3 Ways to Detox Your Body

1. Consume More Fiber

Fiber provides two major benefits in the body--it helps to restore bowel tone, easing both constipation and diarrhea, and it binds toxins in the intestines to carry them out for elimination. You can easily add more healthy fiber to your diet by consuming more fruits and vegetables. Have a salad for lunch and another before dinner, make yourself a fruit smoothie in the morning instead of having a cup of coffee, and snack on cut vegetables during the day instead of processed snack foods. Or buy a psyllium husk powder at your local health food store, and add a scoop to your morning smoothie or simply mix it with a glass of water and drink it quickly. Make sure that you drink more water when you add fiber supplements to your diet though, and add fiber supplements gradually, since extra fiber can make you feel full and cause a little stomach discomfort at first.

2. Reach for the Water

Water is such an important component of a healthy diet, and yet is often overlooked. One of the main nutrients your body needs is water--it helps to carry nutrients to your cells and tissues, moves food through the digestive tract and is a carrier for elimination of waste products. Water is absolutely essential for any detoxification program to be effective. Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water a day. Sodas, coffee and energy drinks do not count towards your total daily water intake because their sugar calories and caffeine cannot compare to a simple, pure, healthy glass of water. Keep a pitcher of water and a glass on your kitchen counter for an easy, convenient reminder to drink more water.

3. Go on a Detox Diet

A detoxification diet is a highly effective means of cleansing the body, supporting liver function and eliminating the foods that can be contributing to less-than-optimal health. Many commonly consumed foods can actually be a source of allergens, causing a variety of symptoms in the body, including chronic inflammation, muscle aches and pains, sinus problems and impaired liver and immune function. Sadly, most people are unaware that many health issues can be related to the foods they eat every day, and so the cycle continues. You can help to stop the cycle of inflammation and irritation, and give your body the opportunity o repair itself and detoxify by following a detox diet--eliminating wheat/gluten, dairy, corn and citrus from your diet for a week or more. During this time consume whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, cold-water fish and organic chicken, and avoid processed foods, alcohol, caffeine and red meat. After one to three weeks of this modified diet, reintroduce the foods individually and watch for any return of symptoms that disappeared while you were on the diet. If you notice a food causes difficulties for you, avoid it or consume it only in limited moderation in the future.