Credit Flickr: Earl - What I Saw
Even though it hasn’t officially arrived, as I was walking along Bloor St. in Toronto yesterday, I definitely had a feeling spring was in the air. That sunshine does wonderful things doesn’t it? I could just feel the cholesterol in my skin converting to vitamin D (a little Nutritionist humour here) making me feel more upbeat and joyous.
One of my favourite wellness workshops I do, has by far got to be simple ways to detoxify your mind, body and spirit. You really don’t need to go on a crazy calorie cutting diet which is only going to FUEL YOUR APPETITE CONTROLLING HORMONES. In fact, there are really simple things you can do every day to detoxify. Daily detox increases your energy, vibrancy, better bowel movements (and I KNOW you love that) and of course, makes you more fresh-faced.
Here’s my top 4 Spring Detox Tips:
1. DRINK LEMON & WATER: Every morning upon waking to cleanse your liver, strengthen your liver enzymes and fire your metabolic engines for fat burning. Drink a min. of 6-8 glasses of water per day. My joyous video here: http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/lemon-water-how-much-why/
2. INCREASE FIBRE: Essential for gut health (and skin health). Helps to eliminate toxins from the body and increase “transit time” — what you ate 2 days ago should have gone out the back door long ago, if it’s not this is sitting sitting in your gut getting more and more toxic. Aim for 40-50 g per day from whole grains with fibre intact, raw vegetables/fruit with skin, legumes, psyllium husks, ground flaxseed and chia seeds.
3. REDUCE TOXIC PERSONAL CARE & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS: Check for toxic ingredients in the products you use and seek out natural alternatives or consider making your own at home. Here’s why: http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/how-safe-are-your-hair-products/ Products I use: http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/beauty-products-joyous-health-approved/
4. EXERCISE DAILY. Move everyday, a minimum of 30 minutes! Increased circulation supports detoxification by carrying nutrients to the cells and carrying toxins AWAY to be eliminated. Remember that toxins are stored in your fat cells, the more fat cells you have, the more toxic you are. A lean body is not the same as a thin or skinny body and in fact, some of the thinnest looking people actually have the highest body fat = most toxic too.
See? There are no gimmicks needed to for simple ways to detox. And you don’t have to go on a starvation diet and slow down your metabolism to a snail’s pace to detox either. In fact, did you know that your liver actually requires protein to efficiently detoxify? So eating next to nothing will eventually turn off your liver’s detoxification pathways.
Tell me your detox stories – the good, bad and ugly, I would love to hear them!
As you might already know, I am 889 Yonge’s resident Holistic Nutritionist, in Toronto. I have a detox special package (2 sessions w me). The first session I give you a nutrition plan (all the foods that help the body detox and eliminate) and the second session I tell you all the wonderful herbs/teas and a few supplements to help aid the body in detoxification. This is the best detox program because anyone can do it and the tips are so practical many clients find themselves adopting these habits for lifelong health! Cost for 2 sessions is $150.
Check back in a few days for my next post on “Signs you need to detox”.
Have a joyous day!
Joy
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well, live well and be happy. Joy is the resident holistic nutritionist at 889 Yonge, a Yoga & Holistic Lifestyle Spa in Toronto.
Since I started reading your blog I am religiously drinking lemon and water every morning! Thanks for these tips.
Hi Joy! The weather sure feels like Spring and I am thinking I need to do a detox.Thanks for these tips.
Pleasure.
Joy I would love to hear when you are doing another wellness workshop. Your blog has so much amazing information. I found you through twitter. I’ve done my share of detoxes over the years and found that I feel pretty low energy from it. Do you know why that is?
Thanks Jess, I will definitely let you know. Check my twitter at joyoushealth because I often post events there. Thanks!
Were you doing a colon cleanse, what type of cleanse were you on that made you feel low energy? It’s a very common detox symptom to experience low energy during a detox but not after.
Hi Joy! The weather sure feels like Spring and I am thinking I need to do a detox.Thanks for your info.
Excercise
I totally need to detox! Joy, thank you for these tips. I would love to book a session with you, how do I do that?
Hi Pamela, wonderful!
You can just call 416.925.7206 and book an appointment with me at 889 Yonge – I’m there Tuesday & Wednesday. Or call me directly if you are not available on those days and we can find another time for you. I also do phone and skype consultations. Looking forward to speaking with you!
One of your tips recommends eatting 40-50g of fiber each day. How do you measure this?
If you send me at email joy(at)joyoushealth.ca I will email you a chart with the fibre content in many foods. However, to keep it even more simple than that, if you eat whole “real” foods you will eat more fibre without even having to count grams.
Hey Joy!
I wanted to ask you; my honey really prefers fizzy water over flat water. Is it ok if he has his morning lemon water with fizzy water?
thanks!
C
Well not really. One of the main purposes of the flat water plus lemon is because it’s very alkalinizing to the body. So, if you are going to use carbonated water (acidifying) then you are defeating the purpose of the lemon. I say go flat water with lemon and save the fizzy water for a treat!
Hi I really like your site. Great info here. Check this hxxp://bodydetox22.blogspot[com] You can find some usefull info as well. If you wish you can use it on your blog. Thanks again.
hi joy my detox story is long and continues everyday so i will try to make it short. about 1 year ago i started on the raw food health plan and don’t regret it for one day. so far i have lost 55lbs and have gotten off of 7 medications. the last 3 months have been particularly difficult as i am coming off of morphine which i took 24hrs/day for a chronic pain conidition. but through proper eating i don’t have that pain anymore. i know my body is healing and that is why i don’t mind experiencing this. besides the physical healing, there is a lot of emotional and spiritual as well. happy healing to everyone!