Reflecting on the past two years, it was clear that many of us were looking for ways to stay calm and entertained while staying at home. And while plenty of puzzles were completed, relaxing books were read, and movie marathons were the norm, simple ways to detox definitely weren’t top of mind. The world changed in what felt like a matter of days—and we had no other choice but to respond and adapt. With nights out at our favorite restaurants or bars no longer possible, many of us decided to bring the party home. Comfort food and glasses of wine became more regular occurrences, and all throughout, the feelings of isolation remained.
Some of my go-to tactics of self-soothing actually ended up adding to the stress in my life and taking a toll on my health. We’ve all heard of inflammation. It’s when poor eating, alcohol, stress, environmental pollutants, harsh chemicals, and other toxins found in everyday life can build up in the body. These toxins do a number on our energy and stress levels—not to mention our weight, mood, sleep, and skin.
I’m grateful that parties with friends and gatherings with loved ones are back. We’re learning to navigate this new world, and I know I’m not alone in saying that I want to do everything I love with energy, excitement, and while feeling my best. Luckily, here are plenty of simple ways to detox that are accessible, affordable, and require little extra time taken out of your day. Our bodies have an innate ability to rid our systems of built-up toxins, and we can support that detoxification process with a few simple habits.
Keep reading for 12 simple ways to detox every day. No juice cleanse needed.
Hydrate, Especially With Lemon Water
Staying hydrated is essential to overall health. Water is especially effective at cleansing the body of unwanted toxins. Plus, dehydration can lead to more toxic buildup in the body, so making sure you’re drinking enough water every day is key to both feeling and looking healthy. If you want to go the extra mile, drinking warm lemon water that’s high in vitamin C and potassium is proven to help prep the body for digestion and boost immunity.
Dive Into Dry Brushing
Over the past few years, you’ve likely seen influencers and celebrities touting the benefits of dry brushing. Thankfully, this is a case where their claims have merit. Dry brushing is also a relatively inexpensive and simple routine that’s easy to incorporate into even the busiest schedules. By applying firm, quick strokes to the skin, you’re effectively exfoliating, softening, and smoothing out dry skin. In addition to that too, and as it relates specifically to detoxing, you’re stimulating circulation and helping move fluids throughout the skin. Simply spend a little time pre-shower brushing the skin for quick results. Check out our guide to dry brushing for more on the benefits plus step-by-step directions.
Work in a Good Sweat
The lymphatic system is a key player in the detoxification process. Sweating has been proven to help rid the body of harsh chemicals like phthalates and BPA, as well as heavy metals like arsenic and mercury that we can pick up from our utensils, food, environment and more. Most of us probably don’t have access to an infrared sauna or steam room, but even a good workout will help you get your sweat in and keep the bad stuff out.
Swap Your Cocktail for a Detox Drink
There are a number of drinks that claim to boost digestion and lower inflammation, like celery juice. For the uninitiated, drinking pure celery juice is a morning ritual for many health enthusiasts, who claim the antioxidants and nutrients found in the juice promote clear skin, increased energy, better digestion and more.
Take a Detox Bath
Baths are another cleansing ritual that can easily be enjoyed daily. Soaking in the tub can be incredibly healing and strengthen your immune system, plus you might also reach peak relaxation mode too. Follow our guide for all you need to know about creating and taking the ultimate detox bath.
Drink Dandelion Root Tea
Don’t be fooled by all of the “detox” teas out there that can actually be dangerous for your body. Dandelion Root tea is rich in fiber and vitamins and has been scientifically proven to support your liver and gut. Dandelion root is also a diuretic, which means it helps flush the body of excess water.
Make the Swap to Clean Products
Our skin is our largest organ, and one of the major players in our bodies when it comes to detoxing. Many household cleaning products that we come in contact with daily are loaded with harmful chemicals that can build up in the body. Exchanging those for products with clean, natural ingredients is another simple thing you can do every day to detox.
Become a Clean Beauty Junkie
On that note, our beauty products can also be a primary source of toxic chemical exposure. Many of the ingredients used in conventional beauty can be harmful not only to our health, but to the environment as well. When you think about it too, these are items you’re applying topically and directly to your skin—scary. The good news is that the beauty space is filled with more and more clean brands working hard to shift the industry. Check out our guide to the best women of color-owned beauty brands, clean sunscreens, and non-toxic moisturizers.
Eat Plants
Processed sugar, alcohol, dairy, refined carbs and other inflammation triggers can be taxing on your gut and liver. You can support your body’s organs of elimination by making the swap for more plant-based foods that help boost detoxification in the body. Kale, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts are loaded with fiber and help your digestive system work efficiently. Berries, greens, nuts, avocados, as well as healthy herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, and milk thistle will boost overall health as well.
Get Some Sleep
Sleep is arguably the most healing and restorative practice you can do every day for your body. Shooting for 7-8 hours every night will help your body flush out excess toxins, boost digestion, promote mental clarity and even improve your skin.
Take a Break From Social Media
As devastating news, Twitter fights, and triggering content unfortunately becomes more and more prevalent, it’s important that we take a little time away from our screens every once in a while. This can look many different ways. Perhaps you temporarily deactivate your Instagram, delete your TikTok app, or swap your daily news email briefing for a more inspiring newsletter (my favorite is The Daily Good). And know this, it’s definitely possible to do a digital detox while still staying informed. Protect and prioritize your mental health first.
Breathe!
Managing stress is essential to lowering inflammation, promoting balance and preventing the buildup of unwanted toxins in the body. Believe it or not, simply doing some breathing exercises or meditation can be extremely effective in supporting your body’s ability to detox, and will leave you feeling calm and relaxed.
This post was originally published on April 22, 2020 and has since been updated.