A Simple Daily Detox Routine

People often ask me about detoxification, and usually they're talking about an extreme diet that only involves eating maple syrup for a month or drinking glasses of Epsom salts and olive oil.

If you're feeling toxic, you probably are. We live in a toxic world with environmental pollution, factory-engineered foods, unhealthy people and stress.

The reality is both your liver and your kidneys work hard every day to expel toxins from your system - toxins from the outside world and toxins that your body creates as by-products of living in a stressful environment.

While studying Traditional Oriental Medicine, I learned that the best way to detoxify your system is to give your body what it needs to function properly, avoid obviously toxic substances, and lead a simple life. The following 14 tips for daily detoxification were posted on Sixwise.com:

• Exercise - It stimulates blood flow to the liver and kidneys, and speeds the body's elimination processes through sweat, urine and feces. Better yet, it keep you young.
  
• Eat Organic - As much as your budget permits. Prioritize animal products like meat, eggs and milk before vegetables and fruits.
• Taking Medications Sparingly - Sometimes medication is necessary, but think twice about popping pills for every aches and pain. Acitamenophen and NSAIDs can be hard on the liver and kidneys.
• Quit Smoking - Cigarettes contain nearly 600 different chemicals.
• Use Natural Cleaning Products - Chemicals in cleaning products can increase your risk of asthma and allergies.
• Meditate - It reduces stress, lowers your blood pressure, lowers your blood sugar and improves your overall health.
• Get Enough Sleep - Sleeping is essential to detoxify both body and mind. If you're not able to sleep, consult a health care practitioner.
• Limit Alcohol Intake - According to the Mayo Clinic, moderate alcohol use is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Anything more is excessive and damaging to your health.
• Practice Forgiveness - Harboring resentments for any reason fuels stress that slowly damages the body. A new study shows that forgiveness improves your health.
  
• Turn off the TV - It's not the programming, it's the advertisements. In his book Anger, Thict Nhat Hanh postulates that advertisments make us think about what we don't have, which makes us inadequate and then angry with ourselves.
• Clean Your Home - The less clutter, the more healthy your living environment. The ancient art of Feng Shui uses words like "qi" and "harmony," but you can also think in terms of less allergens and less stress.
• Volunteer - Pitching in to help not only benefits your community, but also benefits your physiology. Volunteers experience a heightened sense of well-being and reduced insomnia, as well as other physical and emotional benefits.
• Switch to Natural Personal Care Products - Anything you put on your skin filters through your liver and kidneys. Many personal care products on the market are toxic. Switch to moisturizers like organic coconut oil and aloe vera, and facial scrubs made from oatmeal and coffee grounds.
• Challenge Your Mind - Take a class, do a crossword puzzle, do sudoku or read a book. Keeping your mind active keeps your mind healthy.
  

If you can practice these steps every day, you will feel better almost immediately. You will be helping your body expel toxins slowly and in a balanced way, and you won't experience any strain on your system. You will simply feel good.