Elimination of consequences: proper detox after the New Year holidays

Dear reader, we present to you our beauty columnist Inessa Tsarkova!

Inessa is an active nutritionist, gastroenterologist, therapist, naturopath and aromatherapist, health coach, integrative medicine doctor with a holistic approach. And now he will share with us his knowledge in the field of both physical and mental health, nutrition and much more.

So we entered the new year. It’s time to start new healthy habits and get rid of the heaviness in both body and thoughts. This means it’s time to detox!

Inessa Tsarkova

The New Year holiday is over. We all expressed our deepest wishes during the ringing, and everyone has their own wishes. But there is one thing in common: for almost everyone, the beginning of the new year is associated with the expectation of good changes. Changes in personal life and career, someone wants a new car or house, while others dream of opportunities for self-realization, creativity and discovery of their inner aspirations. And we are all united by the understanding that health is the main condition and without it there will be no joy.

It is no coincidence that the famous philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer wrote: “Health is not everything, but without health everything is nothing.”

Our body is a self-regulating system. It is able to perfectly form or regenerate cells, extract energy for their vital functions and clean the intercellular space from metabolic products and harmful substances. However, this is ideal, but in practice it can be extremely difficult for him to do this due to our poor diet and lifestyle.

The body is cleansed and disinfected by the work of the liver (through which all blood passes). And also a special fluid – lymph (also known as the “white river of life”). The work of the lymphs can be compared to the sewage system. The well-being of the whole organism depends on how well it copes with its function. Lymph collects everything unnecessary and harmful around the cells and moves from the periphery to the center, towards the collarbone area. Its movement is carried out mainly using the pumping function of the muscles, especially the legs and thighs (that is why walking is so useful!) and the work of the diaphragm, the largest muscle in our body (diaphragmatic breathing and abdominal massage). help it work actively). As the lymph moves, it passes through the lymph nodes, where it is “filtered.” Everything harmful and unnecessary remains inside them. Lymph nodes also contain special immune cells – lymphocytes and macrophages, which fight pathogenic agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi) that have entered our body, as well as destroy atypical or damaged cells of the body. Reaching the collarbone area, lymph flows into the vena cava and fills our blood with pure universal fluid.

“Where does the “dirt” disappear from the lymph nodes?” – sensor.

After all, any filter needs to be replaced or cleaned from time to time. Our lymph nodes can clean themselves. And they do this with the help of natural detoxification systems: the intestines (the largest system), the urinary system (kidneys, ureters and bladder), skin and mucous membranes, and the respiratory system. Our liver also knows how to clean itself through the gallbladder. The latter discharges into the intestines, thereby increasing peristalsis. And finally, the intestines throw out everything unnecessary. But this entire well-established system can start to work badly.

What reasons can slow down the cleansing of our body?

All this disrupts the coordinated work of lymph and detoxification organs.

This can result in, for example, the following complaints: skin problems (acne, redness, rash and peeling), frequent headaches, chronic runny or nasal congestion, severe PMS, problems with stool pattern and consistency, bad breath as well as increased sweat and urine, abdominal increase in weight and volume, swelling, cellulite, exacerbation of chronic diseases

And then you have to help the body detox. This is especially true after the New Year holidays. Let’s figure out how to do this right.

detox program

“Turn on” the lymph

We drink cleaner and hotter water. It is good to add a drop of lemon or ginger essential oil to it. Choose only food grade, pure therapeutic grade (CPTG) essential oils. Or you can take a 14-day course with licorice and sorbents (it is important for the intestines to work well).

We do lymphatic drainage exercises every day (vibration, jumping, shaking, clapping, rubbing, rocking, rolling).

We activate the diaphragm and relieve spasms (diaphragmatic breathing, self-massage of the abdomen and tilting the stomach to the massage hemisphere will help us).

We walk in the fresh air for at least an hour every day (ideally more than 10 thousand steps).

We activate bile flow

Add to each meal: fiber (three servings per day of “Brush” salad from raw cabbage, carrots and beets), spiciness (for example, onion, garlic, arugula, ground cloves, turmeric, radish), healthy fats (avocado, freshly crushed vegetable oils, sauces and urbechi) made from seeds and nuts.

Activation of the intestines (as a cleansing system) also requires movement, vibration, and flow of water, fiber, and bile. It is also useful to organize fasting days and meal breaks (after cleansing the intestines with natural mild laxatives).

Activation of skin and mucous membranes

Water contrast procedures (for example, cold water soaking baths or a morning contrast shower) are excellent for activating the skin and mucous membranes. After such procedures, the pores of the skin are cleaned, it begins to “breathe”, the work of capillaries is activated and hormonal levels return to normal. Baths with sea salt and essential oils are also useful to revitalize the skin.

Improving the functioning of the respiratory system

For better functioning of the respiratory system, it is useful to: mechanically clean the nose and bronchi (for example, rinsing with sea salt and using special breathing practices such as Kapalbhati breathing in yoga), humidify the air (this is especially important during the heating season). It is helpful to add therapeutic grade essential oils (eucalyptus, bay, peppermint, tea tree, lemon, cardamom) to the moisturizer.

Move intensively for 20-30 minutes every day (preferably in fresh air) until healthy shortness of breath occurs.

Cleansing the urinary system

And there is another system that helps us cleanse ourselves: The urinary system. Its activation will be facilitated by: increasing the amount of water you drink, maximizing the reduction of salt in the diet (it is important to remember that 90% is “hidden” salt added to us by the food industry). It is useful to drink herbal “kidney” teas and fruit drinks (with cranberry, blueberry, nettle, rosehip, mint, St. John’s wort, motherwort and other diuretic herbs). Eliminate animal proteins from your diet (at least for a while). It would also be good to organize fasting and fasting days on vegetables and herbs two or three times a week.

mental cleansing

In addition to physical cleansing, mental cleansing (clearing our minds of toxic thoughts, destructive programs and beliefs) is important for improving health and increasing energy.

Things that are helpful for this include: a state of presence in the “here and now” moment, breathing practices (e.g. Anapan breathing), gratitude, and meditation practices. Cut down on watching TV, destructive movies and news programs for a while, or better yet, eliminate them altogether. Go to bed at 21-22 o’clock. During this period, our brain is cleared of toxic waste neurotransmitters and night hormones (melatonin and somatotropin) begin to work. We control and transform negative thoughts and emotions.

Dear readers, take care of your body, think positive and love this world! And may the coming New Year bring us lots of joy and goodness!