Even if you've sworn off Diet Coke and Doritos, your body still gets hit with a daily barrage of toxins—poisonous, synthetic substances found in everything from coffee to household cleaners. Over time, a buildup of toxins can cause health problems, such as fatigue, sluggish digestion, and allergies.
"Even if you're health conscious, it's still a good idea to do a detox to push those toxins out of your system," says Nicky Calice, an aesthetician in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She shares three easy ways to come clean, inside and out, on a daily basis.
1. Break a sweat.
Perspiration is one of the most efficient ways your body eliminates toxins, so add a Pilates class or brisk morning walk to your routine. Even better, take a hot yoga class. Because the studio is heated to between 90 and 100 degrees, you'll sweat while doing downward-facing dog—and help along your detox.
2. Exfoliate.
Exfoliate with an all-natural scrub designed to improve your circulation and help shed toxins through the skin. To make your own, chop up some fresh gingerroot or parsley; add a handful of sea salt; and scrub yourself in the shower. You also can use a body brush (such as cactus bristle) or loofah while showering.
3. Eat red grapefruit for breakfast.
By taking in fresh citrus fruit, which contains digestion-boosting enzymes, first thing in the morning, you'll more quickly eliminate the previous day's toxins from your body. Like most fresh fruit, grapefruit is loaded with antioxidants designed to fight free radicals. Plus, it improves circulation.
