Body Detox Formulas

Proponents of body detoxification say that all of the substances we are exposed to daily--including the processed chemicals that go into making packaged foods--may be making you feel unwell. A body detox can help cleanse your colon and may boost your immune system. Keep the ingredients simple and all-natural, and, most importantly, don't overdo it.

The Master Cleanse

This cleanse may be helpful in recharging your body and purging it of any dependence on foreign substances, whether sugar, caffeine, alcohol or corn syrup. Combine 14 tbsp. of lemon juice with 14 tbsp. of maple syrup and 1/2 tsp. of cayenne pepper in 2 quarts of water. Drink the mixture whenever you feel hungry throughout the day. Along with the lemonade mixture, drink as much water as you like. In the evening, fill a 1-quart jar with room temperature or lukewarm water, and add 1 tbsp. of noniodized sea salt to it. Drink all of the solution. Within an hour, the salt water will coat your digestive tract, flushing the remaining waste in your system. Expect frequent bowel movements for the following hour. Repeat this process for three to 10 days. Then, ease slowly back to bland, unprocessed foods over the next few days.

Detox Bath

This bathing formula may help draw toxins from your skin. Mix 1/4 cup of sea salts, 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of Epsom salts in a small container. Add the mixture to hot bath water. Keep some glycerin on hand to prevent drying out your skin, using 1 or 2 tbsp. per bath. Soak and relax, letting the hot water draw any toxins to the surface of the skin. The cooling water is thought to expunge toxins, leaving your skin smooth and clean.

Everyday Detox Teas and Juices

Drink dandelion tea, cranberry juice, lemon juice in hot water, or digestion-aiding beverages to clean the colon and flush waste through your body. While not as potent or thorough as multiday cleanses, these drinks may help expel unwanted buildup from food and alcohol as you consume it.

Bland Foods Detox

Consuming only bland, colorless foods also may detoxify your body and improve your health. Start with clear or white natural foods such as cauliflower, raw oatmeal, okra, apples (after removing the skin) and pears. Cook clear vegetables in plain water as broth for a soup. Simplify your diet with a week of such foods, then slowly add other organic, unprocessed foods, regardless of color, back into your diet.