“This article is originally posted on HigherDOSE.com”
A totally doable detox with reenergizing, radiance-boosting results.
Feel that? That’s your senses coming alive as warmer, brighter days replace the bitter-dry remains of winter. Spring has officially sprung. And with the blooming florals and lush green grasses comes a renewed sense of vitality and the possibility of a fresh start. Springtime is all about new beginnings, which makes detoxing the perfect way to welcome the season.
The health equivalent of decluttering your closet and sweeping dust bunnies, a thoughtful detox works to cleanse and re-energize the body and mind. After months in hibernation mode, feeling sluggish and heavy from the winter blues, deprived of sunlight and the outdoors, take this transitional moment to effectively reboot your system, reevaluate your habits and defog your brain. During winter, we tend to overeat rich, heavy foods because this is when our bodies crave sustenance—a survive-the-cold instinct. Now it’s time to shed that winter coat, eliminate toxic buildup and beach-ready our bods in the process.
Infuse your day-to-day routine with these detox-focused tips to facilitate healthy cleansing with balanced, mood-boosting effects and beautifying results.
WORKOUT-SIDE. Create an achievable, yet robust exercise schedule complete with daily physical activity, stretching and breathing. If you’ve been cooped up in the gym, make it a point to get outside. From nature hikes to bike rides, going au natural unleashes tons of feel-good perks—such as vitamin D rays, which brighten our moods, help our bodies absorb calcium and reduce inflammation. Embracing open, outdoor air decreases stress hormone levels while perking up energy in the brain (like a cup of coffee), and some studies show that natural scents like roses, freshly cut grass and pine make you feel calmer and more relaxed.
MORE WATER. When it comes to flushing your system, water is essential. As H2O enhances the body’s detoxification process, it replenishes the skin, revs up your metabolism and keeps you from overeating (often, feelings of hunger serve as signs of dehydration). Make a commitment to staying hydrated, drinking 13–15 cups of water throughout each day. When you’re after something to complement pure water, sip on herbal teas or warm water with lemon.
EAT DETOXIFYING SPRING FOODS. Support your body’s revitalization by loading your diet with nourishing, yet simple foods. Mix fresh local greens, loaded with enzymes, vitamins and minerals, with essential produce such as carrots and cucumbers. Fiber-rich ingredients promote healthy digestion and increase the body’s ability to rid toxins—great options include lentils, beans, collard greens, grapefruit, asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower. Such easy, yet impactful combinations will ignite your cells with nutrients. Let them work their magic. And of course, eliminate processed foods, which are packed with harmful chemicals and sugars. Try not to eat after 7 pm, allowing your body to fully recover when you sleep. By allowing your stomach this time to process, you give it the space it needs to produce all your feel-good chemicals and healthy hormones—instead of digesting your late-night meal and waking up with a food hangover.
DAILY FASTING. Accelerate the process with intermittent fasting. An everyday practice, this fasting technique increases fat loss while also improving health and simplifying the detox life. What is it? Intermittent fasting (nicknamed IF) is a lifestyle pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating with an eating window of 8 – 12 hours. For best results, avoid scheduling meals near bedtime and ensure the body has ample opportunity to heal and recover when fasting/exercising is in full swing.
BRUSH OFF. For a sunbeam-spring glow, dry brush before your morning shower. Brushing awakens and stimulates the skin and helps keep the skin’s pores clear, thus supporting the body’s ability to perspire freely—this is important because if the skin’s pores get clogged, and the body can’t perspire freely, waste gets backed up.
MORE SLEEP. LESS STRESS. Dedicate at least 7 hours each night to sleeping and make a conscious effort to destress. Tiredness and crankiness are both responsible for higher cortisol levels, a stress hormone responsible for retaining unwanted fat.
THE DETOX DOSE. Nothing kicks a detox program into high gear like the power of infrared. As infrared heat gradually increases your blood circulation, vibrating molecules loosen deep-stored toxins through sweat, pushing out heavy metals, radiation, environmental pollutants, fat, cholesterol, alcohol, nicotine and more. In addition to purifying your system, infrared will also enliven your state of mind—elating your mood with feelings of happiness and lightness while boosting creativity and productivity. Come by 3–4 times per week, scheduling the sauna sessions between workouts for maximum impact.