10 Steps to Everyday Detox

Juice cleanses, heated fitness classes and fasting have made detoxing mainstream. And in our modern world that’s filled with man-made environmental elements in our air, water and food supply, it’s necessary. These elements accumulate in our body and make it harder for us to meet our health and fitness goals. You might already have taken your first detox step with better dietary choices or more physical activity, but these ten steps will help you easily detox daily.

1. Avoid chemical cleaners

We live in a chemical world. And while not all chemicals are bad – h20 is pretty important, for example – some are hazardous for human health. Exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to short-term side effects like respiratory distress and gastrointestinal distress, but continued use has been linked to far worse disease. Check out your home cleaning products, including laundry, pet, air fresheners and surface cleaners. Are the ingredients listed? If they are, do you know what they are? Still confused? Visit ewg.org for guidance.

2. Don’t buy drugstore remedies and cosmetics

Even more important, consider the products you put directly on your skin and in your body.

While Ibuprofen may help with your headache short-term, long-term use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke by up to three times and over-the-counter acetaminophen can be detrimental for the liver.

Cosmetics, shampoos and lotions are even worse, thanks to lack of regulation. Our European counterparts ban nearly 1400 ingredients, compared to the U.S.’s 11. From lead in lipstick to hormone-disrupting fragrances, the average personal care product is filled with ingredients that have been linked to cancers, birth defects and reproductive problems. Find how safe (or not) your favorite products are on ewg.org/skindeep and discover healthier alternatives.

3. Get rid of the toxic people in your life

Surrounding yourself with toxic people can cause just as many problems as ingesting toxins. They can poison your mind with negativity, encourage less-than-healthy habits and cause any number of other mental, emotional and physical distresses. Focus on filling your time with positive people and avoid interacting with those that bring you down. It’s not about them. It’s about your health.

4. Skip conventionally grown produce

It’s well known that fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy diet. But that doesn’t include the pesticides that can come with them. Swap conventionally-grown produce with organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible, especially those from the Dirty Dozen, to avoid toxic buildup. [link:https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php]

5. Avoid high fructose corn syrup

Check your food labels for this hidden ingredient. You’ll find it in things like soda, yogurt, bread, salad dressing and juice. The danger with high fructose corn syrup is that it reacts differently in your body than sugar. The difference causes higher blood sugar levels and more violent blood sugar spikes. This can lead to obesity, diabetes, and pretty much every other health concern that involves being overweight. Did we mention that it also contains mercury? Skip the highly-processed ingredient and stick with natural sugar sources sparingly.

6. Stop smoking

Smoking is terrible for you. Simple as that. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard about the dangers of smoking. Your body cannot heal itself when you’re constantly filling your lungs with a blend of harmful chemicals. Quit smoking. Your body (and your friends and family) will thank you.

7. Keep living plants in every room of your house

Bring natural cleansing plant power indoors. Houseplants detox the air by taking in carbon dioxide and expelling oxygen. They even absorb other airbone toxins. Your home will look, smell and feel fresher.

8. Sleep 8 hours every night

Easier said than done, we know. The modern busy lifestyle makes a full night’s rest more difficult…and all the more important. As we sleep, our immune system gets kicked into high gear, our wounds heal faster, and even our risk for some diseases are lowered. It will also give you more energy to perform our next tip.

9. Sweat it out

Not only does exercise lower the risk of many diseases and make you look better, but it also helps flush toxins through sweat. When you sweat in your work out, you make your body stronger and healthier. Don’t forget a nice shower afterward to rinse of all those toxins in your sweat.

10. Detox your finances

Last, but not least, clean out your finances. Flush out old debts and avoid piling on excessive expenses. Keep it simple and save for something that really matters to keep financial burdens from weighing on your mind.