5 Ways to Detox Daily

Cleansing (aka detoxing) gets a bad rap sometimes. Many equate it to a restricted diet of water and lemon over a period of time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. “Cleansing is really about eating good, healthy foods and eliminating big allergens from your diet,” says Jo Schaalman, cofounder of the Conscious Cleanse, a 14-day cleanse based on eating real, whole foods. “Our program teaches sensible eating habits that you can take with you and incorporate every day.”

So what are those daily-detox habits? Schaalman and Conscious Cleanse’s other cofounder, Jules Peláez, share their top five.

1. Start your morning with warm lemon water.

24–32 ounces, in fact. “It’s a great way to hydrate and alkalize your body,” says Peláez. “Your body is bombarded with toxins—food toxins, water pollutants, sugar, alcohol, caffeine—that put it in a more acidic state, so the lemon water helps flush them out.”

2. Drink a green smoothie.

Make one with dark, leafy greens and nutrient-dense food. “They are really remarkable,” Schaalman says. “I got my dad drinking them, and in two months his cholesterol dropped by 60 points.” Check out the yummy recipe below!

3. Take a high-quality probiotic.

The standard American diet, with sugar, caffeine and alcohol, can put your tummy out of whack. “About 80 percent of our immune system lies in our gut, so it’s important to keep the healthy bacteria in balance by taking a high-quality probiotic daily,” Schaalman says.

4. Eat lots of vegetables.

“Make veggies the center of your universe,” Peláez advises. “When you have a meal, instead of meat being the focus, make veggies the main event by
filling two-thirds to three-quarters of your plate with them.”

5. Sweat.

This releases toxins from your body. “Exercise is a great way to sweat, or try a detox bath three to five times a week,” Peláez recommends. Fill your tub with hot water, and add 3 cups of Epsom salt, ½ cup of baking soda and a few drops of lavender oil. “Get in there and sweat; it’s a nice way to wind down each evening.”

The next 14 day cleanses start on Sept. 7 and Nov. 2. Learn more at consciouscleanse.com.