Now spring is here and it’s time to clear out our wardrobes, lives and most importantly jump start our bodies with a detox.

We absorb all kinds of toxins, waste, preservatives, stimulants through what we eat and the environment around us. Our bodies produce toxins as well (metabolic waste products) that occur from natural processes like digestion and respiration. Don’t worry though, your digestive, endocrine and circulatory systems eliminate these toxins.

Problem is, our bodies are so overwhelmed with the other toxins from processed foods, sugars, caffeine and lack of exercise, making it hard for it to eliminate them all. That’s where detoxes come in to remove the bad and fill us with the good!

There’s no ideal detox. The internet is filled with different variations for different purposes, making their duration last from three days to a full month.

Here are the basic guidelines that most of them have in common:

Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats
These are usually unhealthy and hard to digest and will overwhelm your bodily systems while the detox tries to do the opposite.

Sip filtered water
Whenever you get the chance to, drink water to flush out your toxins and clear your liver. Add some limes, raspberries or lemons to give it an extra fresh feel. Increasing your fluid intake is important since you’re increasing your fiber intake with veggies and fruits.

Sweat sweat sweat
Go to a sauna and let your body cry its sins away. If you have no time, take a hot bath with Epson  salt and sweat out the waste

Exercise for an hour a day
Pilates or some ashtanga yoga for an hour will do. The more you sweat and the more you move, the more active your body will feel and get.

Meditate and Breathe
Clearing your mind is just as important as clearing your body. Taking everything in and processing it helps alleviate your soul and heart from all your daily difficulties. Try breathing deeply by breathing in for several seconds, holding it in, and exhaling it over a course of eight seconds.

Minimize chemical based care products
 Switch to natural alternatives. Use coconut oil as toothpaste or natural oils instead of hair creams.

Find the right balance of healthy food and spread them throughout your day.
Stick to leafy greens, healthy fruits, pressed juices, whole grain foods, protein. Contact your nutritionist to create a mix that works for you and your body type!

Let your body do its job
Stay away from the laxatives and the pills. Your bodily organs can detoxify well enough. A detox is just helping the process happen without replacing their function.

These small steps with a healthy mindset and food program will make a world of a difference. With time, you could begin to incorporate these guidelines in your everyday life, minimizing the toxins you take in and unleashing your body’s full potential. The moment you become aware of the toxins you take in and consciously try to avoid them is when your detox will really show the fruits of your labor.