Now holiday's over, it's time for detoxification. There are many ways to flush out toxins away from your body. Here are some alternatives for cleansing.
7 ways to detox
Lemon
As well as being jam-packed full of immunity-boosting vitamin C, lemons are also thought to rebalance the levels of acid and alkaline in the body to keep a steady PH balance. As a result, “your body is better able to support healthy bacteria and assist the removal of environmental and dietary toxins in the body”, says Selby. Try drinking a mug of hot water with a slice of lemon for a detoxifying boost.
Acai berries
Acai berries are only very tiny, but these bad boys are seriously powerful antioxidants. In fact, Web MD’s Kimball Johnson observes that one tiny acai berry has “even more antioxidant content than [a] cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry”. Why are the antioxidant properties of the acai so important for a successful detox? They “protect the body from the over-production of free radicals”, explains Johnson. Free-radicals, Johnson continues, can cause damage to proteins, fats, carbohydrates and DNA in the body and acai berries can help to combat such damage. Good things really do come in small packages.
Green vegetables
There’s a good reason why you were always told to “eat up your greens” – they’re pretty flipping good for you! Indeed, green vegetables such as broccoli, sprouts and spinach contain “vitamins, minerals, and plant-based substances that may help protect you from heart disease, diabetes, and perhaps even cancer”, says health expert Kathleen Zelman from Web MD. Add plenty of greens to your plate for healthy and happy insides.
Garlic
Its unpleasant smell doesn’t only scare off the vampires; it scares away toxins, too. Indeed, as well as containing toxin-battling antioxidants, garlic also contains allicin, which “reacts with the blood to create a product capable of killing off many harmful bacteria and viruses that your body may be harbouring”, explains Selby. Stock up on garlic and say goodbye to toxins, viruses and vampires (and perhaps your other half – temporarily).
Make a mug of milk thistle
If your liver has taken a bit of a beating of late, milk thistle may be your saving grace. Indeed, health experts at Web MD suggest that this purple-headed plant may “protect liver cells from toxic chemicals and drugs [and] have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects”. Milk thistle supplements and tea can often be found in health food shops.
Whip up a white tea
We’ve all heard of the antioxidant benefits of green tea, but white tea really packs a punch. Indeed, “white tea is incredibly high in polyphenols, antioxidants used to fight off free radicals in the body and catechins, another group of antioxidants which have been found to reduce cholesterol in the body”, Selby points out. If you don’t already drink this powerful antioxidant, swap your usual tea or coffee with a white tea – your body will thank you for it!
Pack in some protein
The lowly little bean has been catapulted to star status in the detox world of late. Indeed, “a ground-breaking study that looked at numerous foods says beans – red, black, pinto, kidney – are high-octane sources of antioxidants”, explains Brunilda Nazario from Web MD. So, diligent detoxers, add beans to your diet and you’ll boost your body cleanse.
Bike commuting is expected to get a serious boost, thanks to major cities around the globe launching bike-sharing programs, adding to today's already more than 500 city-wide programs in 49 countries, according to the Earth Policy Institute. While Europe has been an early adopter of bike sharing programs, US cities Portland, Austin, San Diego, and Seattle are soon joining the ranks.
