30 May The Simplest Ways to Keep Your Body Detoxing this Winter

Winter is a wonderful time to slow down. Lazy days spent reading in front of the fire; and leisurely walks through the parks take precedence over the constant social activity from the summer. Hot cross buns, warmed breads, soup and hot drinks take centre stage on the menu, whilst our bodies wander around that much slower, wrapped in our finest woolies. (Durbanites, I am of course referring to the rest of us that experience a “proper” winter, mind you!)

Many may experience their internal systems becoming a little more sluggish as everything slows down on the outside, but even so, it always seems to come as a surprise to people that winter is a great time to keep one’s body detoxing, and it need not be a mad and often unrealistic rush in spring to rid the body of stored toxins before the sun graces us with her magnificent presence.

Indulge your health with these wonderful and simple ways to cleanse the body – without having to sacrifice or judge any of your usual winter treats:

Enjoy a HOT Drink

Woody Cape Chicory is a healthy 100% pure roasted and ground chicory product. It is derived from the root of the chicory plant, which after being dried and roasted consists mainly of fructose, protein and natural fibre and guess what? It’s caffeine free and is considered to be one of the most effective natural remedies for body cleansing. It not only aids harmful toxin removal from our intestines, it also assists in blood cleansing, as well as controlling the levels of sugar in the blood. Chicory is prebiotic, it helps cleanse the body of toxins. It also has a soothing effect on the nervous system. Woody Cape Chicory is caffeine free and contains no preservatives or additives. It taste similar to coffee, and helps with a whole host of other ailments too.

Cleansing dandelion root and milk thistle together with ginger, licorice and peppermint leaf make for a fine hot beverage to warm; detox and refresh. The stresses of fast busy lives, air pollution, excesses in sugars, fats, alcohol or tobacco can all contribute to overworked bodies and loss of Qi energy. The liver and kidney are continuously at work to cleanse the system. This can be helped by drinking lots of clean water, fresh fruit and vegetables and regular exercise. Special help is also at hand with the Qi Detox Green Tea…  Dandelion root and milk thistle seed work together and in harmony with green tea’s diuretic properties to cleanse the system and restore its own natural balance and harmony.

Have a Bath

Himalayan Salt is a fantastic way of boosting your health without having to change your habits. It balances the pH level, restores the electrolytes in your body; balance blood pressure; prevents water retention; reduces cravings and is an excellent source of minerals. Best of all, it can be added to your bath for a powerful cleansing and detoxifying effect. The minerals are absorbed through the skin which is the largest organ of the body, leaving the skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished.

Treat yourself to a spa-like experience with these herb-infused, all natural detox bath salts which will cleanse and soften your skin, soothe aching muscles, relieve stress and refresh your spirit.  The addition of Betonite clay is a potent detoxifier, which will soak up toxins.

Eat Some Weeds

While many people think of the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a pesky weed, herbalists consider it a valuable herb with many culinary and medicinal uses. Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion is extremely popular for its diuretic properties and it increases urine output. It helps flush toxins and excess salts out from the kidneys and this is of course, what we are especially interested in.  1-2 capsules can be taken daily.

Clean Your Tongue

Using a tongue cleaner is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that has become popular today for treating Halitosis or “bad breath”. But it has many additional health benefits and can be an important tool for your detox program.  While you sleep at night your body is busy clearing out toxins. Some of those toxins are deposited on your tongue as a coating. Your tongue is one of the escape routes for toxins trying to leave your body. These toxins cause mucous and bacteria to build up at the back, or root, of the tongue and create a white film. This film harbours millions of sulphur-producing bacteria that cause bad breath. It also inhibits optimal dental hygiene and the functioning of your taste buds. By gently scraping this coating off first thing in the morning you avoid reabsorbing these toxins and help your breath smell better. When you start to detox this symptom might get a little worse before it gets better.

Make Some Smoothies

Triphala is an Ayurvedic herbal rasayana formula consisting of equal parts of three astringent fruits. Triphala acts as a complete body cleanser. It helps to detoxify and cleanse the colon; purify the blood; reduce some forms of cholesterol and remove toxins from the liver. It is considered a gentle laxative; an intestinal, liver and gallbladder stimulant that help to decongest these organs. And while we are on a roll, it is very rich in vitamins, most notably Vitamin C, so is a perfect winter immunity booster too.

Spirulina platensis is a blue-green algae, which occurs naturally in the highly alkaline volcanic lakes of Africa and Mexico. This 3,5 billion-year-old organism has emerged as one of the most complete sources of nutrition on earth, because it has the remarkable ability to convert sun energy into vital substances! Spirulina contains a phenomenal combination of protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, phytonutrients and antioxidants.  We could literally wax lyrical for the length of a short book about the health benefits of spirulina, but what is really interesting is that Chlorophyll is the green pigment in Spirulina, and aids in cleansing and detoxifying the body. It is referred to as “Green Blood” due to its striking resemblance to human haemoglobin. Our Spirulina provides 30 mg Chlorophyll per daily dosage of 3 grams. Phycocyanin is a naturally occurring, brilliant blue pigment in Spirulina, and stimulates blood production which in turn strengthens the immune system. It is also a potent antioxidant, protecting the body against DNA damage and premature aging. Our Spirulina provides 345 mg of Phycocyanin per daily dose of 3 grams.

For a wider selection of products to help detox and cleanse your body, check out our natural and organic online store