by Caitlin H,
Jul 22, 2024
For several years, Detox has been a buzzword in the weight loss world.
That’s because it is an excellent way to kickstart new lifestyle choices that lead to lasting changes. A detox is also a powerful first step to helping you achieve your long-term goals. You don’t need any special products or magic ingredients to detox. Your body will naturally clear itself of toxins, and you can help the process by adopting some healthy lifestyle habits.
And if ever there’s a season for detoxing, it’s summertime. So why not start your new healthy habits today?
What Is a Detox?
Detoxing is the practice of eliminating harmful substances and toxins from your body. Most people think of it as following a specific diet designed to support your body in removing environmental toxins.
It’s also helpful to add hydration and your mental health into your approach to a detox. These additional elements can give you a well-rounded, wholesome approach to kickstarting healthy habits and weight loss.
5 Natural and Effective Summer Detox Methods
Diet is the most critical part of an effective detox. It’s fundamental to boosting metabolism and supporting the vital organs that remove toxins.
Avoid refined grains and bread, and swap out sugary, processed foods like cookies and candy with seasonal produce like watermelon, berries, lemons, cucumbers, celery, and avocado. You should also add antioxidant-rich foods like nuts, spices, green tea, and cocoa into your daily meal plans as often as possible.
Equally important to a successful summer detox is hydration. Water pushes waste out of your body while lubricating joints, helping you absorb nutrients, regulating your internal temperature, and supporting healthy digestion. The more water you drink, the more waste you’ll remove via breathing, urinating, or sweating.
Experts recommend men drink 15-16 cups of water daily and women drink 11-12 cups.
Cocktails, wine spritzers, and beer are very “summer.” They can also be terrible for your health if you consume them too often, damaging your liver and reducing its ability to filter toxins from your body.
If you don’t want to eliminate it from your diet completely, try limiting yourself to a few a week. It’s one of the best ways to detox.
Getting in tune with your thoughts by practicing mindfulness is also helpful because it encompasses a wholesome approach to your detox. The better you practice mindfulness, the better you can stay in the present moment and learn to take a deliberate, intentioned approach to losing weight.
5-10 minutes of daily meditation can improve mindfulness skills. If you’re unsure where to begin, apps like Headspace, Calm, and The Tapping Solution offer guided meditation sessions to get you started.
Longer life, reduced risk of disease, better energy, increasing your calorie budget — the list of reasons you should exercise is lengthy — and you’ve probably heard it all before.
Did you also know that exercising can help with your summer detox by reducing inflammation? While inflammation is vital in helping your body heal from wounds or infections, too much can be damaging.
Movement and exercise can help reduce inflammation, which supports your detoxification system and strengthens your ability to fight — and even avoid — disease.
Experts recommend that most adults do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly (or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise). Be sure to talk to your doctor before embarking on a fitness plan.
A summer detox is the perfect way to launch your weight loss journey. Consider incorporating these natural, safe methods with your Diet-to-Go meal plan and get started today!
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Author: Caitlin H
Diet-to-Go Community Manager
Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about engaging with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key, and people will have the most weight loss success if they engage in common-sense healthy eating and fitness.