Detoxification focuses on eliminating dietary and environmental toxins from your body, and then nourishing your body with healthy foods. The goal is to cleanse your body so that the organs that normally detox your body can do that job more efficiently. Body detoxification has been around for centuries.

Chemicals that we ingest through eating and breathing end up in our fat cells. If the toxins build up to the point that the liver, kidneys and intestines can’t eliminate them, then we risk symptoms like gas and bloating, skin problems, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, headache and body aches. Detoxing helps to cleanse the body of the overload of toxins and restores the body to balance.

This is a recipe for a simple detox drink by Emily. She uses cucumbers, ginger, cayenne pepper, lime juice, and one other ingredient. After prepping the ingredients, you run them through a juicer and you have a healthy detox drink. Emily also includes some helpful tips. How do these ingredients help with detoxing?

• Cucumbers contain citrulline, which is an amino acid that helps the kidneys and liver filter out ammonia. Our bodies produce ammonia during the process of body’s processing of protein for energy. Excess ammonia is bad for the body. Cucumbers are also excellent for rehydration and have anti-inflammatory properties. If you want more citrulline, you could try substituting watermelon for the cucumbers.

• Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory that cleanses the body by stimulating digestion. This helps to eliminate waste and toxins in the liver and colon. Ginger contains compounds called gingerols and shogaols, which provide anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic effects.

• Cayenne Pepper stimulates the circulatory system, kick starts the metabolism, and promotes sweating, all of which help in detoxification. Cayenne also aids digestion, helping the body to process both food and eliminate waste and toxins.

• Lime Juice also stimulates the digestive system, which helps with symptoms like constipation and excess gas. It promotes the production of bile and also thins out the bile. This allows it to flow more easily and to break down fats. Lime juice becomes alkaline in the body, which reduces inflammation. It also has a diuretic effect, which helps to eliminate toxins through increased urination. Many detox recipes use lemon juice instead of lime juice.

Click on the How to Make a Ginger Cucumber Detox Drink link below to see the complete recipe.