It’s that time of year again. A fresh start paved with great intentions is in your sights .And what a perfect way to start off the year, than with a detox!

“Detoxing” has become a consistent New Year’s resolution buzzword, and “the thing” to do after a season of food and sugar binging. But, not everyone’s body can handle a full out cleanse. For instance, your body may be too depleted of essential vitamins, mineral or enzymes. If this is the case, cleansing will stress out your body and delete you even more. There are also hormonal issue at play such as thyroid and adrenal imbalance.  Not to mention blood sugar irregularities. All these factors play a role in your decision to do a cleanse and what type.

The good news is that even if you have an imbalance that can worsen from extreme detoxing, there are gentle things that you can do on a daily bases to help remove toxic build up. Incorporating certain foods into your daily diet will do more for your overall health, then taxing your body with harsh measures.

Foods that help the body detoxify include:

• Lemons
• Beets
• Green leafy veggies including kale, spinach, and chard
• Apples
• Dandelion leaves
• Artichoke
• Watercress
• Flax
• Cabbage
• Broccoli

Herbs and Spices that detox and purify the blood include:

• Turmeric
• Rosemary
• Milk Thistle
• Ginger
• Garlic

Including these foods in your eating regime will allow your body to release toxins gently as you work toward balancing and strengthening your body. And of course, don’t forget about water. Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For instance if you weigh 150 pounds, you would consume 75 ounces of water. If you exercise or drink cofee, you will need to add on glasses of water consumed.

Getting rid of household cleaners and personal hygiene products that are full of chemicals is key to proper nervous system and endocrine function. Reducing these toxins will take some pressure off your already overworked liver and keep your brain sharp.

If you are not sure if your body can handle a full out cleanse or if you would benefit from gentle daily detoxification instead, consult a trusted holistic nutritionist. And as always, please contact us for a complimentary consult if you have any questions.

Hope this helps! Good luck with all your New Year’s goals.