It’s time for Part II of my 6 Part Series all about those wonderful detox organs of ours that support our body’s natural detoxification process.

Remember – this is our body’s natural detoxification process – it does this all my itself, but sometimes it needs a little support and love along the way.

Missed Part I and II – never fear – they’re right here and here!

These six detoxification organs work non-stop to eliminate excess waste products/toxins from our body, and in this little series, I’m talking about my personal top 4 foods, that in conjunction with an overall healthy diet, have shown they have a wonderful ability to further support this amazing process.

So today we’re talking about – skin!

Our largest living organ which works beautifully to sweat out toxins, and just like our lungs, it can also absorb waste and then release it through sweat, as well as through heat.

One of the major selling points of supporting our detox organs is the promise of beautiful, glowing skin, which is why it can be pretty discouraging when instead of seeing a smooth, flawless complexion in the mirror, you see pimples, blackheads and other skin blemishes.  As horrible as these unwanted blemishes are, they ARE a natural part of our skins detoxifying process, and all that crap we’ve been pouring into our bodies over the years gets excreted through the pores of our skin when we decide to clean up our insides a little.

The key is to always go gentle.

4 practices that help support our skins natural detoxification process

Dry Skin Brushing | Helps boost circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system to release toxins and help improve muscle tone and reduce puffiness and cellulite.  PLUS it will leave your skin bright and glowing.  Using a natural body brush before your morning shower, brush gentle, circular movements towards your heart, including your back, and brush your tummy in an anti-clockwise direction.  

Epsom Salt Baths | Bathe in a warm bath of 1 cup Epsom salts and 1 cup organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar, which helps draw toxins out through the skin and accelerate the cleansing process. This can also help relieve joint pain as well as skin conditions like eczema and acne.

Saunas | Sitting in an infrared sauna for anywhere up to half an hour will not only help you to flush out toxins via sweat, but will improve circulation, promote the elimination of heavy metals and other toxins and improve oxygenation of the blood.

Clay | Applying a natural clay mask to your body is another way to help toxins come out through your skin.   Apply to your face, as a clay pack over your liver, or spread over your entire body.  

4 foods that can further help support our skin

Vegetables | Veggies are rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C which help draw free-radicals out of our body.  Those veggies particularly high in antioxidants that can help protect our skin include blueberries, green leafy vegetables and yellow/orange coloured ones. Eat a wide variety to gain a large range of nutrients.

Fats | Foods such as wild-caught salmon, avocado, coconut, flaxseeds and walnuts are all wonderful sources of essential fatty acids. These fats, which our body can’t manufacture, are necessary for the production of oils that keep our skin lubricated, soft and pliable. A deficiency can lead to scaly, dry, inflamed skin that has impaired elasticity.

Sweet potatoes  | Rich in Vitamin A, this delicious veggie has been found to help reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging. This is due to their high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and magnesium.

Water | Around 65 percent of our body is made of water, helping maintain the elasticity of our skin and dehydration means lack of that elasticity. If it doesn't bounce back when gently pinched, you probably need to drink more water to plump up your skin cells.

 

My favourite “Love Your Skin” Recipes

 

 

Avocado Whip

Makes 1 jar

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1 large ripe avocado | Juice of ½ lemon | Sea salt | Olive oil

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Place the flesh of the avocado, lemon juice and a good pinch of sea salt into a blender.  While blending, drizzle in the olive oil until you get a light, fluffy and airy consistency.

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Sweet Potato Chips

Serves 2

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1 large sweet potato | Olive oil or coconut oil | Sea salt

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Preheat oven to 200D/350F and line a baking tray. Using a mandoline or very sharp knife, slice thin slices of sweet potato and lay in a single layer on the line tray.  Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake for approx. 20 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.