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Detox on a Dime

Featured Author:

Michelle Pfennighaus

Michelle Pfennighaus is a holistic health counselor and registered yoga instructor based in Boston, MA. For many years she suffered from debilitating anxiety and digestive disorders until finally healing herself through changes in diet and lifestyle. Michelle received training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a 200 hour yoga teacher program. Currently, she works with clients all over the country to improve their health and happiness. She also offers cooking classes and workshops for groups. To learn more about Michelle, visit her website FindYourBalanceHealth.com. Add her to your Excelle network!

More articles from this author:

• Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with Mother Nature's Candy Bowl
• The Hunt for Healthy Food On the Go
• Teleseminar: Happy Holidays and How to Have 'Em

Even though I’m not headed back to school, the end of summer always makes me itch for new clothes and freshly sharpened pencils. What about you? Could you use a fresh start? Maybe a little detox from summer BBQs and vacation food? The change of season is a perfect time!

So, what does it mean to “detox” exactly? What are these “toxins” that we need to get rid of anyway?

Some toxins come from our diet, like pesticides on food. Others are from lotions or household cleaners that touch our skin. Still others are from car fumes, prescription drug residues or cigarettes.

Detoxification is a natural process our body uses to stay clean on the inside. But sometimes our system gets backed up. There are lots of boxed kits and fancy detoxification methods out there. Before you spend big bucks, help yourself detox naturally with these 7 tips:

Dine before nine

Imagine the janitor trying to sweep and mop while the kids are still in school. It doesn’t work — he has to come back later when school is empty. The same is true for your digestive system. If you eat late at night and go to sleep, your body cannot perform it’s natural overnight clean-up. It’s too busy digesting dinner! Try to leave 2-3 hours between eating and sleeping, and your body will take care of the rest.

Meatless Mondays

You don’t need to become a vegetarian to enjoy the benefits of less meat in your diet. Since meat is harder to break down than veggies, it tends to stick around longer in your system. Try to go meatless one day of the week, and see how you feel.