Looking Good from the Inside Out

We live in a dirty world, filled with air and water pollution, and hormone-altering and cell-damaging chemicals in our foods and in our personal care products. Likewise, we create our own toxic by-products as a result of natural biochemical processes in the body, including stress.

We have several built-in methods of detoxification, including the lymph and circulatory systems, liver and intestines; toxins are excreted through the kidneys, bowels, lungs and skin. In fact, as a route of toxin-elimination, your skin can show over-whelm with break-outs, rashes, acne or eczema. It doesn’t reflect well on you! Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to not only feel better, but to look better, too.

Add the following cleansing foods to your grocery list:

• Apples: soluble fibre pectin, which helps to protect organs against radiation.
• Beets: support the health of the liver and gallbladder.
• Brassicas: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower reduce and metabolise cancer-causing hormones
• Garlic: a source of sulphuric compounds that help produce detoxification enzymes in the liver
• Herbs: cilantro helps chelate heavy metals and parsley supports the kidneys

You also want to be sure to take in enough H2O. Water is essential to regulate body temperature and to transport nutrients to organs and tissues, while also playing a crucial role in waste removal. Too little water leads to joint and muscle pain, headaches, constipation and thirst (as well as dry and wrinkle-prone skin!)

About 20% of your daily water requirement comes from fruits and vegetables you eat, and you must drink the rest. To calculate your water needs, divide your body weight in pounds by half: the quotient equals the number of ounces of water to consume each day. (You might need more on heavy work-out days.)

Skin polish

Dry-brushing your skin is a great way to stimulate elimination of toxins and cell-turn over, leaving you with healthy, glowing skin. Here’s what you do:

Purchase a long-handled, natural bristle brush. While you and the brush are dry, start at the soles of your feet and brush upward on your bare skin in the direction of your heart, either with long, firm strokes or with small circles over each area only once. Brush across your buttocks, and use a counter-clockwise motion on your stomach and abdomen. Finish with your arms and each hand, raised towards shoulders, remembering your palms. Start with gentle pressure, and as your skin becomes more fit and firm, you’ll be able to work more vigorously. Follow with a rinse in the tub or shower.

A Thorough Clean-up

Unless you live on a mountaintop, breathing pristine air, eating only organic food and drinking natural spring water, and rarely partake in modern conveniences, your body likely struggles to keep up with detoxification duties. Consider doing seasonal cleanses help reduce ‘garbage in’ and promote ‘garbage out.’ Your skin will thank-you with that healthy glow you crave!