5 easy ways to detox right now

There’s a ton of talk about detoxing - there’s a tea for that, a juice for that, a workout for that. Basically, we take in a lot of toxins and we need to get them all out. From the food we eat, to the air we breathe, to the products we wear, we have plenty to purge. The body is remarkably designed to automatically release toxins through the lymphatic system and elimination process. However, you can further support the system by manually detoxing your body. By removing the stuck junk, your body can perform all of its functions more effectively and efficiently. Detoxing results in a clearer mind, better digestion, improved health, and skin that glows. While there are wellness retreats and juice cleanses you can do, these typically last for several days (or longer). If you’re looking to incorporate detox habits into your daily life, here are 5 easy things you can start now.

Oil Pulling

When: While you can do this any time of the day, morning is best to draw toxins out of the mouth after a hefty night’s sleep.

How: Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it through your mouth being careful not to swallow it. If your coconut oil is solid, just keep turning it in your mouth. It will heat up and liquify. Ideally, you will swish and swirl the liquid for 15-20 minutes. If that seems like forever, then just begin pulling for 5 minutes each day and work up from there. When done, spit the liquid into the trash – do not put down the drain.

Why: The oil “pulls” bacteria away from mouth cavity, gums and teeth, similar to washing your body with soap.

Benefits: Oil pulling creates a clean, antiseptic oral environment which results in better breath, reduced inflammation, whiter teeth and enhanced immune system.

Tongue Scraping

When: Morning (especially) and night

How: Go buy a metal tongue scraper at your local health foods market. You may not understand it, but you definitely won’t regret it. Take the tongue scraper and drag it from the back of your tongue to front 7-12 times. As you pull, you will see a film or coating coming off your tongue.

Why: That yellowy film is toxic mucus that has built up on the tongue. Tongue scraping removes these toxins before they get reabsorbed back into the body.

Benefits: You will experience better breath, enhanced taste, improved digestion and enhanced immune system.

Rebound

When: Anytime of the day for 5+ minutes at a time (try to do 15 minutes each day)

How: Take yourself back to childhood and get bouncing. A rebounder is a mini-trampoline. Your kids might still have one. Just bounce, bounce, bounce. You don’t need to catch a lot of air or even take feet off the trampoline surface.

Why: The lymphatic system lies below the skin and acts as the body’s garbage disposal. “The lymph system bathes every cell, carrying nutrients to the cell and waste products away. Yet the lymph is totally dependent on physical exercise to move,” says Dave Scrivens, Certified Lymphologist for the Well Being Journal. Vertical movements (like jumping) are more beneficial to the lymph system than horizontal movements (like running).

Benefits: Bouncing increases lymph flow by 15-30 times so it can better remove toxins in the body, like “dead and cancerous cells, nitrogenous wastes, infectious viruses, heavy metals, and other assorted junk cast off by the cells.”

Yoga

When: Yoga every day!

How: Whether it’s a 60 minute class at your favorite yoga studio or an at home yoga sequence, flow through a few yoga poses each day. Try these right now: pranayama breathing, cobra pose, seated twist, legs up the wall pose.

Why: Yoga stimulates your body from the inside out. Unlike other forms of exercises, each yoga pose is designed to benefit the external and internal physical body.

Benefits: We could go on for days about the benefits of yoga. Yoga is an incredible tool to support the lymph system. Deep breathing brings more oxygen to the blood and relieves stress which aids in overall mind-body detoxification. Chest openers alleviate congestion to move stagnant energy. Twisting poses stimulate the liver and aids in digestion.

Self Massage

When: Anytime. Try it with warm oil.

How: Start at the feet and slowing massage your body. Using small circles work your way up the body making sure to touch on every part of your body – the ankles, behind the knees, hips, belly, lower back, shoulders, neck, face.

Why: This Ayurvedic practice called Abyanga, is an expression of self-love and also supports the lymphatic drainage system.

Benefits: Beyond moving the lymph, self-massage is also known to calm the nerves, nourish the body, and stimulate internal organs of the body.

Add these detox rituals to your wellness goals to further your path on the road to radiant health.