Save these tips on how to treat your body with these natural products that can easily by sourced in Bali.
Bali has long been a mecca for yogis and wellness seekers from all over the world, but with healthy lifestyles becoming the norm it seems almost everyone wants to treat their body right through the occasional detox. Making the effort to properly re-set your body can have myriad health benefits, including weight loss, improved digestion, clearer skin, more effective liver function and many others. So, whether you want to go the whole hog and do a 5-day juice cleanse or just dabble, we’ve got some great detox tips using natural, easy-to-source products in Bali.
Removing Heavy Metals: Bentonite Clay
Heavy metals get into our system through pollution [Bali traffic, we’re looking at you!], consuming animal products or non-organic plant products, smoking and aluminium pans used for cooking. Bentonite Clay, which is composed of aged volcanic rock, is an incredible product – once it becomes hydrated its molecular components rapidly change to produce an electrical charge. The product then acts like a sponge to draw toxins from the skin and body.
How to take: To take internally, drink ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Bentonite clay once per day, up to 7 days per week. Mix the clay with water [preferably in a jar with a lid where you can shake the clay and make it dissolve]. To take externally, add ¼ of a cup of Bentonite clay to your bath and massage your skin with it, or soak in the water. For a pollution busting face mask, mix clay with a small amount of purified water. Smear directly onto the skin, let it dry for around 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
Colon Cleanse: Psyllium Husk
Many of us have bowels that aren’t working at their peak performance, due to over-processed foods, lack of fibre, eating animal products and just general aging. Psyllium Husk is the outer hull of the seeds of the Plantago plant and they have been used for hundreds of years in Europe to treat bowel problems. Many over-the-counter laxatives contain some form of psyllium, including Metamucil. When combined with water, psyllium husk forms a gel that removes wastes and toxins from the intestinal tract.
How to take: In the morning of your detox grind 1 tsp of psyllium in a blender until it becomes a powder, adding a little water as you go. Stir the powder into a glass of water until well-mixed. Drink the mixture then another full cup of water to help wash it through. Drink a full glass of water every 2-3 hours and eat only light meals of steamed vegetables with brown rice at lunch and dinner. Take another tsp of psyllium mixed with water before bed and repeat this process every day for up to 7 days. Added bonus – Psyllium can also help by lowering blood pressure and decreasing cholesterol levels!
Liver Cleanse: Epsom Salt
Epsom salts are naturally occurring pure mineral compounds of magnesium and sulfate. Named after a saline spring in Surrey in England, they have a huge range of uses including as an exfoliator, to remove splinters, treat athletes foot, clean bathroom tiles and to fertilize houseplants. The most common use of Epsom salts is as a bath soak, which is fantastic for soothing muscles and cramps, as magnesium and sulfate are easily absorbed through the skin. As these minerals are known to remove toxins and detoxify, Epsom salts are often used internally as way to cleanse the liver after illness or once a month to keep it at a level of optimum performance.
How to take: On the day of your cleanse eat a very light breakfast and lunch of fresh fruit and vegetables. Mix 4 tbsp Epsom salt with 3-4 cups of water in a jar, and drink at around 6pm, and then drink another cup of the mixture at 8pm. Combine juice from 1 lemon and 1 grapefruit with 1 cup of organic olive oil and drink at 10pm before bed. The magic happens overnight! In the morning, before eating, drink another cup of Epsom salt mix at around 7am, then repeat at 9am. Eat only fruit and vegetables for the rest of the day. Drink plenty of water during your cleanse, and be prepared to take it easy for a few days!
Remember – our bodies were designed to cleanse themselves but with all we put them through on a daily basis regular detoxes can have untold benefits. Whether you decide to incorporate the odd superfood into your regular diet, or undertake a juice fast, make sure you do your research, look after yourself and stay smiling!
