Staying Healthy and Detoxing Naturally in 2016 / Is Detox a Scary Word? by Ruchika Behal

Staying Healthy and Detoxing Naturally in 2016 / Is Detox a Scary Word?

by Ruchika Behal

What is a toxin? Any substance that the body cannot use in a purposeful way, that requires energy to be removed, or that can cause harm in sufficiently large doses, qualifies as a toxin.

Our bodies have an extraordinarily complex array of internal detoxification systems that change, break down, attack, destroy or eliminate threats to our internal health or environment (toxins). For thousands of years these systems have helped humans enjoy relatively good basic health. 

For a while as a health coach, I focused simply on digestion because I do believe that good digestion leads to a healthy life. But then one day I realized that in order to have good digestion, you must be detoxing properly. The light went off in my head. Detox for a better digestion because good digestion leads to less inflammation and less inflammation leads to less disease in this world. Let me say it again:  decrease the inflammation and prevent disease.

Hippocrates aid it best, “All disease begins in the gut.”

So, if this is true and disease begins in the gut, having a healthy and  strong digestion system is the key. But let me share one secret:  when the body is toxic, our digestive system is weak. The primary internal organs responsible for detoxification-- stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver- also carry out digestion in the body. When the toxic load is beyond what these organs can handle, naturally the digestive function is compromised.

Even if you eat “clean” and only buy organic and hormone-free foods, you are still breathing and touching toxicity in this world. Today, toxin free life is rather impossible to achieve, and detox is vital in this world.  We live, eat, touch and breathe toxicity everyday. Look around your home and think of the paint on the walls, the rugs, the pesticides sprayed on your green grass, the exterminator to get rid of the bugs, house cleaning products and even if you are chemical-free in your home, is your makeup  or personal hygiene products chemical-free?

Even if you are totally chemical-free and using makeup that is aluminum-free, plus other non-toxic chemicals, we are still living and that means eating, breathing, and sleeping in a toxic environment.

Unless you feel that are ready to live in a bubble or a hyperbaric chamber, then it is time to wake up to what I call “daily detox”. Now detox is not a curse word or anything to be scared about; instead, it is exciting to think about your body and cells actually functioning. Detox does not mean starvation or deprivation. It does not mean living on juices, only water, smoothies, or just salad or soup. Detox is about lessening the toxic load in your body. As I like to say, “taking out the trash.”

When we are toxic our body cannot perform its job. The body cannot metabolize properly, detox properly, absorb nutrients and minerals, or stay hydrated. It is a vicious cycle. Detox is necessary to be healthy, happy, and free of disease. We all have some low level inflammation because, again, we breathe but, even more, we stress in this busy world.  A clean eating detox protocol is not only limiting eating habits but also a person’s lifestyle.

Every time we stress, we create acid in our body, and our body is forced to pull minerals to buffer the acid waste, and then our liver, lymph, and kidneys begin to work hard to filter out the toxic load but what happens when the body is tired and clogged.

When your digestive system is not working and cannot break down these foods, it cannot focus on getting RID of TOXINS, and that means you cannot get rid of bloat and fat and skin breakouts and all that jazz that keeps you tired.

TOXINS => INFLAMMATION => WEAK DIGESTION =>

  • Difficult weight management
  • Constipation/Diarrhea
  • Gas/Bloating
  • Headaches
  • Low energy
  • Low sex drive
  • Bad skin
  • Heartburn/Reflux
  • Moodiness/Depression

By detoxing, YOU will improve digestion and therefore free your body of inflammation and toxins.

The foundation of detox is NOT to ever feel deprived or starved. The goal is to help YOU do what I have learned to do in my own life:  learn how to EAT CLEAN and learn what foods are IRRITATING your body.

Eating clean is a way of life, not a diet.

When you begin to eat whole foods, you promote detox in a safe and natural way.

      Some tips for staying healthy & detoxing naturally:

  1. Upon waking, drink warm or room water with lemon and 1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar (if tolerated) and add a dash of cinnamon or cayenne pepper.
  2. Start your day by being positive. Find a daily affirmation that gets you fired up…i.e. I love Louise Hay, Geneen Roth, Gabrielle Bernstein, and Marianne Williamson.
  3. Try getting quiet without yourself[9DR1] , even just for one minute, and say, “I release what does not serve me.” Hold your heart as you say this out loud and scream it if you want. Own that power.
  4. Drink fresh  green juices or make an instant green drink with 1 tbsp chlorophyll, juice of a lemon or  lime and water.
  5. Eat cruciferous vegetables like cauliflowers, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage – these assist in healthy detoxification of the liver.
  6. Add onion, ginger garlic to your meals- these are ant- inflammatory powerhouses are potent detoxifiers too.
  7. Aim for one meal that is super easy on your digestion per day. Try a smoothie, green juice, salad, roasted vegetables or soup to give the digestion a rest.
  8. Get moving and shaking. Yes, exercise is one of the best ways to detox your body.
  9. Drink plenty of water and add lemon, lime, or grapefruit to flush the toxicity.
  10. Do skin brushing to support the liver and get rid of those toxins and cellulite

About Ruchika Behal

Ruchika Behal is a certified health coach and a detox specialist. She is passionate about adding nourishment to life with every thought and every bite. She empowers her clients to make the healthiest choices to nourish their unique bodies. Ruchika leads online and in-person clean-eating programs, healthy grocery shopping workshops, and provides one-on-one health and wellness counseling. Her 15-day Clean Eating Detox Programs help individuals reduce inflammation and excess weight through seasonal, whole foods. Learn more at her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram to get recipes, inspiration and tips to nourish your life.


 [9DR1]I think I know what she is saying but didn’t want to presume!

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