Spring Cleaning

Written by Jennifer Van Barneveld-Pe, President of STRONG Fitness Magazine
Photography by Paul Buceta
Hair & Makeup by Monica Kalra

Did you know your body is in a constant cycle of detoxing itself? Naturally. The reality is that all those detox teas and ‘secret potions’ you’re being marketed on social media actually aren’t even necessary (and don’t even get me started on their efficacy or, should I say, lack thereof). That’s because your body is detoxing itself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s constantly filtering and removing toxins to the best of its ability. What you do or don’t do either helps or hinders this process—we’ll dive into that in a moment.

But back to a detox in a box: What if you drink a detox tea, for example, but then just go back to your old toxic habits once it’s done by consuming the average North American diet, drinking alcohol, and—heaven forbid—smoking? Simple answer: just forget it. You’re reading this so I know you’re about the long game. You just don’t need to go crazy with detoxes and cleanses, plus the yo-yo bounce-back effect is very real. Instead, the best way to support your body’s innate detox mission is four-fold. Let’s explore some strategies to support your body’s natural detoxification process... Strategies that are natural, simple, and sustainable. 

“We shed toxins through sweat... So just get moving!”

1. Drink Filtered Water

Consuming the water we need to function optimally is essential, so tote your favorite tumbler along with you all day. You should be aiming to drink 2-3 liters of filtered water per day to stay ahead of your hydration requirements. If you experience any of the following symptoms, chances are your body is already dehydrated:

2. Eat Fiber

To ensure your bowels are moving healthily (your goal should be about one bowel movement per day) eat plenty of both soluble and insoluble fiber. The most organic way to arrive at this goal is to consume most of your fiber from veggies, and less from grains. 

3. Choose Detox Royalty Foods

There are certain foods that are naturally more beneficial for detoxing the body. Here are some:

4. Move

The final piece to this puzzle is, of course, movement. Sweat daily. I don’t care if you’re going hard with HIIT at home for 15 minutes, throwing some weight around, or taking on spin class. Whatever floats your boat (aka, gets your body moving) and gets you a glow is beneficial for helping your body detox. We shed toxins through sweat… So just get moving!

Try these pointers for promoting your very intelligent body’s intuitive detoxification process, and enjoy the many benefits of a natural detox—without the costly (in more ways than one) mystery potions.