Written by Audrey Couture, M.Sc. Pharmacology

Spring is always this time of year when we fell like renewing ourselves. This year, why not treat your body and digestive system to a soft detox?

For a scientist like me, detox and cleansing are fuzzy concepts. Science has no definition or criteria for detox, and neither does science view toxins as something that accumulates or needs help for elimination. I have also seen detox products that were really just violent laxatives. But other than being an effective marketing strategy, laxatives flush but don’t cleanse. I will not get into the controversy over detox cures. For me, a detox is just a great occasion to incorporate good habits into our busy lives. Instead of talking about eliminating toxins, I’m simply going to give you some tips and ideas to boost your antioxidants levels and facilitate your digestion. Detox will result from those few tips.

For a scientist like me, detox and cleansing are fuzzy concepts. Science has no definition or criteria for detox, and neither does science view toxins as something that accumulates or needs help for elimination. I have also seen detox products that were really just violent laxatives. But other than being an effective marketing strategy, laxatives flush but don’t cleanse. I will not get into the controversy over detox cures. For me, a detox is just a great occasion to incorporate good habits into our busy lives. Instead of talking about eliminating toxins, I’m simply going to give you some tips and ideas to boost your antioxidants levels and facilitate your digestion. Detox will result from those few tips.

Give Your Digestive System a Little Help

The digestive system is used to dealing with toxins every day, whether from our foods or our own metabolism. Why not gently enhance its functions with digestive herbs? Black radish juice has been one of my favorite. The taste is bitter, but it’s worth it because it acts both on the liver and the gallbladder. Because I want this spring’s detox to be easy, I recommend the all-in-one, gentle detox product: Adrien Gagnon Black Radish ampoules. Aside from black radish, it provides milk thistle to regenerate liver cells, artichoke for biliary and kidney support, and bold for liver and intestinal support. No unnecessary laxative! Take one ampoule daily with breakfast for two weeks and feel your digestion improve.

Also, make sure you get plenty of water as well. Hydration will cleanse and help elimination on its own.

Get Your Antioxidant Boost

Just like colorful flowers are blooming with the sun, get those colours into your plate to maximize antioxidants. Try to replace those carbs with a large bowl of sautéed or grilled vegetables, seasoning with fresh herbs of your choice and a touch of olive oil. You may also replace your usual peanut butter toasts with a wild berry smoothie. Don’t forget to add some protein so your feel full until lunch time. For lunch, enjoy green leafy veggies in a salad or as a side dish.

I know detox is usually a temporary set of actions to reach a purification state. While this antioxidant tip is easy to follow daily for a week, I would highly recommend your keep these good habits and make sure half of your plate is made of colorful vegetables and fruits year long. That’s the goal for a long-term, healthy living.

Give Your Body a Break of Toxins

My science background allows me to appreciate one toxin-elimination strategy: giving up smoking. Much easier said than done, I know. But even if you were to follow detox and cleansing cures every month, nothing will compensate for the tremendous amount of toxins one cigarette forces into your body. If you are smoking and were to implement only one tip out of this blog, nothing will ever be as effective as quitting. And I’m not only talking about detox, but also for your health in general.

Alternatively, if you are exposed to second-hand smoke, it’s time to get some fresh air and keep your distance from this highly polluted air. If a loved one smokes, I understand it can be tough to take your distance, but perhaps your detox cure is a good time to talk about going outside the house to light up a cigarette…

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Audrey has followed the typical scientist’s path until she encountered natural health products. Realizing there is plenty of robust and insightful research available on the subject, she has been trying to bring medical science and alternative medicines together. She is a strong believer in taking responsibility for our own health and relying on common sense to choose our individual healthy living journey.