Spring Clean the Body With These Natural Detoxing Tips

POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Sometimes the best way to start a new season is to give the body an overhaul — especially if you spent all Winter cozying up inside while eating comfort foods. If you've been a bit too indulgent or you want to lose a little weight, whatever the reason, there's a healthy way to go about recharging yourself. Skip the juice-only cleanses and colonics, and keep reading for our favorite methods to naturally detox the body to feel lighter and more energized.

What to Eat
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

What to Eat

While cutting out obvious bad-for-you foods will help give your body a healthy makeover, knowing which foods you should be eating can also play a role. Fruits and veggies are already an important aspect of any nutrient-rich diet, but certain farmers market favorites have the added benefit of natural detoxing properties by aiding in digestion, promoting healthy liver function, and stimulating the body's natural detoxification process. For Spring in particular, look for asparagus, cherries, and artichokes, all of which help the body detox naturally.

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What Not to Eat
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

What Not to Eat

Embarking on an elimination diet is a great way to let your body recharge by cutting out processed foods (like refined carbs and sugar) and items that the body commonly shows sensitivities to (like gluten or dairy). Doing so should help you feel more energized and less bloated. If you can, we recommend cutting out sugar, gluten, alcohol, dairy, caffeine, soy, and factory-farmed meat for a period of two to four weeks, and then reintroducing each group back one at a time to note changes. Curious to know how these changes might affect your body? Take a look at some first-person accounts of following an elimination diet.

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What to Drink
POPSUGAR Photography | Kat Borchart

What to Drink

First off: water, lots of water. Staying properly hydrated is key in helping your body perform at its optimal level. And while you may be tempted to jump on a juice-only cleanse, keep in mind that you run the risk of not getting enough calories or nutrients (like protein and fiber) in your daily diet. That doesn't mean that incorporating certain beverages into your diet isn't beneficial when giving your body an overhaul. From debloating to stimulating the liver, find out the best way to hydrate when a natural detox is in order.

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How to Move
POPSUGAR Photography | Louisa Larson

How to Move

When it comes to feeling better in your own body, exercise is key: it increases energy, boosts your mood, improves thinking, and helps prevent disease. Be sure to give your body a head start by doing exercises that stimulate its circulatory, digestive, and lymphatic systems. (If you have pared down your diet during this period of detox, make sure you are taking in enough calories to maintain your fitness regimen.)

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