10 Ways To Detox

The most important question for 2019 is: How can we best take care of ourselves?

Yes, let’s put ourselves first. That’s a hard concept for me. Yet I know we absolutely cannot make the world a better place if we are depleted.

And as I write this post, I am 100 percent depleted.

I’ve had a terrible cold that has made exercising impossible (I’m now on an inhaler and breathing treatments), I’m exhausted, achy, overly emotional, grumpy and overwhelmed.

I believe these are signs to reevaluate my lifestyle, and focus on ways to care for myself. Here are 10 ways to detox, take care of ourselves, and stay healthy (and happy!) this year. These are all easily accessible and available.

Baths: Throw in some mineral bath salts and soak for 20 minutes. The minerals found in Epsom, Himalayan and sea salts help reduce swelling, and relieve muscle tension. You can find these salts anywhere, including HEB. A bath is a definite way to care for yourself and detoxify. Commit to at least one bath a week. Top it off with a candle, music and maybe even a good book.

Acupuncture: I found myself unexpectedly exhausted weeks after my hysterectomy. My best friend found an acupuncturist who has been a blessing and life changer. He’s not only a healer, but extremely well read on the latest homeopathic research. Acupuncture is only part of the visit. He starts with a magnesium drink, followed by massage, gua sha, cupping and then acupuncture. He targets your unique physiology, and also recommends supplements (but doesn’t sell them in his office).   

Supplements: There’s 3 you must take. (1) Magnesium: I take the power or liquid form. This is a nutrient that we need to stay healthy. Think of it as an internal protector, and an external shield. Most of us are deficient in magnesium, so a supplement is needed. It also has major anti-inflammatory benefits. (2) DIM (100mg): A plant compound found in cruciferous (broccoli, cauliflower) vegetables with health-promoting properties. Essentially, it partners with our ‘good’ estrogen for fat-burning metabolism; and regulates ‘bad’ estrogen associated with cancer and fibroids. (3) Milk thistle: This is a really important way to keep your liver healthy. And as my acupuncturist taught me, “health starts with your liver.” Milk thistle also has antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking dandelion tea is another way to boost your liver health.

Massage: I’ve had massages on special occasions or when I’ve injured myself running. Several years ago, after a massage, when the therapist recommended another massage in a month, I laughed. I thought it was cost prohibitive and a luxury.  Well, let’s just say I now get a massage monthly…and it’s the best gift I’ve given to myself. Enough said, it’s truly worth it.

Yoga & Exercise. At the same place where I gift myself with massages, I also do yoga at Studio Mantra. It’s really hard for me. Calming my mind and keeping my focus on my mat for an hour is challenging. If I’m honest, sitting with myself and not busying myself is really uncomfortable. However, the teachers are inspiring and caring, and yoga has impacted my mental and physical health tremendously. Breathing. Take a deep breath – when was the last time you did that? It’s also a place of belonging for me. In addition, cardio and weights are important. Carve out some time to run or walk; and get a set of 5-8 pound weights, find some videos on YouTube, and get your heart working. My mental health depends on it.

Meditation:  If you do a Google search on meditation, you will find thousands of articles documenting the benefits. I once read a quote stating that if meditation were a drug, it would be a billion dollar industry. Why don’t we (I) do it?! It’s like drinking water – I don’t drink enough yet it’s so easy to do. Well, I’m starting with 10-minutes a day. There are some great, free apps to guide you. I use Meditation Studio.

Clean eating: I’ve been reading a lot about how to reduce inflammation, but to be honest, as I wrote about in My Changing Body, I mainly wanted to understand why I was gaining weight (and find a way back to my 35-year old body). I’ve tried Whole 30 (too restrictive), 30 Clean (absolutely perfect), and The Plan (way too much preparation and I couldn’t get passed the three-day detox because the food was so tasteless. However, I learned a lot from it: the foods we used to be able to break down easily when we were younger become more difficult to digest; the book is based on understanding the inflammatory response you have to foods and how they react with your body chemistry. Common high inflammatory foods include turkey, eggs, cauliflower, beans, tomatoes, and salmon. I recently discovered the Galveston Diet. To me, it’s a perfect combination of 30 Clean combined with intermittent fasting and keto with clear goals and ways to track and monitor your progress. We all know the benefits of eating whole foods, why aren’t we doing it? Well, here’s 7 tips to get started!

Intermittent fasting: Intermittent fasting is an eating style where you eat within a specific time period, and fast the rest of the time, allowing your body to burn fat. Though intermittent fasting is a way to lose weight, it’s less a diet and more a lifestyle choice…and there’s more and more research that it significantly reduces inflammation, and is a powerful way to combat brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. I’m starting the 16/8 method: The eating period is 8 hours, such as 12–8 p.m. Then you fast for 16 hours in between. Here’s a BBC documentary, “Eat, Fast & Live Longer” covering this exact topic.

The most powerful quote from it, “is seems that fasting stresses your brain matter [causing new brain cells to grow] the way that exercise stresses your muscles.” 

Nature: There is no better way to reconnect with yourself than hiking or basking in nature. And in Austin, there is plenty of it! Did you know there’s actual scientific evidence of how nature positively affects your health? Recharge by spending an hour outside as often as possible.

Affirmations: Often, we can be our own worst enemy. This year, let’s be our own biggest champion and supporter. Affirmations are powerful reminders that we are enough, that we are worthy, we are loved, we are important. Write down your five affirmations on index cards, and repeat every morning and evening.