The concept of juicing has been around for a few decades! Most recently more people have started to pay close attention to this beneficial method for enhancing health and wellness. Juicing, which can be a form of detoxing the body, can be a healthy and safe way to rid the body of toxins, along with a variety of other physical and mental benefits.
What Causes Toxins?
There are many causes of toxins in the body. Some common causes are alcohol consumption, food additives, prescription drugs and intestinal build-up in our bodies. Other causes of toxins include chemicals and solvents such as certain cleaning products, cosmetics and air fresheners. Pollution in our environment is another cause of toxins, in addition to metals. It’s been said that toxins can even be caused by negative thinking patterns!
What is Detoxing?
Detoxing, or cleansing the body, is a way to “recharge, rejuvenate, and renew,” according to an article on WebMD. The article also describes juicing or cleansing as a way to jump start the body to create an active and healthy life. Janet Lee, Nutrition Instructor at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, says that detoxing will also “build a strong immune system and decrease inflammation in the body.”
When to Detox
Before beginning a cleanse or detox, it’s a good idea to consult with a doctor or naturopath first to confirm if a cleanse or detox is beneficial based on your current health baseline and on your wellness objectives overall. One way to do this is to pay attention to physical and mental aspects of the body, such as feelings of fatigue or depression, excess weight, joint pain, brain fog, bloating, sleeplessness or constipation. If any of the following symptoms are experienced regularly, it might be time for a detox or juice cleanse. Some of these symptoms are even caused from certain foods.
Benefits of Detoxing
The benefits of detoxing are numerous. Cleansing or detoxing can lead to a stronger immune system, more energy, lowered levels of anxiety and depression, better focus, weight loss, reduced food cravings, less pain and better digestion.
According to Janet Lee, “People who eliminate toxins from their diet show improved physical, mental and emotional health after the first week.”
Cleansing Suggestions
Juice cleanses are often a good place to start. Janet Lee suggests to her clients and students that a quart of organic green juice daily or adding a 32 ounce green smoothie to your daily food consumption for 30 days can make a huge difference in your overall health and wellness.
Other ways to cleanse are starting the day with 24 ounces of water with lemon, lime or grapefruit juice, removing gluten from the diet, eliminating processed foods, or drinking half your body weight in ounces of water every day.
If juicing is the detox option of choice, take a look at the green juice recipes Janet provided! Just chop up the ingredients and juice in a juicer. Most juices are best if consumed immediately after juicing. Enjoy!
Very Green
- 1 cucumber
- 5 celery ribs
- ½ lemon
- handful of Swiss chard
Alkalizer
- 5 granny smith apples
- 1-2 lemons
- ¼ inch ginger
Delicious Red
- 5 celery ribs
- ½ bunch dandelion greens
- tops of 2 beets
- ½ bunch parsley
- 1 green apple
- 1-2 lemons with rind.
