It’s the end of the weekend and the holidays are coming, work is stressful, you’ve been eating too much, moving too little and you’re just feeling overall blah.

Heard that story before? We’ve all been there.

OK, so what now?

It’s time to try doing a few things to help promote cleansing of your system, your emotions and your home. Good news is that I have included below a few of my top detox tips just for you.

First we’ll start with a few foods that can help to naturally cleanse the body.

Foods to help promote detoxification:

These foods are sometimes considered as being helpful to promote detoxification. They are thought of as being detoxifying for various reasons- including helping the body to produce more detoxifying enzymes, cleansing the colon and more.

Onions: Onions are not only tasty and flavorful, but they are also a source of sulfur-containing nutrients that help our livers to produce detoxifying enzymes.

Beets: Beets contain loads of nutrients including betacyanin that may help the liver to produce more detoxifying enzymes.

Pineapple: Pineapple contains bromelain, a nutrient that may help to promote digestion and may also help to cleanse the colon.

Artichokes: Artichokes contain a nutrient called silymarin that’s an antioxidant that helps liver process toxins. Artichokes also contain another nutrient, cynarin, which is an acid that supports liver’s ability to break down fatty foods.

Apples: Apples contain pectin that helps our bodies remove food additives and metals from the system. Apples also contain quercitin that may help to promote production of detoxifying enzymes by the liver.

Parsley: Parsley contains nutrients that can help stimulate production of bile that is key for the detoxification process.

Broccoli & cabbage: Broccoli and cabbage are members of the cruciferous vegetable family that contain sulfur-containing nutrients that can help the liver to produce more detoxifying enzymes.

Citrus: Citrus fruits like lemons, limes and oranges contain vitamin C- that may help to clear the digestive tract and also promote cleansing of the liver too.

Ginger: Ginger is powerful when it comes to promoting healthy digestion, which may naturally help the body to detoxify itself.

Turmeric: Turmeric contains major antioxidants that may help the body to make essential compounds in the detoxification process. Turmeric also contains potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help to soothe joint pain.

Tips for emotional detoxification: 

Although emotions as toxic aren’t always considered toxins because they don’t require the liver to process them, emotional toxins can promote making less healthful food and lifestyle choices that can negatively affect how our bodies process things and toxins.

Our relationships are key places to look for toxins that may be affecting our lives; it’s key to find time for us to think and check in with ourselves, exercise and spend time with friends and family. 

Tips for chemical detoxification:

Chemicals that we use in our lives can also pose some toxic risk. These chemicals can be found in household cleaners, laundry detergents, perfumes and fragrances, plastics found in food containers and water bottles.

Household cleaners: Aim to choose a “natural” product that doesn’t use harsh chemicals or bleach. You can also make your own basic cleaner using: 4 Tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water.

Laundry detergents: Similar to the household cleaners, aim to choose natural laundry detergents that are fragrance free and are set for sensitive skin, meaning they’re also free of harsh chemicals.

Perfumes and fragrance: Aim for fragrance free for most things, and when looking for a fragrance aim for a natural source, like essential oils (peppermint, lavender etc).

Plastics in food containers: If using plastics in the home in blenders, juicers etc- aim to hand wash and never put through the hot dryer cycle in the dishwasher. Instead of plastics though, aim to use glass or stainless steel water bottles and food containers, and when purchasing food in cans at the supermarket, aim for those in glass or paper box containers.