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4 Ways to Detox

Did you know your body has a continuous detoxification process to repairs and heal? But when your body’s detoxification systems become overloaded, toxins can remain active longer than your body can handle. This can cause symptoms such as:

  • Bloating and digestive discomfort
  • Skin issues
  • Brain fog and mood swings

When toxins stay longer than your organs can handle, it can lead to chronic disease such as heart and autoimmune conditions, mental ill-health and/or cognitive decline.

Here are four effective ways to help your body detoxify  after the holiday season with all its goodies, beverages, excess food and stress. Build them into regular habits to strengthen your immune system, and improve gut health and help protect your brain.

Flush out the Toxins

Make a Morning Detox Tea
Lemon Tumeric Tea – Nourish Move Love

Hydrate,  detox and boost your immune system. Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and cayenne pepper are anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants. This tea is an excellent way to prevent/address colds and flus.

Apple Cider Detox Tea – Tasteaholics

Did you know that apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been consumed for thousands of years? Historical records show that apple juice was fermented into vinegar more than 5,000 years ago. ACV has antibacterial properties as well as health-promoting probiotics and enzymes. In addition to helping your body detox, using ACV regularly:

  • Stabilizes blood sugar
  • Lowers cholesterol
  • Improves skin health
  • Can relieve acid reflux

Prep a Pitch of InfusedWater 
Here are 5 refreshing detox recipes from Posthood  to get started. Or simply add about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of the following to a pitcher of water

  • Cucumber, sliced
  • Lemon, lime or grapfruit sliced
  • Mint, chopped
  • Grapefruit, lemon, lime,

Experiment with other herbs and fruits. Add sparkling water. It’s an effective way to replace sodas and diet beverages. In addition to hydrating and cleansing you will:

  • boost your metabolism
  • ease digestion and constipation
  • enhance your energy level and focus
  • help your skin

Dry Brush to Activate Your Lymphatic System
Think of your lymphatic system as the housecleaner of your immune system. The lymphatic system is a network of nodes, vessels, glands and organs. It carries the waste out of your tissues and into the blood stream to be filtered through your spleen.

Your skin is your largest eliminative organ. If it is clogged with dead skin cells and/or other impurities, its ability to eliminate toxins is handicapped.

Dry brushing is an ancient ritual that stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic system. It helps flush out waste and toxins. Keeping your lymphatic system functioning properly contributes to a better, more resilient immune response . It is directly related to your overall health.

How to Dry Brush?

  • Use a natural bristle brush either a long handle or a grip so you can easily cover all areas of the body.
  • Begin with the soles of your feet
  • Using circular motions brush vigorously in this order: feet, legs, hands and arms, your back, and abdomen.
  • Brush over each area several times, about 5-10 times.

Dry brushing exfoliates the skin. A nice benefit is minimizing cellulite. This happens by increasing blood circulation to the skins. It softens fat cells under your skin helping to release toxins from within

Take an Epsom Salt Bath
The two main ingredients of Epsom salt are magnesium and sulfate. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath is a mild form of magnesium therapy. Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in your body  ranging from regulating blood pressure and supporting metabolism to keeping blood sugar levels stable and removing toxins. Sulfate can strengthen the walls of your digestive tract and make releasing toxins easier. The combination of both ingredients (magnesium and sulfate) stimulates detoxification pathways.

Heat is an excellent resource while cleansing. A warm bath promotes sweating, which may help your body draw out toxins from within releasing them through your pores.

It’s an ideal way to end the day. Healthy magnesium levels also  boost brain neurotransmitters that are responsible for inducing sleep and reducing stress.

For More Empowerment

Detox Made Safe and Simple – Dr. Mark Hyman

Apple Cider Benefits and Uses – Dr. Axe

10 Holistic Treatments for Your Lymph – Chalkboard

10 Detox Bath Recipes – Dr. Axe

Originally posted January 2022

Cancer Fighting Foods

Cancer-Fighting Foods

Many of us have been – or will be – affected by cancer. The statistics are sobering. Nearly half the men and about a third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Every year 10 million people in the world develop cancer; and seven million deaths are caused by the disease. This is 12 percent of all reported deaths on Earth.

The good news is that there is something we can do about it. Individual lifestyle choices play a major role in the risk of developing cancer. The role of diet and cancer has been researched since the 1940s. In Western countries, over 30% of all cancers have been estimated to be directly or indirectly linked to dietary factors. Cancers particularly sensitive to dietary factors include breast, colon, prostate bladder, and lung cancers.

[su_expanding_quote_without_link alignment=”right” source=”Foods to Fight Cancer: Essential Foods to Help Prevent Cancer, by Richard Beliveau PhD and Denis Gingras Phd.” full_quote=”Recent studies establish a close relationship between the lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet and an increase in the rate of certain cancers. A significant intake of fruits and vegetables leads to marked decrease in the risk of developing cancer. In general, individuals consuming the fewest vegetables have about twice the chance of developing certain cancers than people who consume greater quantities of these foods. Radically modifying our diet must be the goal of any preventive strategy to reduce the number of cancers. A diet based on regular intake of the right foods is indispensable to fighting cancer. Enjoying a diverse, balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables is a simple and effective way of significantly reducing the risk to developing cancer.” short_quote=”Recent studies establish a close relationship between the lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet and an increase in the rate of certain cancers.”]

Recent scientific advancement in anti-cancer research has identified specific foods that offer powerful protection against cancer. These foods are essential for prevention of cancer and also increased odds of survival after diagnosis. In particular cruciferous vegetables (kale, spinach, cabbage, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) seem to contain the most potent anti-cancer substances of all types of vegetable providing mechanisms that may protect against cancer including:

  • inhibition of angiogenesis (blood vessel formation important for tumor growth)
  • detoxification or removal of carcinogens (like heterocyclic amines)
  • inhibition of cancer cell growth
  • promotion of cancer cell death
  • prevention of DNA damage by carcinogens.

Other potent cancer fighting foods include onions, beans, berries, seeds and nuts. Beans in general are beneficial for protecting against reproductive cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.

[su_expanding_quote_web alignment=”right” source_site=”Dr. Fuhrman” source_url=”Source URL” full_quote=”Cruciferous vegetables including kale, cabbage, collards, broccoli, and several others contain the most potent anti-cancer substances of all types of vegetables. Human studies show a huge protective effect; people who were regular consumers of these foods had approximately 60 percent less cancer. For example, in one prospective study, one or more servings per week of cabbage reduced the risk of pancreatic cancer by 38%.30 This was only one serving a week, which demonstrates that dramatic protection is available and real when a diet is ideally designed. The regular consumption of mushrooms has been demonstrated to decrease risk of breast cancer by over 60 percent.31 Onions, berries, seeds and beans also have dramatic beneficial effects.32 Beans in general, not just soy, are beneficial for protecting against reproductive cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.33” short_quote=”Human studies show a huge protective effect; people who were regular consumers of these foods had approximately 60 percent less cancer. “][/su_expanding_quote_web]

Based on all my reading, I choose to eat a plant-rich daily diet:

  • minimizing meat and dairy
  • increasing consumption of greens (kale, spinach, Romaine, collard greens) and cruciferous ( broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels Sprouts), onions, beans, berries, seeds and nuts
  • eating a wide range of colorful fruits and other vegetables (sweet potatoes and pumpkins, tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers and citrus
  • enjoying whole grains in breakfast or dinner
  • drinking less coffee and more green tea
  • keeping foods made with white sugar and white flour for special treats and not every day

For further health empowerment:

Eat for Health – The Anti-Cancer Diet

Reduce Your Risk of Cancer by Making Better Food Choices

Diet and Physical Activity: What is the Cancer Connection

 

Delicious Cancer Fighting Recipes

African Coconut Soup with Chickpeas

Spicy Kale and Garbanzo Stew

Kale Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Apple and Walnuts

Spinach, Grated Broccoli and Grape Salad