Theres more to a detox than just the diet changes!

Nearing the end of the second week and feelin fine! I'm not experiencing any negative effects of brain fog or zombieness, but cravings have been creeping in from time to time, but I don't consider that a terribly bad thing. Its if I act upon it before the detox is over, THEN its bad! My largest craving for some reason has been garlic bread...

That warm, oozy buttery goodness, combined with herbs and garlic on a crunchy bread roll. Damn, that sounds good. Jarod has been craving spaghetti bolognese, so maybe a trip to a good Italian restaurant may be the place to celebrate the end of the month!

Theres more to a detox than just the diet changes...
A detox isn't just about diet, that only plays a role in the overall well-being and detoxification of your body. Once the toxins are being flushed and moved in the body, they need to get out. If they don't get removed properly, people can suffer from nausea, headaches, skin disorders (acne, eczema) and immune deficiencies (frequent colds).

So how do you get these toxins out?
Our bodies contain what is known as the lymphatic system, which is found throughout the body and is made up of thin tubes and bean-shaped nodes. Picture it like a fluid filter, removing unwanted elements (bacteria, foreign substances) from our blood then destroying them with white blood cells (lymphocytes).

Often when we get sick or suffer from allergies you may notice the glands under your jaw swell up – this can be the sign of an infection as your lymphocytes are out in force. Other organs involved in your lymphatics include the thymus, spleen and tonsils (which is why they often got swollen and removed as a child!).

Ways to help our lymphatic system perform at its best...

• Drink plenty of water to flush out the liver and lymph. Aim for 2 litres a day, but for some people this can be very hard if they are used to drinking 2 glasses a day. Start small - aim to drink 1 extra glass a day for a week, then add an additional glass every week until you reach 8 glasses. You could also flavour your water with fresh lemon, orange or mint for a subtle flavour. Don't go for the vitamin/nutrient waters... they have a similar sugar content to a can of coke.
• Massage - lymmphatic drainage massage is designed especially for this. You may find the day after the massage you feel 'not quite right', or a bit sick, which is due to the movement of stagnant lymph.
• Exercise!!! Your lymphatic system is linked with your heart, so to get it moving, get your heart moving too! Just 30 minutes each day... walk, cycle, jog, run, aerobics, pilates, zumba, sex, whatever!
• Sweat it up baby - exercise is fantastic, and sweating up a storm is the icing on the cake. Your sweat contains the toxins your body wants to remove so sweat regularly to remove it. Saunas or bikram yoga (a 90 minute session done in 40 degrees Celsius heat) are great for this, but be sure to restore your body with water and electrolytes after an intense sweat session. Coconut water is good for you, is very hydrating and contains electrolytes - much healthier than powerade or gatorade!
• Don't use anti-perspirants - sure, this makes us acceptable in social situations, but if you don't sweat out what your body wants to remove, where is it going to go? So the body sweats more to compensate, so you use more anti-perspirant... and the cycle continues. I'll admit it. Growing up, I was a sweaty kid. Very embarrassing as a high school teenage girl and I was very self conscious about it. I was sure everyone could see the sweat hordes growing under my arms. The sweating didn't slow down either once I was in my 20s. I stopped using anti-perspirants a couple of years ago (except on special occasions, like my wedding day!) and found now that my sweating has decreased dramatically. It wasn't an overnight change, as my body still had to remove all the excess toxins. I still use deodorants, but choose aluminium free ones to reduce my body's exposure to toxic metals. Health food stores and some supermarkets stock aluminium free deodorants. Check the label - it will specify if they are aluminium free.

Just remember, once you start getting your lymph moving, your body will be removing the built up gunk, so your skin may get oily, pimply or you may get skin conditions such as eczema. In other words, don't detox your body just before a huge event where you need to look your best, just in case! Shower regularly, clean your body to remove the excess sweat and finish off by gently massaging a body lotion or moisturiser into your skin (go as chemical free as possible - I will blog about chemical free skin care products soon).

Did Richard Simmons have the right idea all along??

hmm, maybe not in those shorts.