The holidays are a delightful time of friends, family and often times way too much indulgence. The cookies, sugary drinks and heavy cream on top of the pie all adds up. That’s one of the reasons we compiled healthier Thanksgiving recipes so you can reduce your need for post-holiday detoxing next year.
The holidays can leave us feeling heavier, with less energy. Luckily, there are many detoxing methods that you can try to alleviate these feelings. Detoxes are gaining popularity due to their refreshing effects and cleansing qualities. Let’s dive in.
Yoga
Yoga, especially hot yoga, is a great detox for internal organs and digestion. Attending a yoga class is a good idea after the holidays, however you can also practice yoga in your own home. Research yoga videos that have twists in them such as revolved triangle, seated spinal twist, locust pose, plow pose and wide-legged forward bend. If you do practice at home, make sure you warm up properly with several sun salutations and prep poses before twisting the spine too much.
Steam Rooms
Sitting in a steam room or sauna releases toxins through the skin. Saunas are the oldest form of detoxing the body. Saunas date back to as early as the 12th century in Finland. Steam rooms also increase circulation and cleanse the internal organs through improved blood circulation. If you have indulged in too many alcoholic drinks and need some cleansing of your organs, bring some lemon water into the sauna with you. You can also mimic this in your bathtub. Whenever you are increasing your activity and sweating out toxins, be sure to replenish with plenty of fluids.
Working Out
Committing to a personal fitness regimen is excellent for expelling toxins. Working out increases oxygen levels and also increases circulation. Dopamine, the “feel good hormone”, is also released which helps to level out your mood.
The skin, the body’s largest organ, is cleansed through sweating. Your skin is like a map of what is happening on the inside of your body. If you have blemishes or skin issues, it is most likely an indicator that something is amiss in your system.
Drink Up That Water
Water kick-starts the process of detoxification in the body. You’ll find that you have more energy, think clearer and feel less stiff. If you struggle to drink water throughout the day, try adding flavors like lemon or lime – which can also help to introduce additional vitamins like Vitamin C and potassium that boost the immune system, aid in digestion, boost metabolic processes and help to cleanse the skin.
Sleep On It
Sleep is the body’s natural form of restoration. During sleep tissues are repaired, the brain relaxes and hormones are released. The National Sleep Foundation found, “For healthy individuals with normal sleep, the right amount of sleep to get for newborns is between 14 and 17 hours, infants between 12 and 15 hours, toddlers between 11 and 14 hours, preschoolers between 10 and 13 hours, and school-aged children between 9 and 11 hours. For teenagers, 8 to 10 hours was considered appropriate, 7 to 9 hours for young adults and adults, and 7 to 8 hours of sleep for older adults.”
All of these suggestions should help to detox your body. In reality, we are surrounded by toxins every day. This is nothing to grow obsessive about, however it is something of which to be aware. Make simple life changes and notice how it makes your body feel, such as switching to an organic diet. Before making huge changes to your diet, lifestyle and activity level, be sure to check with your physician.
Due to the amount of time we spend (or should be spending) on our mattresses sleeping, contact us to try an organic mattress. With real life experience of how it can block out disease and provide a greater sleep platform, it could be the easiest change you make to detoxify your life![/fusion_text]
