3 Reasons to Detox and 3 Tips to Make it Easy

By Liz Lindh

The desire for wellness, fitness and the cultivation of healthy habits as the New Year rolls in is a familiar piece of our modern holiday custom. In fact, as adults we are more likely to discuss our New Year’s resolutions than the gifts we received for Christmas (unless of course we got something super fabulous).  According to marketplace.org, 15% of all new gym memberships are purchased during the holiday season, but only four out of five of those memberships are ever even used. Americans gain an average of 1-5 pounds over this five week season. This statistic from the Calorie Control Council may not seem like a big deal, but most people fail to loose that excess weight after the holidays. 

Don’t want to become a statistic? Focus on your health and well being before all of the festivities begin. This year, prepare for the hectic season of feasting and good cheer with a detox. Here are a few reasons why :

• A detox will teach you how it feels to be nourished. When you cultivate healthy eating habits based on nutrient dense, organic whole foods, your body becomes accustomed to feeling good...so eating that second piece of cake at the Christmas party won’t even be appealing. You will have a better body awareness when it comes to feeling full and will feel more sensitive when you have reached your limit of sugar, salt and alcohol. Cultivating a mindful approach to eating will remind you how to savor your food, to enjoy the flavors, aromas and the beauty of it. Bringing this level of sensuality and appreciation to eating and drinking will diminish the tendency to binge and to eat or drink out of anxiety, depression or boredom.

• More parties and gatherings means more photos. A little detox ahead of time will make you feel radiant and light, all the more attractive in pictures, too. When you feel good about your self, you look good... we all know this. In addition to boosting self esteem, a detox can help clear up your skin, brighten your eyes, tone your body and activate your metabolism. Your natural glow will be even better than an Instagram filter! 

• Holiday time is family time. Being around family can be extremely stressful, as much as it is fun and familiar. Family gatherings can bring up our old patterns, but they can also be a great opportunity for personal growth by presenting a chance to overcome those triggers. A detox program before the holiday season will help you to de-stress and can provide tools for longterm stress management. This will make it easier to not react in ineffective ways that prohibit healthy communication and will give you more mental peace and clarity to look at any situation in a present way. Family matters aside, stress has many adverse effects on our health and happiness. Cortisol, the “stress hormone” leads to weight gain, energy crashes and weakens the immune system. A detox will help you value relaxation and can reboot they way your body functions so that you are not operating in a stressed-out chronic flight-or-fight mode.

This all sounds well and good so now what? How does one detox before the holidays? Here are 3 simple things you can do for a week to set healthy habits in motion before the holiday season begins:

• Eat tons of organic veggies. Starting here will make it easier to eliminate unhealthy foods because your body will be taking in lots of essential nutrients. When we are well nourished,
  
  food cravings and addictions disappear and we feel energized and full. Eat your veggies cooked, raw and as juice. Have vegetables as the main aspect of every meal, with dark leafy greens as your staple.

• Create a schedule and stick to it. Set a time to exercise, sweat, stretch and meditate every day. Give yourself at least an hour of movement; you can do something hardcore at the gym or simply go for a long walk... just move. If you are moving and not sweating, take some time in a sauna or steam room. Sweating is a major way to release toxins from the body. Be sure to stretch everyday, too. Go to yoga or stretch at home. This is the best way to cleanse your lymphatic system, which is where cellular waste ends up. Lymphatic congestion makes you look dull and puffy. Wake-up and go to bed at the same time everyday and get plenty of sleep. Take 20 minutes a day (just commit to doing it for a week) to sit quietly in meditation. Focus on your breath, a mantra, an image or listen to a recording. This is the key to any detox program. The benefits of meditation are countless. 

• Take a break (just for a week) from TV, news and social media. Clear your mind. Cultivate positive thoughts. Spend some quiet time in Nature. Value your own inner voice without the distortion of constant artificial stimulation.

You can incorporate this simple detox program into your everyday life at home, perhaps gather some friends and do it together for support, or go somewhere to participate in an organized program. These tips are guaranteed to keep you graceful as the holidays come and go. So here’s wishing you a healthy and happy holiday season! Cheers!

Liz Lindh is the Director at The Sanctuary at Two Rivers, a unique Eco-conscious yoga and wellness destination in luscious Costa Rica. She is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbalist and a licensed holistic skin care therapist who has spent many many hours on the yoga mat, meditation cushion and dance floor. Liz hosts retreats and teacher trainings weaving together ancient wisdom with modern philosophy, art and science to inspire personal growth and transformation. She also loves to create organic jungle elixirs for radiant health and beauty. Liz has created two upcoming special detox retreats for you; Gratitude Detox: Revitalize Before the Holidays which she is co-hosting with Perrey Reeves November 23-29, 2014 and Resolution Detox: Rejuvenate After the Holidays January 4-10, 2015.