As we get ready for the new year, it’s a good time to think about doing a detox. Detoxing doesn’t just mean drinking veggie smoothies or taking herbs, although that can be great. You should also make a plan to detoxify your mind and your daily routine as well.
Let’s start with the body. When you don’t maintain a healthy diet your body may accumulate toxins. Those toxins can affect your liver and then slowly make their way into other body parts including the kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system, intestines, and skin.
Lemon juice is said to alkalize the body, which can help flush out toxins and reduce inflammation. According to Hippocrates, the “father of modern medicine,” drinking a glass of water with 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar works as a “healing elixir.” Either lemon juice or apple cider vinegar can be great for helping to promote the right kind of internal balance in your body. Throughout the day, drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.
Certain oils are better for cooking than others. Some studies have found that sunflower oil, vegetable oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, and canola oil may cause toxins to accumulate in your body. You might want to replace them with things like coconut oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil, and hemp oil. Do your own research and see what works best for your body.
Herbal teas, including ones made with the essences of nettles and dandelion, may help to clear out toxins. Green tea is also known to have nutrients and antioxidants that can help detoxify the body.
The enzymes found in raw vegetables and fruits improve nutrient absorption and aid digestion.
Although we all could probably benefit from eating less sugar, artificial sweeteners are not necessarily a good alternative. Some studies have found that artificial sweeteners may cause digestive problems, spikes in blood sugar levels, and other potential problems. When you do need something sweet, opt for natural sweeteners such as coconut sugar, stevia, honey, molasses, maple syrup or date sugar, and don’t overdo it!
Now let’s talk about “detoxifying” your mind, or in other words, “decluttering.”Clutter in your home or workplace can be a seriously unhealthy problem. Sometimes clutter takes the form of a few boxes packed in the closet, attic or basement. But often, clutter is made up of the little things that build up on your desk, dining room table, on shelves and dressers, or along the walls of your room. You probably don’t really notice it because it’s built up slowly over time.
Whether it’s your office desk or dining room table at home, if there is clutter, you will probably have a harder time focusing. This isn’t to say that clutter can’t be comfortable. Some people feel at ease amidst familiar piles of papers, random objects, and not-quite garbage that surrounds them. But if you really want to focus and get things done, decluttering your work space can allow you to process information more effectively and help you feel less frustrated. At work or at home, try to make a habit of picking up the stray items that have accumulated in your space throughout the day. Over time, this can help you feel much lighter and more optimistic about facing the day.
Here’s what the experts say: hoarding can be linked to insomnia, which is in turn linked to mental and physical health issues. Constantly being reminded of all your ‘stuff’ and what you should or could do with it creates a stressful environment for your mind. This can impair your sleep, which in turn inhibits your judgment and may increase your stress and anxiety.
If you’re the kind of person who appreciates a more material reason to declutter, think about this: falls are the leading cause of in-home deaths in the United States. Cleaning up your space makes it less likely that you’ll stub your toe, step on something painful, or trip and fall.
If you struggle with clutter, you’ll most likely have to get out of your comfort zone in order to “detox” your space. Set a standard by asking “Have I needed or appreciated this item within the past year?” If not, let it go. For those items that have sentimental value and could still be useful, think about giving them to a person who would use them regularly. In doing so you help yourself, the person receiving the gift, and the environment by eliminating consumption and waste.
Set aside a couple hours to detox your space. Trust that you will feel lighter and freer once your space is less cluttered. At the end, unwind with a cup of green tea and congratulate yourself for a job well done. Your mind and your body will thank you!