Similar to the lymphatic system, our digestive tract also eliminates toxins. The fiber we eat helps the movement through the large intestine; it soaks up circulating toxins, excess hormones and cholesterol.

Getting enough fiber is very important in supporting daily detoxification in our body. The recommended intake is approx. Great sources of fiber are low glycemic fruit like apples and berries, all vegetables including leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, celery, and snap peas, and whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa and oats.

Take a yoga class to incorporate some deep breathing exercises into your day. Deep breathing helps to detox the mind and lungs. You will need your sleep during a detox. It is at this time that our body repairs itself and important hormones are released.

The typical detox is days. Your ultimate goal should be to create healthy lifestyle habits that energize you and that you can maintain throughout the year. Read More. Still interested in checking out a cleanse? We broke down the three major categories and had experts weigh in with specifics on each — read on to learn more.

That was before companies like Pressed made cold-pressed a household term. On a juice cleanse, only the extract squeezed from fruits and vegetables is consumed for anywhere from one day to two weeks.

Many come prepackaged and delivered to your doorstep, sold by companies that claim that juice provides all the nutrition you need while keeping your digestive system from being taxed.

While one study found that fresh juices did contain even higher amounts of the immune-boosting antioxidant vitamin C than blended drinks made with the whole fruits, in most other nutritional categories, juices fall short.

Most of them lack in protein, fiber , fat, and calories. Additionally, even juices without added sugar tend to be high on the glycemic index, which means your blood glucose levels will spike and then fall dramatically after consuming them, particularly without other food in your stomach to blunt this effect.

That can lead to hunger and fatigue. Other popular liquid cleanses use brewed tea, apple cider vinegar , or lemon water as their main supposed detoxifying ingredient. And while some research has linked those foods to potential health benefits, none is a magic bullet on its own.

As previously mentioned, science suggests benefits of things such as apple cider vinegar, green tea , and lemon water. Some detox programs focus on incorporating these ingredients to boost liver and kidney function and improve the removal of toxic substances.

Some of these foods include turmeric , parsley, fish, and garlic, Taub-Dix says. Anyone can add them to their current diet. Some detoxes target the other end of your digestive tract with products and supplements that claim to cleanse the colon by promoting bowel movements.

In fact, research has suggested the opposite, including one study that found colon cleansing could actually have detrimental health effects. Perhaps more significant, constantly flushing out the colon can remove the healthy bacteria that thrive there. Recent research has linked the bacteria in your GI tract to a whole host of health benefits.

First, pick a reasonable timeframe for your cleanse — no more than three days. Beware any plan that restricts major food groups or promotes a singular food. Your gut bacteria break down prebiotics into their natural components, like fatty acids, which benefit organs outside your gut.

Try eating enough fiber, drinking plenty of fluids, regularly exercising, and loading up on prebiotics to keep things moving—and detoxing—in your gut,. You can consume prebiotics naturally in foods like:.

Whole foods with plenty of nutrients help keep your body "clean" internally. Try cutting out fried, sugary, processed foods and red meat.

Those foods increase the risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Instead, opt for fiber-rich foods like fruit, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, lean protein, and probiotics that aid gut and liver function.

Any waste gets out of your system as soon as possible. Getting plenty of quality sleep is essential to support your overall health. Sufficient rest will help reduce stress and inflammation so your body can function at its best. Experts advised that adults sleep about seven to nine hours per night.

Sleep hygiene practices that will help you get a good night's rest include:. Sweating is one way your body safely and effectively eliminates heavy metals like nickel, lead, copper, arsenic, and mercury.

A study published in found that sweating from dynamic exercises, like running , may get rid of more toxins than sweating in a sauna. Regular physical activity also has mental health benefits.

Exercise helps you feel less anxious and reduces depression symptoms. Staying hydrated will help your kidneys flush out toxins, said Dr.

Switch things up with tea if you want something different than water. Green tea may improve your blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which affect your heart disease risk.

Antioxidants are artificial or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage that lead to chronic illnesses. One of the main things that antioxidants do is offset free radical damage.

Free radicals cause oxidative stress, which can trigger cell damage. Oxidative stress may increase your risk of several chronic illnesses, such as:. Antioxidants include beta-carotene, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E. You can find several antioxidants in fruits and vegetables.

Alcohol "jumps to the front of the metabolic pathway" so that your body can process it quickly and get it out of your body, Jessica Cording, CDN , an integrative nutrition health coach, told Health. Your body processes alcohol mainly through your liver and a little through your breath.

Your body must work hard to process alcohol , directly impacting the organs that naturally detoxify your body. Keep your drinking to a minimum to help support your body's natural cleansing processes, said Dr.

Many popular detox plans can require drastic lifestyle changes that are not great for your body. Those plans are often restrictive, minimizing your calorie intake. You are more likely to regain weight with a restrictive diet than if you lose weight slowly over time. Other risks of detoxing include:.

Talk to a healthcare provider before trying a detox or cleanse. There are several side effects of rapid weight loss, as with a detox, such as:. Detoxes also often focus on "short-term detoxing. Instead, allow your body to detox on its own. You may consider a detox if you need a reboot to get on a healthy path.

Still, detoxes and cleanses are not necessary since your body detoxifies itself. Instead, you can help your body boost its natural detox processes and eliminate toxins by adjusting your lifestyle. Eat nutrient-rich foods and reduce added sugars and alcohol to support overall health.

You can also enhance your body's natural detox processes by drinking plenty of water, getting quality sleep, and exercising regularly.

The best way to detox your body is to support its natural processes that get rid of toxins. Limit your alcohol consumption, get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and eat a balanced diet of antioxidant-rich foods. Drink plenty of water and electrolytes each day to flush out your system.

Electrolytes help move nutrients into your cells and waste out. Experts advise drinking 91— fluid ounces of water or more per day. Talk to a healthcare provider if you bruise or bleed easily, feel tired, and have unintended weight loss.

Those might be signs of damage to your liver or kidney, which help detoxify your body naturally. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. NIH News in Health. Do detox diets and cleanses work? Kalra A, Yetiskul E, Wehrle CJ, Tuma F.