After quitting smoking, the next thing you want to do is to clean your body from the toxins and other impurities brought by smoking. Detoxification is essential during the smoking cessation because it’s the only way to totally free your body from the harmful effects of smoking. Not only that, it will also reduce cigarette cravings. There are natural and safe methods to detoxify after you stop smoking. Here are some of them:
1. Drink lots of water.
The easiest way to detoxify is to drink water – lots of water. It helps flush away the toxins from your body and at the same time keeps its moisture which cigarette smoking robs from you. Have you ever tried the “water therapy”? When you wake up in the morning, drink at least four glasses of water and then brush your teeth. Do not eat or drink anything for the next 45 minutes. Then, proceed with your normal breakfast. If you struggle with water, drink lots of beverages (especially fruit juices), add ice to your cola, and drink a glass of water after your coffee.
2. Sweat it out!
When you exercise, you don’t just lose fats, you also cleanse your body. Sweating allows your body to flush chemical compounds from your system. In addition to this, exercising also suppresses your cravings, lowering the risk of relapse. Aside from going to the gym, you can also spend an hour or so in the sauna.
3. Drink milk.
When you smoke, your body loses a lot of calcium – an important nutrient that helps you maintain stronger bones. Other sources of calcium are cheese and other dairy products, broccoli, citrus fruits, etc.
4. Eat plenty of fiber.
Fiber does not just make you feel full but also improves your digestion and helps eliminate the toxic compounds from your stomach. Fiber-rich foods include oats, brown rice, barley, cabbage, and whole grains.
5. De-stress.
Constant stress puts a toll on your health as it pumps up the production of cortisol – hormones linked to a wide range of diseases. De-stressing is also a crucial aspect of the detoxification process because when your body is under stress, the toxins become more active that they easily invade your body.
6. Take supplements.
There are specially-made supplements that take away toxins from your body. If you decide to take one, carefully choose which product you are going to buy as there are lots of detox products that are ineffective and very expensive.
7. Take vitamin C.
Vitamin C – the mother of all vitamins does not only improve your immune system but also helps produce glutathione in your liver – a natural detoxifying agent. This compound is also linked to improved memory.
8. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are biggest sources of antioxidants that drive away unwanted compounds from your body organs and repair damaged cells. Experts recommend eating five servings of fruits and vegetables. Don’t just stick to one or two kinds. The more varieties and the more colorful, the better!
