Hydration is a crucial element to any detoxification plan. A body cannot be healthy without proper hydration. Hydration keeps all of a person’s organs, systems and cells functioning the way they should. A poor diet and substance abuse can be a primary reason for a person becoming dehydrated. If a person has not kept up with good hydration for any amount of time, they should include rigorous hydration as part of their detox plan, so long as they do not have any conditions that restrict their fluid intake.

Water is obviously going to be a person’s primary means of hydrating themselves. Every diet or detox plan on earth calls for regular water consumption. The human body is largely made up of water, and that water needs to be frequently replenished. When a person is detoxing, they have a high count of toxins within their body that need to be flushed out. Drinking water is the most efficient way of doing this. Drinking an ample amount of water promotes good circulation within the body. A person will sweat and urinate a healthy amount of fluid when they are drinking plenty of water, which carries toxins out of the body. Drinking a significant amount of water is not a step that someone can afford to skip while they are detoxing.

Some other methods of hydrating naturally are by consuming beverages such as coconut water, fruit juice and sports drinks. Next to water, coconut water is considered to be the most hydrating beverage option. Coconuts develop in trees that retain fresh water and translate it into a sweet, potassium rich fruit that grows tropically. They have long been known as life giving vegetation that offers hydration in a tropical, salt water environment. Other fruit juices have hydrating elements as well, but can be rich in sugar, which counteracts their hydrating qualities. One should always be mindful of how much sugar is in their fruit juices and buy organic juice whenever possible. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade and Vitamin Water, also have good hydrating properties, but natural beverages are always the best way to go.

The most obvious component of a detox is nutrition. The substances a person ingests represent a majority of their chemical makeup. Therefore, the diet plan in a detox is essential to its success. The average person ingests substances on a daily basis that increase the levels of toxicity within their bodies. In order to counteract the harmful effects of these toxins, a person needs to create a diet plan consisting of foods that cleanse the system of foreign bodies and toxins. This diet plan is usually specific to what kind of toxins the person has been ingesting, but there are general detoxifying foods that should be included in every person’s detox diet. Professional detoxification centers, such as Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary detox centers have similar diet plans for their clients to follow. For example:

• Berries, citrus and other antioxidants. These fruits and a number of other vegetables are rich in antioxidants and acidity that cleanse the system of toxins. They also contain a high number of vitamins that boost the body’s immune system, as well as many other bodily systems.
• Leafy greens. Kale, spinach, arugula and bok choy are dark leafy greens that are rich in calcium and vitamins. These vegetables play an important part role in detoxifying the body and giving the body basic nutrients.
• Jalapenos and other spicy peppers. These types of peppers are loaded with vitamin C, and their level of spice and acidity are enormously system cleansing and beneficial to the body.
• Coconut oil. This type of oil has been found to be highly beneficial in restoring the body’s health. Coconut oil has numerous benefits, such as replacing depleted potassium levels, providing the body with healthy fats and lipids, resetting the metabolism and giving the skin and hair nutrients.
• Avocado. This super food is loaded with healthy fats, omega 3’s and vitamins. The avocado is particularly good for the skin and nails, as well as for detoxifying the liver.
• Healthy proteins. Protein is essential to our metabolism, and should be included in every detox. Healthy proteins include fish, nuts, eggs, quinoa and a variety of lean meats.

One cannot arrange for a detox without incorporating exercise into their plan. Exercise is one of the most fundamental tools in strengthening a person’s detox and health. The benefits to exercise are endless, boosting a person’s mental and physical health. By exercising regularly, or even strenuously if a detox calls for it, you will release toxins from your body, increase your muscle mass, strengthen your cardio vascular system, burn fat and increase your mental health.

Releasing toxins through exercise is a basic process. Exercise speeds up the metabolism and the body’s circulation. This means a person’s body can use the food it takes in more efficiently and distribute it through out the body evenly. It also means that the body will identify toxins faster and work them out of the system. Exercise opens the sweat glands to release toxins naturally. Everything about exercise is detoxifying.

Exercise will also increase muscle mass, work the cardiovascular system and burn fat. Increased muscle mass will naturally give a person increased strength, taking pressure off the joints and putting it where it belongs. The cardiovascular system needs to maintain good flow to prevent blockage and poor circulation and exercise is how one achieves this. Excessive fat storage is a form of toxicity, so keeping it under control through exercise is a means of keeping the body rid of toxins.

And lastly, exercise is also a way of detoxing the mind. Exercise is known to greatly increase mental health for a number of reasons. One reason is that it releases endorphins, the brain chemical known for giving energy and a peaceful state of mind. Another reason is because when a person reflects and meditates while they are exercising, they are using many areas of their brain at once, which is excellent for healthy brain function. Plus, it simply helps the chemicals of the brain flow easier, which promotes good mental health. There are endless reasons why exercise should be part of your detoxification.

A recent concept to the psychological world is that of nature deprivation. The concept of a person struggling with their physical and mental health because they are not spending enough time in nature was not on mental and medical health professional’s radars in the past. However, the more we come to understand about people’s connection to nature, the more we are realizing how evolved we are to interact with nature. The pressure of life that causes so many medical and mental health problems can be alleviated by spending time in nature, which makes nature its own kind of detox.

Physically speaking, nature has been found to have many benefits for health and detoxification. Spending time in nature lowers a person’s blood pressure, increasing their circulation and calming their heart rate. The scent of growing plants, especially trees, has been found to effect people’s physiology in a positive way. Being immersed in nature increases the flow of productive brain chemicals, such as dopamine and endorphins. And doing all of this while exploring nature allows a person to exercise, which makes their body absorb and distribute the benefits that nature is giving them.

Mentally speaking, nature is one of the ultimate methods of detoxification. All of the basic elements of nature are calming and soothing to people. Granted, some people may have been traumatized by something they encountered in nature, such as a wild animal or a natural disaster, and they would need counseling before reentering nature. But to the average person, nature is a sanctuary of peace and quiet where they are free to meditate and let their thoughts flow naturally. This is a valuable mental detox for the world we live in and can be a great asset for coping with a mental disorder, addiction or stressful life circumstances.

Incorporating time in nature into your detox plan will realign you at your core. Humanity evolved to live among nature, and we were intended to interact with it as part of our natural way of life. Eliminating this key element of our mental and physical health is detrimental.