If you are considering detox, it’s important to understand how it works. This guide will go over the 10 Do’s and 4 Don’ts that you need to follow. This is presented by New Waters Recovery, a North Carolina Detox facility that can help you beat addiction.
Let’s begin now with the list starting with the 10 “Do’s”:
Do’s
1. Drink Plenty Of Water
Water is essential for bodily functions. It can also remove toxins inside your body. In fact, water is one of the natural detoxifiers. You will need to drink at least eight to twelve glasses of water daily as it is essential for detoxification.
You can even drink green juices or herbal teas to ensure more hydration in your body.
2. Eat A Plant-Based Diet
This diet is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are essential for detoxification. Your diet should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. These will be great for eliminating toxins from your body.
Avoid eating foods that are packaged or processed. Especially those that are high in unhealthy fats, salts, or sugars.
3. Eat Lean Protein
This will be essential for muscle growth and repair. It can also play a role in detoxifying your body. Foods such as chicken, fish, and legumes are great sources for lean protein.
It can even be great for improving your liver functions, a vital organ for detoxification. Avoid red meats and processed meats. These will be high in saturated fats and cholesterol.
4. Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise will be great for many things. This includes increasing your energy levels and boosting circulation. It can also help flush out the toxins through your sweat.
Even better, it can improve your lymphatic system. Do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intense exercises for at least five days a week. This includes jogging, yoga, or cycling.
5. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is important for detoxifying your body. Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Be sure to avoid caffeine or alcohol prior to bedtime.
6. Practice Stress-Reducing Techniques
Stress can be notorious for accumulating toxins in your body. Cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone, can interfere with the detox process. That’s why it is important to utilize stress-reducing practices such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing.
Practicing regular mindfulness a few minutes per day will help keep stress at bay. It will make the detoxification process a lot easier.
7. Dry Brush Your Skin
This is a technique that will allow you to use a natural bristle brush. This is designed to stimulate your lymphatic system, which is useful for eliminating toxins from your body. Aside from this benefit, it will also help improve your skin’s appearance.
8. Take An Epsom Salt Bath
These types of baths are known for removing toxins from your body via your skin. Epsom salt contains various minerals including magnesium. This mineral in particular is helpful in improving your muscle functions and reducing inflammation.
To try this yourself, add two cups of Epsom salt to a warm bath. Soak in the bath for 20 to 30 minutes. Not only will it be great for your body, but it will also help you calm down and relax.
It’s a lot better when you are getting rid of toxins from your body.
9. Drink Herbal Teas
As mentioned earlier, herbal teas are great for hydrating your body. At the same time, you’ll also try teas made from ginger, dandelion root, and milk thistle to help improve your liver. Two cups of herbal tea daily will help support detoxification.
10. Listen To Your Body
Even though detoxification is a personal process, you want to listen to your body. Especially if it needs something. For example, if you are feeling tired, take a break and rest. Don’t push yourself too hard.
Be gentle with your body and don’t overexert yourself. If you need to go light on the exercise, do so. If your body needs more rest, get more sleep. It’s never a good idea to ignore your body when it’s telling you something.
Pushing yourself while you’re in pain can lead to aggravating injuries. Stressing out can lead to poor detoxification.
Don’ts
1. Detox At Home
If you are detoxing as part of your addiction treatment, it’s never a good idea to detox at home. You may be far away from a medical facility that can treat your withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can get serious to the point where they can be fatal.
If your addiction is serious, please detoxify in an inpatient facility. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ll have qualified and experienced professionals available around the clock when you need them.
2. Eat A Poor Diet
A poor diet of saturated fats, cholesterol, salts, and sugars will slow down the detoxifying process. It’s important that you make adjustments to your diet during this time. Our suggestions can be found in the ‘Do’s’ section of this article.
3. Stress Regularly
Allowing your stress to go unmanaged will be a huge mistake. It will blunt any chance of getting rid of toxins throughout your body. At the same time, it can also harm you physically and mentally.
It’s important that you manage your stress wisely. This means practicing regular mindfulness and exercises that will help control your stress levels. The less stressed you are, the better your body will detoxify.
4. Continue Using Drugs
Continuing to put drugs and other substances in your body will defeat the entire purpose of detoxification. That’s why you need to make sure you stop using them as soon as possible. The more you continue doing this, the more toxins will enter your body.
The detoxifying process begins after you use drugs. Withdrawal symptoms will begin after a couple of days depending on what you have used. It is important that you stop using them now so you can detox once and for all.
You can start your recovery process as soon as possible. Detox is all part of the process.