The thought of detoxing can be scary – hard work that’s easy to turn away from and put off.
And the type of thing you need to blitz once a year and you’re done.
Not so, according to Aromatherapist and Health Coach Kate Harahan.
Focusing on what ‘detox’ actually is makes it a positive choice on an ongoing basis, rather than an annual deprivation.
Detoxing is happening all the time
Our bodies are constantly working to remove toxins. Synthetic chemicals enter our bodies through the air we breathe, food, water, cosmetics and cleaning products. Our kidneys and liver filter and process these chemicals, some of which can remain in the fat cells in our bodies.
The human body is so resilient that we can also eat food that is low in nutrients and full of chemical additives and preservatives, and our body will continue to function.
Long term however our body cannot sustain the additional pressure on our organs and body systems of a constant supply of chemicals and poor food choices. When we are under nourished, our general health suffers and disease can appear.
You are what you eat
What are you actually eating? Is it fresh, or are you constantly consuming additives you don’t need?
Kate has some simple tips to help us focus on increasing nutrients and losing the chemicals and non-nutritious food – without going on a ‘diet’.
The most effective way I have found is through the concept of crowding out. The principle being that if you add more good stuff in, you will naturally not have the room, or need, to eat as much of the foods and drinks that do not serve your body well.
For example, add an extra vegetable side dish to your meal, or eat a salad as a starter. Include a smoothie with your breakfast which will give your body a boost of useful nutrients. You will notice that you naturally want to eat less of the unhealthy stuff if you’re full.
Try to eat whole foods rather than food from a packet or processed foods. Try to aim for meals with the fewest amount of items in the ingredients list, and no additives to prolong their shelf life.
What I also find helpful is that when I have a craving for a sweetened coffee or sugary snack, I drink a glass of water first. I then wait and see how I feel after a few minutes, and then make the decision about if I still need to eat or drink the sweet stuff.
A lot of the time our bodies are just craving water. As we are mainly made up of water we need to keep our bodies hydrated to keep our joints lubricated and supple, and our blood flowing.
And set that device aside – after you’ve taken your Insta photo of your food, obviously
Our bodies also need time to digest food properly. So when you eat, make time to sit and just eat.
Step away from your desk and away from your devices. Being kind to your digestive system and loving and respecting your body by sitting and actually chewing your food instead of rushing to eat it as quickly as possible will help you to digest your food more effectively, have healthy blood and cells, and let your body do what it was designed by nature to do.”
Mindfulness re food choices and eating.
It’s an everyday thing.
More tips from Kate in forthcoming weeks re care in choosing dietary supplements and body care products.
Kate is Owner of Neal’s Yard Remedies Edinburgh @nealsyardremediesedinburgh
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