Revitalise your body with a detox

Do you often feel tired, sluggish, lack energy and drive? Then, it’s time to embark on a detoxification to increase your overall wellbeing.

Indeed, performing regular body cleanses and detoxes are essential for the overall health of the body, according to health experts.

As a Lagos based nutritionist, Agnes Okpoye noted: “A regular detox is highly recommended to rid the body of toxins that might have accumulated through food, lifestyle and even the environment. Through detox, you clear your system of these toxic substances, which can become harmful to the body and cause diseases. One way to detox the body is to embark on a cleansing diet, by taking foods and drinks that will cleanse the body and enhance the body’s system.”

She recommends fluids such as water, fruit, vegetable juice and light foods for those who want to rid their body of toxins. “Water is the most valuable tool for detoxifying your body. The body’s most basic functions require water which it uses to remove waste.”

Lemon cleanse
Lemon consists of ascorbic acid, assisting in the cleansing process. Known also as the staple beverage of Stanley Burroughs’ Master Cleanse, this detox drink is easy to make. Mix 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup and one-tenth teaspoon of cayenne pepper in 8 ounces of purified water. Proponents of the Master Cleanse recommend you drink 6-8 glasses of this lemonade drink and eat nothing each day of your cleanse. Despite its popularity, nutritionists warn against the lack of essential nutrients in this drink.

Green detox drink
This vegetable detox drink is made up primarily of green vegetables, providing an effective natural body cleanse of the digestive system.

In her book The Raw Food Detox Diet: The Five-Step Plan for Vibrant Health and Maximum Weight Loss, certified clinical nutritionist Natalia Rose discusses the importance of vegetables at length. For this detox drink, you will need:
3 carrots
3 kale leaves
2 celery stalks
2 beets
1 turnip
½ bunch of spinach
½ cabbage
½ bunch of parsley
½ onion
2 garlic cloves

Mix all ingredients with water and puree in a blender.

Fresh Cranberry Juice
There is some evidence to suggest that drinking cranberry juice may help prevent urinary tract infections and ulcers in healthy individuals. Cranberry juice also contains vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants. Though not advocated by any authoritative body, cranberry juice has become a popular detox drink, and according to Mayo Clinic, two 16-oz. glasses of full-strength juice can be safely consumed on a daily basis by healthy adults. To make this detox drink, dilute one part cranberry juice in four parts water. Then, add 1 tablespoon each of apple pectin and psyllium fiber to stimulate gentle intestinal elimination.

Fruit detox drink
Because fruit is high in fiber and packed with essential vitamins and minerals, it is a wonderful natural detox for the body. This recipe incorporates fruit, along with flax oil and lecithin, to provide essential fatty acids while you detox. In your blender, add:
8 oz. of orange juice
4 oz. of pure water
½ cup banana strawberries or yogurt
½-inch slice of ginger
1 small garlic clove
1 tablespoon flax oil
1 tablespoon lecithin granules
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice if desired
1 tablespoon of protein powder or spirulina powder

Pineapple, Kale And Ginger Detox Drink
Ingredients:
Makes 4 servings (which you can drink throughout the day)
1/2cup pineapple
2 large cucumbers
1 bunch kale without stems (about 4 cups chopped)
1/2 lemon, squeezed
1/4 inch of ginger
1 bunch of mint (about 1/2 cup)
Chop ingredients so they are able to fit into juicer. Juice ingredients one at a time, mix and drink.