3 Powerful Detox Habits to Transform Your Health and Energy

As we age, our body’s natural functions begin to slow, making it crucial to support these systems and keep them in balance

By maintaining homeostasis, you can boost vitality and live a life filled with energy and wellness.

When your body falls out of balance, it becomes more susceptible to disease.

While doing a full-body detox every few months or once a year is beneficial, incorporating simple detox habits into your weekly routine can keep your body functioning optimally and promote long-term health.

What is Detoxing?

Detoxing is your body’s natural way of clearing out waste. It uses key systems like the liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, lungs, skin, and blood to eliminate toxins and maintain balance.

In today’s world, we’re exposed to harmful substances daily—whether from pollution, processed foods, cleaning chemicals, or indulgences like alcohol.

Without regular detox support, these toxins can build up in your tissues, potentially leading to issues like insomnia, headaches, brain fog, or skin problems over time.

By implementing detox-friendly habits into your weekly routine, you can boost your energy, enjoy deeper sleep, and feel more resilient to life’s stresses.

#1 — Sauna and Steam rooms

After spending a weekend at the Scandinavia Spa in Whistler, BC, I fell in love with the extraordinary benefits of saunas and steam rooms.

I immediately began implementing these detox habits into my weekly gym routine when I got home.

Saunas produce dry heat from either hot rocks or stoves that can reach 185°F, whereas steam rooms produce moist heat with low temperatures of around 110°F.

According to Dr. Eric Berg, MD, both have hormetic effects, which means you add stress so your body can adapt and become stronger.

Participating in a sauna or steam room can lower your resting heart rate, decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease, and stimulate your lymphatic system.

When your lymphatic system is running correctly, it can remove toxins from the body more efficiently as opposed to fluid accumulating into the tissues and causing swelling.

#2 — Detox foot pads

There is some controversy about detox foot pads, and there isn't any scientific evidence to support the claim or proper studies.

Detox foot pads claim that after wearing them for over eight hours on the bottom of your feet, toxins are removed from the body, leaving the pad with a dark residue.

Medical experts from Healthline advise that they do not work and that the dark residue is from your foot sweating while wearing them.

I decided to try them myself, and for five nights, the foot pad was covered in dark residue, but by the sixth and seventh nights, it began to clear up, and only part of the pad was covered in dark residue. Although it could be a placebo effect, I did sleep well when wearing the foot pads.

Foot pads can contain herbs, tourmaline, vitamin C, aloe vera, and bamboo vinegar.

Bamboo vinegar is known to remove foot odour. Tourmaline is a gemstone with healing properties that can help with circulation, relieve stress, and strengthen the immune system.

According to a study done on rats, high levels of vitamin C accelerated the elimination of lead from the rats' bodies.

Aloe vera has anti-fungal properties. It has been known for its uses in skin conditions.

When it comes to detox foot pads, you'll have to decide for yourself after experimenting with them. Before purchasing any products, take a look at the reviews.

Detoxifying foods

For your body to function at its best, you should change your diet and incorporate more detoxifying foods.

When you add these foods to your weekly eating habits, you'll naturally begin to remove toxins regularly while replenishing your body with nutrients.

• Cruciferous vegetables—broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and arugula—contain numerous amounts of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins K, C, iron, and potassium. They are also an excellent fibre source, which helps remove toxins from the body and support detoxification pathways.

• Lemons — Lemon is loaded with vitamin C, and drinking a cup of lemon with warm water first thing in the morning will help flush out toxins through the bowels.

• Apple cider vinegar (raw)— Fermented apples turn into vinegar that creates acetic acid. ACV is loaded with enzymes that can help speed up your digestive system and break down foods so your body can receive various nutrients. It removes pathogens from the intestines and helps with eliminating toxins.

Detoxing your body shouldn't be limited to a few times a year but should be implemented into your weekly routine.

By making minor changes to your lifestyle and food habits, you can improve your mood, quality of sleep, and energy.

When the body is balanced regularly, disease-like symptoms are less likely to occur.

Originally published in ILLUMINATION Medium.com