40 Days of Wellness – Day 6

Check out my guest blog post on when, why and how to detox as part of the WellFest ’40 Days of Wellness’ countdown to the festival on September 19th.

Detox – When, Why and How.

Everyone’s talking about the latest trends in detoxing – juices, teas, pills- but the truth is, our bodies are naturally designed to detoxify themselves every single day. Many of the systems and organs of the body take part in this natural cleansing cycle. From our lungs where we expel carbon dioxide through the simple act of breathing to the liver and the lymphatic system filtering and transporting toxins out of the body via the kidneys. 

Our bodies are constantly working to eliminate toxins and waste; but what is the purpose of all of this detoxing? One of the main aims of this process is to achieve and maintain an optimal ph level. This is the delicate balance between acid and alkaline within the body and maintaining it at the optimal level (7.4 for blood and 6.9-7 for urine and saliva) is key to achieving and maintaining optimal health. Our bodies work hard to maintain this balance as it is constantly impacted by many factors including diet, exercise, stress, sleeping patterns. It is quite common for Western lifestyles to include many acid forming foods and environmental stressors so we are commonly ‘detoxing’ by eliminating excess acid. Processed foods and sugars for example cause acidity in the body whereas leafy green vegetables and water with fresh limes or lemons will have an alkalising effect.

Join me for my ‘Post Festival Season Detox’ workshop to learn simple tools that can be seamlessly added into your daily routine to help your body shed toxins and be as healthy, happy and strong as you can be!

Maria’s WellTip for this years WellFesters is: Hydration Is key.

Whether you’re looking to aid the detoxification process or simply stepping up your fitness programme sufficient hydration is key. Water is involved in almost every chemical reaction in the body; it helps us digest and absorb food, protects our organs and tissues, cushions our joints and regulates our body temperature. We should all be drinking 2 litres of fluids per day. 

It is best to start hydrating first thing in the morning and drink at regular intervals throughout the day. Begin the day with some warm water and fresh lemon to flush out toxins and kick start the digestive system. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to stimulate the circulatory system. Flavoured waters, like this cucumber ‘nojito’, herbal teas, green juices and coconut water are all great ways to keep hydration interesting and encourage us to get our 2 litres per day without getting bored.