as these are the organs that carry the heaviest load when it comes to removing waste and cleansing your body.
Some great examples are: greens (spinach, spirulina, brussel sprouts), mung beans, dandelion, garlic, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, radishes, citrus fruits, strawberries, cranberries, green tea and most importantly, lots of fresh water!
You can also try my Pink Detox Tonic for a quick and tasty detoxifying fix (check for recipe at end of article).
And don’t forget your skin!
Your skin is your body’s largest organ and is key in both removing and absorbing potential toxins. So when it comes to making sure that there is effective elimination of toxins via the skin we need to make sure that our skins surface is clear – dry body brushing is a great practice as it removes dry and dead skin cells as well as stimulating circulation and has been proven to help with cellulite reduction – win, win!
Also, remember that what you put on your skin will be absorbed into your body. So much like your food, keep any topical lotions and potions as natural and high quality as possible. Tip: Organic, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut oil is my go-to when it comes to moisturising and cleansing my face and body.
So, in a nutshell, detoxing doesn’t have to be a huge life-changing, anti-social and drastic 7 or 14 or 30 day ordeal. Because when you add cleansing foods and practices into your daily routine you’re supporting your body to naturally ‘detox’ itself and maintain balance every day.
Sure, there are times when we want to give ourselves a little extra boost or need to get back on track (maybe after a few holiday cocktails) but generally speaking, our supporting and cleansing practices should be part of our normal routine, not the exception.
Try Lorna’s Detox Tonic:
PREP TIME 10 MINUTES
MAKES 400ML
SERVES 4
Ingredients
250g (8oz) strawberries, hulled
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄2 cup (125ml) filtered water
1 cup crushed ice (optional)
Method
1. Blend strawberries, juice, cinnamon and water in a high-powered blender until smooth.
2.Divide ice and tonic between glasses. Serve straight away with extra strawberries, if you like.
LORNA’S TIP All the ingredients in this tonic have detoxifying properties; however, for an extra detox boost, add 1 teaspoon activated charcoal to each serve. Activated charcoal is available from health food stores.
When ingested, activated charcoal aids digestion, improves immunity and absorbs and removes toxins from the digestive tract – use in moderation and always 2 hours before taking any medication or vitamins to avoid interference.
‘Eat Good Food’ by Lorna Jane (RRP $44.99) is now available.
Want more advice for living a fabulous life? Follow us on Instagram or join the Rescu. community by tagging #liveyourfabuslouslife in IG posts.
