Importance of detoxifying your body

Detoxifying is the buzz word these days. It classically implies following explicit diets or using products that claim to rid your body of various toxins, thus improving overall health and promoting weight loss. Luckily our bodies are well-equipped to get rid of toxins and do not require special diets or costly supplements to do so.

Decoded are a few yogic practices that will help you to enhance your body’s detoxification system the inexpensive way.

Five easy ways to detoxify your body and rejuvenate

1) Early morning on an empty stomach consume two to three glasses of lemon water

Start drinking lemon juice in lukewarm water once you get out of the bed early mornings every day. Drinking lemon water helps to detoxify your blood and rejuvenates the kidneys. The citric acid present in lemon water helps flush out calcified deposits that tend to accumulate in the kidneys and form kidney stones. So cheers to lemon water early morning.

2) Vaman dhouti or Yogic stomach wash

An excellent yoga technique; that helps to get rid food particles stuck in the stomach lining and flush toxins from the stomach. This kriya benefits the urinary elimination processes as well. The digestion is improved, and the kriya has a profound cleansing effect on the liver, kidneys and the intestines.

Method-

  1. Boil 1 litre of drinking water and let it cool down to lukewarm. Add one tablespoon each of salt and soda bicarbonate in equal proportions and stir well.
  2. Stand or sit comfortably.
  3. Keep drinking this mixture until the stomach is full. Retain the water; do not throw out the water immediately.
  4. After a few minutes, switch to abdominal breathing, drawing stomach in and out. Keep repeating 5 to 10 times.
  5. Now insert the forefinger and touch the roof of the tongue and vomit out all the water.

Keep doing step 5 till all the water comes out. The water vomited would flush out all toxins from your stomach and alimentary canal. This can be done twice a month. (* Pregnant women should avoid doing this kriya, and this cleanses should be done under the supervision of an experienced yoga teacher).

3) Surya Namaskar 

Regular activity and exercise regardless of weight is linked with living longer and reduces the risk of various diseases, including type II diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.  While there are several health benefits of exercise, including detoxification and reduced inflammation, are vital benefits.

Surya namaskar improves the blood circulation and overall flexibility of the body. Efficient blood flow throughout the body removes toxins built-up in the blood vessels and thereby prevents blockage of vessels.

While performing suryanamaskar, there is adequate inhalation and exhalation that keeps your lungs well ventilated. The carbon dioxide removal is efficient. Blood remains well-oxygenated and free from excess toxins like carbon dioxide. Suryanamaskar means sun salutation, and sun symbolises the God of health.

4) Jala Neti or Nasal Cleanse

It is non-injurious and simple.

Method–

  1. Put a quarter tablespoon of salt into one glass of warm water. Stir until dissolved. (Salinity should just like your teardrops)
  2. Cup your palm. Pour this salted warm water in it and suck through one nostril while blocking the other nostril with the index finger.
  3. Allow water to escape through nostrils or mouth. Repeat twice.
  4. Use each palm alternatively for each nostril.
  5. Blow nose of all water, discharging water through one nostril at a time.

Nasal passage hygiene is maintained. Dirt and bacteria trapped with the mucus in the nostrils are quickly and safely cleared. Bouts of allergies and inflammations are reduced. It has a profound cleaning effect of the nasal passage, and you breathe in easy.

5) Restful Sleep six to eight hours

Ensure quality sleep each night, atleast six to eight hours is a must to rejuvenate your body’s health and stimulate detoxification systems. During sleep at night, the brain reorganises and recharges itself by eliminating the toxic waste byproducts that get accumulated throughout the day. One such metabolic waste products is a protein called beta-amyloid, which contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Poor sleep has been known to cause health consequences, like stress, nervousness, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases.

It would be best if you slept at least six to eight hours per night regularly to detoxify adequately and promote good health.