Here’s How Coffee Beans Benefits Your Health

The beneficial compound that’s commonly associated with coffee beans is caffeine, which is known for its powerful antioxidant properties. However, coffee beans also contain other beneficial compounds, such as chlorogenic acid, diterpenes and melanoidins, to name a few.

The amount of beneficial compounds in a cup of coffee may vary according to the coffee bean variety, roasting degree and brewing method. Together, they contribute to the following health benefits:

Other Uses of Coffee Beans

In addition to brewing coffee beans, you can also use these humble seeds for many other purposes, such as:

• Exfoliating your skin: Mix a spoonful of used coffee ground with a small amount of olive oil and/or other essential oils to make an organic and inexpensive exfoliant.

• Freshening up the air: Place bowls of coffee grounds around your house, such as in your kitchen, to help deodorize unpleasant smells.

You can also use ground coffee beans to help get rid of fleas from your pets, repel insects, repair scratches on dark wood furniture, and clean hard-to-remove stains from pots, pans and kitchen tools.

How to Roast Coffee Beans on Your Own

Learning how to roast and grind coffee beans at home is a handy culinary skill, and also gives you better control of the roast level, so you can make a cup of coffee that perfectly suits your taste. Here’s how to roast coffee beans, according to

The Kitchen

1. Place the green coffee beans in a pan and put the pan over medium heat. Stir the beans constantly throughout the entire roasting process to make sure that they’re evenly heated.
2. Wait for the coffee beans to crack and smoke, around five minutes. Continue stirring, and check the beans’ color frequently.
3. Once the beans turn the color that you desire, remove the pan from the heat and pour the beans immediately into a chilled bowl. Stir constantly for three minutes.
4. Rotate the bowl to cool down the beans quickly, then transfer them to a colander and sift out the hulls.

You can grind the coffee beans as soon as they have cooled, but it’s best to wait until the next day before you do so. You can use a grinder, food processor, regular blender or immersion blender for grinding the coffee beans. Simply process the beans using the device of your choice until it reaches the grind consistency that your desire.

You can also grind the seeds manually using a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, hammer, or hand mincer. Be sure to store the roasted and ground coffee beans in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature to preserve its freshness and flavor.

Try Making This Keto-Friendly Recipe Using Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans

If you have a batch of freshly roasted and ground coffee beans in your home, you can use it to brew a delicious cup of coffee or if you want to take it a notch higher, try making this easy, keto-approved coffee recipe

Procedure:

1. Put the butter, coconut oil and brewed coffee in a blender, and then blend for 20 to 30 seconds.
2. Pour in a mug and serve immediately.

Coffee Skincare 

Using coffee grounds on the skin is a growing as one of the best skincare regimen for cellulite! Finally something that truly diminishes the look cellulite. Can you believe its so simple? Just brew ypur coffee and mix several parts coffee grounds with coconut or olive oil and massage into skin 10 minutes besire showering. Wash clean and enjoy! 

Don't want to make your one? You're in luck. Get your Arabica Coffee Scrub Here. 

What to Keep in Mind When Brewing Coffee Beans

Since coffee beans are among the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops, you should only buy them from trusted organic sources to ensure that they’re free from harmful chemicals. Choose coffee beans that smell and taste fresh, and avoid using chlorine-bleached filters when brewing them at home, as they contain harmful disinfection byproducts that may contaminate your cup of coffee.

Do not add sugar, cream and other sweeteners and flavorings to your drink. Adding these ingredients into your coffee not only negates its potential health benefits, but it may also put you at risk of insulin resistance.

Additionally, be careful not to overindulge in coffee, since consuming 10 or more cups of it in a day may lead to unpleasant side effects. It’s also important to note that coffee is not recommended for pregnant and/or breastfeeding women because of its caffeine content. 

Enjoy your cup of Joe and dont forget the grounds!

Salisha

I don’t wear sunscreen

I’ve actually never needed to wear sunscreen since I was blessed with skin that doesn’t burn as bad as some, however some of us and our babies need some protection for our skin, occasionally. This is where my go too homemade non toxic sun screen comes in!

Why Go Chemical Free?

I read an article over a year ago featuring ways to use up all those 'almost empty' essential oil bottles we all have laying around. I thought now would be a wonderful time to refresh that list by writing about the ones that we actually still use! 

Here are our favorite ways to use up the last few drops of oil in your essential oil bottles.

1. Mattress Refresher

Using this refresher and vacuuming help to reduce dust mites, dead skin cells, and germs.  Plus it is a great deodorizer!

• fill empty (or almost empty) essential oil bottle about 3/4s full with baking soda
• if the bottle had been washed out and is completely empty of essential oil, then add about 4 drops of essential oil.  (if the bottle was empty, but hadn’t been washed out yet and still has the smell of essential oils, then just add about 2 drops of essential oil).  Here are some great antimicrobial/antibacterial/antiviral essential oils to use for cleaning a mattress:  lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, cinnamon, eucalyptus, grapefruit, lime, peppermint, spearmint, orange, tangerine, and rosemary.  Choose just one or a favorite combination of 2-3 oils.  Here are a few combinations I love using to clean my mattress:
  • tea tree, lavender, and lemon (very fresh and clean smelling)
  • eucalyptus and spearmint (very relaxing, and relieves stress)
  • tangerine, lime, and spearmint (smells like a citrus mojito)
• shake to mix
• put cap back on
• let it let sit overnight so the baking soda can absorb the essential oil

 To Use:

• remove pillows, sheets, and blankets from bed
• pour baking soda/EO mix into a shaker or into a small strainer (if you have a king-sized bed, I would use at least two 15ml bottles of the baking soda/eo mixture)
• sprinkle on mattress
• leave on for a couple hours (perfect timing to wash and dry the bedding)
• then vacuum off

2. Car Diffuser

Use an almost empty essential oil bottle to make a diffuser for your car:

• stuff a cotton ball into essential oil bottle
• put cap back on
• let it sit for a day or two so that cotton ball can absorb any leftover essential oil
• pull cotton ball out of essential oil bottle (use tweezers if needed)
• use paperclip to attach cotton ball to car’s AC/heat vent
• scent should last for 2-3 days, then you can add another drop or two of essential oil to refresh the car diffuser

3.  Freshen as You Vacuum

Using essential oils when you vacuum is a simple way to make your whole house smell fantastic!

Here’s how to use up the last bit of essential oil from an almost empty bottle to make this vacuum refresher:

• stuff a cotton ball into almost empty essential oil bottle
• put cap back on
• let it sit for a day or two so that cotton ball will absorb any leftover essential oil.
• pull cotton ball out of essential oil bottle (use tweezers if needed)
• place scented cotton ball on the floor
• then vacuum it up

4. Homemade All-Natural 'Febreeze'

There’s a great one to use up those last few drops of essential oil in the bottom of a bottle.  Add a spray top to the essential oil bottle and turn it into a homemade all-natural “Febreeze” fabric refresher.  Here’s how to do it:

1. start with an empty (or almost empty) 15ml essential oil bottle
2. choose the linen spray that you want to make.
3. add 2-3 drops of essential oil to the bottle
4. fill the rest of the 15ml bottle with vodka (make sure you leave a little room at the top for the sprayer)
5. put on the new spray top
6. gently shake or roll the bottle to mix the vodka and essential oils
7. shake again each time before use, spray lightly on fabric and allow fabric to dry completely

You can substitute witch hazel or water for the vodka, but it’s best to use alcohol if you can in this recipe.  Alcohol has a faster evaporation rate than witch hazel and water, and as a result, is less likely to cause mold or mildew in fabric.  If you do need to substitute witch hazel or water, give the fabric extra time to dry, and if possible, use a fan to circulate air over the fabric until it is dry.

5.  Instant Deodorizer

Here’s how you turn your empty essential oil bottle into an instant deodorizer:

• take cap and dropper off
• place bottle in a spot that needs a little deodorizing (laundry room, bathroom, closet, refrigerator, etc)
• that’s it; you’re done.  Let the bottle stay in there for a few days to do its work.  When the scent is gone, clean and sanitize the bottle and upcycle it for another DIY project on this page.

6. Smelling Salts (Breathe Better Blend)

Feeling a like congested?  Here’s a great way to upcycle your empty essential oil bottles to help support clear breathing.

How to make essential oil smelling salts:

• start with a cleaned and sanitized essential oil bottle
• fill bottle with Epsom salt
• add 4 drops of essential oil (a blend of 1 drop each eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, and lavender works great, but you can use all peppermint or all eucalyptus if that’s all your have)
• shake to mix well
• put cap back on bottle in-between uses

To use:

• uncap bottle
• hold bottle up close to nose (but not touching nose)
• inhale deeply
• repeat as needed

Some studies suggest that 75% of North Americans do not meet their dietary requirements for magnesium. The symptoms of magnesium deficiency are usually subtle unless your levels become severely low. Deficiency may cause fatigue, muscle cramps, mental problems, irregular heartbeat and osteoporosis. Find out if you are deficient.

Combating Magnesium Deficiency With Food

Dark Chocolate

Avocados

Leafy Greens

Pumpkin Seeds

Flax Seeds

Fatty Fish (salmon)

Bananas

Magnesium Oil or Pills

Sometimes you will need additional help with combating magnesium deficiency. That's where my Magnesium Oil and Sprays come in. Made with a highly absorbent form of magnesium which is applied topically to the skin for instant absorbency! 

Get it here!

Are you experiencing stress, poor sleep, anxiety, nervousness, tension, fatigue, irritability, muscle and nerve pain or other symptoms of magnesium deficiency? it's time to try Simply Pure By Salisha's Pure Magnesium Oil Spray. Harvested from pure seawater salt pools, our trans-dermal or topical magnesium chloride is absorbed directly through the skin. It's one of the most effective ways to treat symptoms of deficiency.

Our magnesium oil is sourced from distilled, concentrated seawater. Unlike magnesium chloride hexahydrate (a lab product) our magnesium chloride sourced from the sea is natural and also contains 90 Plus trace minerals, which can't be reproduced in a lab. Our magnesium chloride products are antimicrobial, antiseptic, crystal clear, non-staining and fragrance-free.

Features

• Dramatically alleviates pain, cramps and muscle spasms
• Increases the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach to aid digestion and the absorption of nutrients
• Reduces inflammation throughout the body 
• Improves sleep, reducing night time disturbances and awakening
• Lessens the effects of skin conditions, like psoriasis and eczema
• Lightens stress and reduces anxiety, helping you feel much happier and more relaxed
• Balances blood sugar levels
• Total health benefits as a key mineral in our bodies
• Enhances the nervous system and its functions

Get Yours Here

A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food titled, "Efficacy and Safety of a Flaxseed Hull Extract in the Symptomatic Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Parallel, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Study," reveals that men who consumed an extract of flaxseed for swollen prostate (i.e. benign prostatic hyperplasia) saw significant improvement.

According to the study, The American Urology Association (AUA) Guideline, 2010, defines benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as proliferation of smooth muscles and epithelial cells within the prostatic transition zone. The typical symptoms include:

• Urinary frequency

• Urgency

• Nocturia (abnormal frequency of night time urination)

• Decreased and intermittent force of stream

• Sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.

BPH is one of the most widespread health conditions faced by men today, with the incidence rising to nearly 50% of the male population by the eighth decade of their lives. Moreover, countries like China and India are now seeing an exponential increase in BPH diagnoses as they increasingly adopt the Western diet, lifestyle, and medical system.

Current approaches include side effect heavy pharmaceuticals such as alpha adrenergic blockers and 5 a-reductase inhibitors, as well "gold standard" surgical procedures such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which so consistently produces surgery related impairments that there is an entire syndrome named after these side effects, namely, ​Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) Syndrome.

The human cost in both financial and existential terms is immense. This is why interest in safe, natural, affordable and effective alternatives is growing, and why the researchers felt compelled to test the hypothesis that eating flaxseed might provide an ideal alternative approach.  

In the randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study, three groups of men, aged 45-75, with newly diagnosed BPH and an American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) score of ‡ 13 , were given either a placebo, or a low or high dose of a lignin-rich flaxseed hull extract.

PROBIOTICS

More specifically:

"Study treatment consisted of 500 or 1000 mg of extract containing 100 mg (low-dose active [LDA] group, n = 26) or 200 mg (high-dose active [HDA] group, n = 26) of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), respec- tively. The placebo (P) group (n = 28) received matching maltodextrin capsules. Sixty subjects (LDA [n = 19], HDA [n = 20], and P [n = 21]) completed the study as per the protocol requirements. Change in the AUASI score within a period of 8 weeks, from baseline to end of treatment, was assessed."

The promising results were reported as follows:

"In this study, supplementation with the flaxseed hull extract provided greater relief than placebo in obstructive symptoms of BPH, such as sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, ''stopping and starting'' while urinating, weak urinary stream, and ''straining while urinating.'' Low and high doses of the flaxseed extract provided statistically significant improvements in the scores of these obstructive symptoms at week 8 as compared with baseline. In contrast to this, the placebo group did not show a statistically significant improvement with respect to these obstructive symptoms."  

The treatment group did not see any sign of increased side effects relative to the placebo group, indicating how remarkably safe flaxseed is versus conventional treatment. Also, because the placebo group also saw a significant improvement, it is possible that the strong placebo effect may have overshadowed the real power of the intervention. We hope that in the future a non-pharmaceutical industry funded study compares flaxseed to both pharmaceutical and surgical intervention to assess its true power.

PROBIOTICS

Another important observation is that the flaxseed groups saw an increase in free testosterone, as well as a decrease in the testosterone metabolite DHT, which is known to contribute to prostate growth both benign and malignant. The placebo group, on the other hand, saw both an increase in testosterone and DHT.  This also means that aging men, whose testosterone levels often plunge in relation to their estrogen levels, might experience additional hormonal benefits from eating flaxseed that could contribute to their overall state of well-being.

This syrup is simple to make and keep on hand for topping any sort of dessert, or adding to cold water for a refreshing soda.

Note: Adding the maple syrup to the berry mixture before fermenting yields a more fizzy, less sweet syrup.

One of the most common emails we see here at Simply Pure By Salisha is from people switching to new, cleaner routines and not getting the results they were hoping for right away. So, today’s Skin Saving tip for those transitioning into green beauty is to remember, many things can disrupt your transition from conventional to clean, however, one major cause, that we see almost daily, is that people are still using irritating products alongside their new, much gentler options OR, they are not using their new products exactly as directed.

While we never insist people buy everything  at once, we do strongly urge you to at least swap out the same areas of the skin together as using an irritating cleanser but then using a gentle lotion over, can sometimes be pointless as you are still irritating the skin with the harsh cleanser. When it comes to your face, it is most ideal to stop everything conventional entirely! Literally stop everything, and allow your skin that time to adjust, detox and rebalance. 

Many do not want to do this as they may have just purchased items or they’re not ready to give up their favorite lotion quite yet and that is fine, but we would suggest waiting to switch when you’re ready to fully commit as we can not guarantee the best results while irritating products are still being used and we hate to see customers waste money! So, our biggest skin saving tip would be to swap out items entirely, per skin region, to get the most bang for your buck.

Best Items To Swap Right Away

Ideally, you want to swap out entire regions together and if you can not afford to do it all at once, start with just a few simple items! For example, the face you really want to swap everything at once but if you can’t financially do that, start small! A gentle cleanser, moisturizer and exfoliator will take you a long way! Not sure where to start? Fill out our FREE Skincare Analysis form for a consultation with our licensed nutritionist by clicking here.

Below are some examples of regions we swap together, in order of importance, in our opinion.

1. Face- Cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, masks, SPF, face makeup, face wipes, anything that touches the face!
2. Body- Body washes, lotions, scrubs, detergents.
3. Hair- Shampoo, conditioner and hair care, as your scalp is a large area of skin.
4. Makeup- Things like eyeshadows, blushes, bronzers, brows, mascara, polishes can be done when you have the funds. They are important swaps, but the above is the priority for us!

Green Beauty Routines Can Be Disrupted Due To Many Reasons, The Main Ones Are

• Hormone disrupting medications like birth control.
• Pregnancy or hormone imblanances, in general.
• Untreated or underlying health issues and stress.(Contact Salisha for a Free nutrition consultation)
• Still using prescribed, topical medications like Retin A.
• Still using conventional skin care items, even if it’s just 1 item, it can throw things off significantly.
• Still using irritating face makeups that sit directly on the skin, foundations, powders, concealers
• Diet. If you are using a totally clean routine and are still suffering from breakouts, we encourage everyone to seek nutritio al help from a Holistic Nutritionist. A simple Biomeridian Test can easily identify what is causing stress to your system. Dairy, gluten, meats, eggs, some nuts, soy are also common trigger foods.
• Not following exact directions. We often see people overusing their new products. Using treatment soaps or chemical exfoliators more often than needed can absolutely irritate the skin
• Start with our Brightening Facial System to see for yourself how wonderful green beauty products can truly be for your skin and health!

Probiotics have been in your system from the very moment that you were born. When you travel through your mother’s birth canal during delivery, that’s when you were exposed to your mother’s bacteria for the very first time. This event started a cascade of events inside your gastrointestinal tract, your GI tract, and it started to produce good bacteria.

This rich gut microbial community is referred to as the microbiome, which plays a vital role in your immune system and overall health.

Now here’s a fun fact. The human brain weighs about three pounds, and a healthy human body will have about 3.5 to 5 pounds of probiotic bacteria and microbes. So, our bacteria are heavier than our brain, and they’re found primarily in our digestive system.

Did you know that our digestive systems are the second largest part of the neurological system? It’s called the enteric nervous system, and it’s located in the gut. That’s why it’s called our “second brain.”

In the past, the appendix was largely thought to be useless. But in 2007, Duke University researchers observed that when the body was under attack by pathogens, the appendix would release probiotic bacteria that would perfectly counter the specific type of invaders. Pretty cool, huh?

It’s vital to understand that the type and the quantity of bacteria/microbes in your gut interact with your body in ways that can either prevent or encourage the development of many diseases. The ideal ratio between the bacteria in your gut that are “good” is about 85% good and 15% “bad.” Maintaining this optimal ratio is essential for good health.

If this ratio gets out of balance for any reason, the condition is known as dysbiosis, which means that there’s an imbalance or too much of a certain type of fungus, yeast, or bacteria, that affects the body in a negative way.

By consuming certain types of probiotic foods and supplements, you can help bring these ratios back into balance. Remember? 85% good, 15% bad.

Not only does more than 70% of the human immune system reside in the gut, but the intestinal immune system produces more antibodies than the rest of the body put together. As a result, gastrointestinal secretions are rich as breast milk in health-promoting and disease-preventing factors.

Interestingly, the colostrum that you would get from mother’s milk has about 40% probiotic content.

Historically, we had plenty of probiotics in our diets from eating fresh foods grown from good soil and by fermenting our foods to keep them from spoiling. However, due to dangerous agricultural practices like soaking our foods with chlorine and also because of modern conveniences like refrigeration, our food contains little to almost no probiotics today, and most foods actually contain dangerous antibiotics that kill off the good bacteria in our bodies.

Raise your hand if you’ve had at least one round of antibiotics in your life. Okay, I saw everybody raising their hand. Just kidding, of course I can’t see you! But antibiotics are commonly used to kill infectious bacteria or to prevent an infection from occurring or spreading, such as after surgery. There’s no doubt that antibiotics have saved lives. But unfortunately, today, they’re prescribed like candy.

Also unfortunate about antibiotics is they cannot differentiate between the bad bacteria that may be causing the infection and the good bacteria that belong in your gut. Instead, antibiotics come through like a tsunami in your system, destroying everything in their path. They take a toll on the digestive system.

Many people with health issues, such as thyroid imbalances, chronic fatigue, joint pain, psoriasis, and even autism and many other conditions, do not realize that these illnesses originate in the gut. If we have a sufficient supply of probiotics, our body goes into more of a rebuilding and an anabolic state. But if we don’t have enough probiotics, we go into a decaying and a rotting state.

So, what can you do to ensure that you have an ample supply of good bacteria in your gut?

#1: Be sure to include lots of sour and probiotic-rich foods in your diet. Apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, raw milk yogurt, natto, kombucha, lots of different fermented foods.

#2: Do your best to avoid substances that can destroy probiotics, like sugar, grains, GMOs, tap water, and antibiotics.

#3: Take a high-quality probiotic supplement.

Bottom line: Probiotics are absolutely essential for our overall health. We die from disease and we die from malnutrition if we do not have probiotics in our system. Your immune system will not function properly if you don’t have a sufficient supply of probiotics, and neither will your neurological system.

Here’s to your health. God bless.

For help from a professional click here.

By Holistic nutritionist Salisha Peters

Enjoy!

Salisha

Detox Your Body by Giving Some Love to These Organs & Systems

1 – Detoxing Your Liver

The liver is sometimes referred to as the “CEO of detoxification.” It detoxifies the blood, produces bile to digest fat, works to break down hormones, and extracts essential vitamins and minerals the body needs. In addition, your liver also helps to produce some major substances needed to keep your immune system and the rest of you working smoothly, including glutathione − the “mother” of all internally-produced antioxidants.

There are many factors that lead to a sluggish liver, including environmental exposure to toxins, autoimmune conditions, obesity, and viral infections, just to name a few. If you do not have adrenal fatigue, consider a daily coffee enema using pesticide and mold-tested coffee. In addition, milk thistle, dandelion, and turmeric in tea or supplement form can help boost liver function.

Finally, during the length of your liver cleanse, be sure to eliminate all sources of toxicity from everything you “consume,” from food and sundry products to violent TV shows and negative conversations. Consider that your liver may have the job of processing out harmful “toxins” on all levels. During your liver cleanse, make it a point to remove these elements from your daily experience.

2 – Flushing Your Kidneys

An organ that works hand-in-hand with the liver are the kidneys. If the liver is the great detoxifier, then the kidneys are the “great filters” since they help to siphon out toxins and waste from the body. Have you known someone (maybe even yourself) who has had the unfortunate experience of passing kidney stones? If so, you probably know that besides being extremely painful, kidney stones may be a huge indication that it is time to give these tiny but important organs some love.

You can help your kidneys daily by staying hydrated and also staying away from processed foods. For a cleanse of the kidneys, consider healing juices that can be incorporated into your daily routine. Cranberries have been known to cleanse the body of excess calcium oxalate, one of the main substances in kidney stones. Be sure to use cranberry juice free of extra sugars, other juices, and artificial ingredients.

To help with the taste, which can be quite bitter, you can dilute the juice with filtered water and add a little organic stevia to it. Drink as much as you can throughout the day. Other fruits and veggies that can be juiced and are also great for the kidneys include beet, lemon, cucumber, spinach, green apples, and pineapple.

3 – Limbering Up the Lymph

Another system that doesn’t get much attention but is vital for the processing and elimination of toxins is the lymph system. The lymphatic system is an overarching network of organs and tissues that transport white blood cell-containing lymph fluid.

Many people have impaired lymphatic systems due to lack of exercise and poor diet. In addition, millions more may have lymph nodes and other parts of this system missing. It is common in traditional breast cancer therapy to remove some or all of the lymph nodes around the breast area.

In addition, until the early 1980s, it was common practice to remove tonsils as well as adenoids in children. There was a time when doctors felt these tissues were unimportant, but science now knows they are a vital part of the lymphatic system.

If you are missing some parts of this detoxifying system, you may need to spend extra time making sure that it is moving smoothly and doing its job.

When the intricate and interconnecting vessels of the lymph system become clogged, a serious condition called lymphedema can occur. Before that ever happens, however, you can do your part to keep everything flowing by practicing simple actions every day, such as regular exercise and staying hydrated.

For a deeper lymphatic detox, consider dry skin brushing, getting lymphatic massage, doing your exercises on a rebounder, spending time in a sauna or steam room (the heat will help loosen up the lymph), and eating to support your lymph system. Some key nutrients for lymphatic health can be found in foods such as flax seeds, lemons, sea kelp, dark green veggies, radish, and garlic. Key herbs include dandelion, burdock root, parsley, goldenseal, and myrrh.

4 – Repairing Your Gut

If you are in pretty good health, detoxifying the digestive system may be as easy as boosting up on quality probiotics to maintain and strengthen your digestive tract. If you have eaten the SAD (Standard American) diet for a while, have had your share of stress, and lead a mostly sedentary life, odds are that your digestive system will need a little more care and attention to get it back to its optimum performance.

Like the liver, the digestive system is connected to the health of the entire body. For example, upwards of 80% of your immune system cells reside in your upper GI; if it is unwell, your whole body may be. Gut imbalance has been linked to autoimmune conditions, autism, diabetes, and even cancer.

The good news is that tons of research has been done over the last 10 years into the inner workings and importance of the “gut microbiome.” This means you will have a lot of support at your fingertips for your GI tract detox. And most experts now agree that a periodic “gut cleanse” is a good idea since this not only gives your gut a rest, it also helps to “heal and seal” the GI tract.

There are many different types of gut cleanses, but most consist of eating a super-clean diet of unrefined, unprocessed, gut-friendly foods that are high in fiber as well as nutrients and healthy fats. These may include “prebiotic” foods like raw sauerkraut and bone broth, as well as turmeric powder, ginger, coconut oil, and steamed vegetables.

A Natural Detox Is as Unique as You Are

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways you can help to detox your body. Other popular types of cleanses or detoxes include gallbladder cleansing, skin detoxing, and emotional cleanses. Basically, anytime you decide to pare down, get simple, eliminate aggravating situations (which could be food or negative people), and focus on healing and repairing, you are helping your body to detox.

It may take a while to heal an imbalanced gut, a sluggish liver, or an inflamed kidney, so take your time and go at your own pace. Be gentle with yourself during your detox time. And remember, detoxing isn’t a race and it is isn’t “one size fits all.” It is a unique process that needs to be designed by you based on your body’s needs, ideally with the guidance of a holistic health practitioner.