Easy Ways to Detox l Fasting l Eating Bettter

The Bible instructs us to take care of our bodies and by doing so we will be watering our lives and will become like a well-watered garden. Our bodies are sacred temples for God’s Spirit as well. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple,” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 suggested. Detoxification is part of taking care and maintaining this temple. We can do this by removing contaminants from the organs and from the blood stream, where toxins may have built up over the years. Since the body naturally eliminates toxins through the organs, it's important sometimes to aid them in doing so. Why is this important? Well, exposure to pollutants, cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals will negatively impact the immune system. It can also corrupt the brain, blood, bones and may lead to chronic diseases. Our bodies can't function when they are saddled with poisons as causes a breeding ground for ailments like digestive ailments, migraines and joint distress. Here are 7 ways you can detox and how it reshapes your body.

Replace Meals With Juices

Dr. B.J. Hardick is the co-author of Maximized Living Nutrition Plan and explained the entire goal of detoxing is to free the body of any disturbances. When you are feeding the body with healthy foods you are creating a foundation. "The less invasive we can be when avoiding and removing toxins, the better off we’ll be." To get started, try eliminating meals and replacing them with organic juice or smoothies. Work by replacing only a single meal when you get started. Turning to a smoothie for one of your meals will help jump start your metabolism and help wean you off of big meals. The nutrients in the smoothie will provide you with natural energy and give you the calories to keep you going. Incorporate natural and healthy ingredients kale, carrots, beets, apples and parsley to help clean the blood and to prepare the organs for a detox.

Buy Organic Foods

A study published in Lancet Neurology Illustrated shared that exposure to chemicals can be associated with autism, ADHD, behavior, developmental disorders and cancer. Charlotte Vallaeys, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports said: “Eating fruits and vegetables is one of the most important things people can do for their health, and we always recommend certified organic produce as the best choice." The use of pesticides in conventional agriculture are used in excess and will injure the body over time. Over 80 percent of non-organic foods like spinach, nectarines, strawberries, cherries and apples tested positive for residue of at least one pesticide. According to Environmental Working Group, a single sample of strawberries showed 20 different pesticides. However, over 80 percent of pineapples, asparagus, onions and cabbage had no pesticide residues. When flushing impurities out from the body, go for foods not infected with chemicals.

Drink Water

Most people are dehydrated and don't even realize it. We lose water by urinating, from medication and from sweating. You can lose up to a quart of water during exercising and by doing physical labor for your job. A lack of hydration may result in fatigue, light headiness, fainting, heart palpitations and chest pains. Water flushes out your system and the toxins which will improve your complexion, respiratory, circulatory and digestive system. When you begin the regimen make sure you're drinking about 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. Begin by taking small sips during the day to help build yourself up to it. Cut back on the coffee since it acts as a diuretic, and increases dehydration because it makes you urinate more. Water fasting will help with stamina and will reboot the body.

Remove Processed Foods

When you're detoxing the body, you need to eliminate processed foods from the diet. Replace foods like lunch meats chips, crackers, cheese, milk and bread with salads to better support the system. Stay away from anything that is fried or baked in excessive grease and avoid fatty cuts of beef, pork or lamb. Add more greens like kale, broccoli and spinach instead of snacking on junk foods. Since many greens are alkalizing, it can help the body ward off bacteria better. For example, parsley can also bind heavy metals like mercury so they can be extracted from your body, mindbodygreen.com reported. Other alkalizing foods to consider are: carrots, figs, almonds, green beans and green tea. Additionally, artichokes, asparagus, apples, celery, parsley, basil, collards, cabbage and dandelion greens all work to cleanse the body and they extract toxins from the organs.

Ditch the Sugar

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This is going to be hard for some folks and that is getting rid of all sugar. Sugar is linked to diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, cancer and is noxious. Sugar is in everything we eat. Yogurts, cereals, bread, juices and processed foods carry high sugar content and when we consume too much sugar it could undermine the immune system, causing more colds, mucus, coughs and digestive issues. An excess amount of sugar will damage your liver just like alcohol does. Researchers are now admitting sugar is lethal. Dr. Robert Lustig from the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California said this: "Alcohol, cigarettes and cocaine, we don't have to ban any of them. We don't have to ban sugar. They're allowed to make money, but they're not allowed to make money by making people sick." Removing this addicting food is not simple so take it easy and if you feel like you're crashing, go to natural fruits or vegetables for help.

Reduce the Caffeine

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Caffeine is another chemical that can harm the body over time if it's used in excess. Consuming moderate amounts of caffeine -- about 250 milligrams a day is striking a balance, but more people go over the aforementioned and this will stress out the organs. Caffeine is metabolized in the liver and may lead to liver disease. Caffeine is considered a drug so you need to detox the body slowly from it. Start cutting down on the amount you drink a day. Instead of a couple cups of coffee, just have one in the morning. Start adding foods and activities to distract you from the feel-good chemicals found in caffeine. It can be having an herbal tea, a smoothie or taking a walk when the desire arises. If you are struggling with coming off of caffeine talk to your doctor for added support.

Drink Dandelion Tea

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Drinking dandelion tea may enhance liver function and detox the body. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers found the herb may help enhance the way the organs function. Dandelions tea can help with stomach aches, gallstones, joint pain and may protect bones as well. "Dandelion tea or stems are also good vitamin C foods, which helps with mineral absorption, reduces inflammation and prevents the development of disease," author Dr. Josh Axe wrote. It may also break down kidney stones, help with infections and may help regulate the blood. Dandelion root has a compound called taraxacerin. This property helps the liver and the body detoxify more efficiently.