A New, Gentler Way To Cleanse & Detoxify Your Body

While we often associate the concept of detoxing or cleansing with the warmer months, autumn can be the ideal time to cleanse and your body in preparation for the winter months. Far from the onerous fad diets and juice cleanses of the previous decade, the cleanses of today take a more holistic approach. Rather than promoting the sanctimonious sipping of green juices in lieu of solids, contemporary cleanses focus on promoting good skin, gut, and liver health by adding rather than subtracting. The new breed of cleansing focuses on incorporating healthier foods and rituals into our diets and lifestyles, and listening to your body above all else. 

You’ll also enjoy:
9 Hacks For The Best Night’s Sleep Of Your Life
Everything You Need To Know About Collagen Supplements For Skin + 8 Best Collagen Products
Can’t Sleep? Try These 8 Sleep-inducing Foods

Here are some simple ways to cleanse your body to support detoxification and improve your skin health and energy levels. 

1. Start the day with lemon water

We know, warm water with lemon makes an appearance in pretty much every wellness-oriented celebrity’s morning ritual, but it’s for good reason. Warm lemon water helps promote enzyme function which stimulates the liver and assists in detoxification.

2. Incorporate a greens supplement 

Our bodies are constantly in a state of detoxification, with our hepatic, lymphatic, renal, and gastrointestinal systems working to neutralise and eliminate or excrete wastes and toxins. “Your liver uses sulphur-containing amino acids to convert toxins and chemicals into less harmful substances, making them ready for elimination,” explains Carla Oates, founder of The Beauty Chef, adding that The Beauty Chef Cleanse Inner Beauty Powder can be a beneficial addition tool to support phase 2 liver detoxification due to the sulphur-rich ingredients – like broccoli, kale, beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke. and barley grass – it contains. 

Dr. Julie Chen, BSc Science & Innovation at Melrose Health, echoes the beneficial effects of adding a green supplement into your diet, touting the Melrose Health Essential Greens as “an easy way to boost your plant antioxidant intake and provide your body with some nutrient packed green food daily.”  

3. Consume more fibre

A healthy gut is essential for good health and proper digestion. “Your digestive system is our main elimination organ,” explains Dr. Chen. “Fibre not only improves the health of your gut but it acts like a sponge to absorb waste material and eliminate it from your body.” Incorporate more fibrous foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and wholegrains into your diet.

4. Try a probiotic

“Good health and glowing skin begin in the gut, so it’s important to nourish your inner health during your cleanse to encourage and maximize the benefits of detoxification,” says Oates. Probiotic bacteria promote regular bowel movements, support a healthy gut lining, and aid in neutralizing chemicals and toxins which lessens the burden on the liver. Probiotic bacteria can be obtained by consuming kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, fermented non-dairy yogurt, and The Beauty Chef Cleanse Inner Beauty Powder, which contains the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

5. Eliminate inflammatory foods

Dr. Chen recommends decreasing or eliminating your intake of alcohol, caffeine and artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, as these can contribute to the level of inflammation in the body. Plus, the body has to work harder to eliminate and detoxify these substances. Anti-inflammatory foods like dark leafy greens, oats, garlic, turmeric, berries, and fatty fish help support the immune system as well as inflammation in the body. For an extra boost, try mixing the Melrose Health Essential Greens or Essential Reds into a smoothie or juice. 

6. Get sweaty 

“The skin is another path for detox and elimination,” says Dr. Chen. “Moderate exercise at least three times a week will not only improve your circulation, your resilience to stress but also increase your elimination through your largest organ; your skin.” 

Dr. Chen also emphasises the importance of supporting your body in healing and recovery post exercise, noting that over-exercising can add additional physical stress to the body. “Drink plenty of water and fluids, take your antioxidants like vitamin C and for exercise recovery or injury, fish oil that is rich in essential omega 3 fatty acids can help to decrease inflammation and support joint health and recovery.”

7. Brush up

Dry brushing can make for an easy way to support your cleanse from the outside, by improving lymphatic flow, promoting circulation, and aiding in expelling toxins. Using a brush with natural bristles, start from the soles of your feet and work your way up your body in clockwise strokes.

8. Prioritise sleep

Sleep is a detoxification process in itself, eliminating the toxins that have accumulated in the brain throughout the day, including substances like amyloid and tau proteins; a buildup of which can lead to cognitive illnesses. Practice good sleep hygiene by eliminating caffeine after noon, dimming the lights and turning off technology an hour before bedtime, and trying a sleep tea or supplement like The Beauty Chef Sleep Powder.

Shop the story


Words by AR Staff
Feature image courtesy of Josh Olins