Detox 101: How To Do It The Right Way

You’re stuffed with appetizers, a hearty main dish and saturated with alcohol. Now what? You probably have new health resolutions to finish or at least start. A great way of renewing the body is doing a little internal, post-holiday cleaning.

Food Overload
Proper digestion is one of the most essential components in living a long and healthy life. Your digestive function is made up of numerous organs all working together to break down, absorb, and process all of the nutrients in the food you eat. Without healthy digestion, you can become malnourished and toxins will build up in your body, leading to degenerative diseases and rapid aging down the road.

Indigestion is caused and made worse by overeating – especially rich, fatty, spicy, acidic foods and alcohol. The following remedies will get your digestion on the right track:

Walk
After a large meal, take a 10- to 20-minute stroll. Aside from the proven benefits to your heart, walking is the perfect gentle exercise for promoting digestion and encouraging cleansing of the lymphatic system. Walking helps food move along the digestive tract, improving digestion and absorption. For added benefits, walk while massaging your abdomen with your palms, in a circle around your belly button.

Herbal Tea
Relieve that feeling of fullness with herbal teas that target your digestion: Steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage and/or basil in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating. Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger tea are other good choices for settling the stomach. Also, look for Chinese herbal formulas for digestive support and cleansing.

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