Quitting smoking is an important first step to cleansing thenicotine and toxins from your body. But even after you kick the habit, residuecan linger for weeks or longer. To help scrub your system clean, incorporatethese 9 cleansing strategies into your routine.

 

1. Flush Out Nicotine with Exercise

Aerobic exercise gets your lungs pumping hard, helping toflush lingering nicotine residue. Try going for regular 30-minute walks, evenshort 5-minute walks several times a day. Moderate cycling or swimming aregreat options too. Pay attention to your breathing—take full deep abdominalbreaths, holding each inhale for 5 counts before a long exhale. Deepintentional breathing maximizes oxygenation to stimulate detoxification. Thosewith lung conditions should clear chosen activities with their doctor and modifyintensity appropriately.

 

2. Hydrate with Pure, Clean Water

Staying well-hydrated is key for flushing toxins. Aim for atleast 64 ounces (8 cups) of steam distilled, purified or natural spring waterdaily. You may need more if exercising vigorously. Install a filtration systemto remove impurities if drinking unfiltered tap water. Infuse your water withfresh lemon, lime, orange slices or mint leaves for a refreshing, cleansingkick. The citric acid and antioxidants aid detoxification.

 

3. Drink Fresh Vegetable & Fruit Juices

Enzyme and antioxidant-rich fresh juices aid cleansing bystimulating liver detox pathways. They also help restore nutrients depleted bysmoking. Excellent options include straight carrot and beet juice orcombinations like apple-beet-carrot. Apple, pear and citrus juices offervitamin C. Have at least one 8-12 ounce glass of fresh juice daily, ideally onan empty stomach first thing in the morning. Those sensitive to sugars shouldmoderate fruit juice portions.

 

4. Try a Juice Fast

An intensive way to accelerate detox is a short vegetablejuice fast. Thisfloods your system with cleansing phytonutrients while givingdigestion a rest. Speak to your doctor before attempting. Start by juices onlyfor 1-3 days, slowly reintroducing solid foods after. Be aware of possible sideeffects like fatigue, headaches or cravings. Listen to your body and stop ifyou feel unwell.

 

5. Load Up On Vitamin C

Smoking rapidly depletes vitamin C reserves so significantlyboosting intake aids cleansing. Aim for at least 500mg daily through whole foodsources like red bell peppers, dark leafy greens, broccoli and citrus fruits.Consider a vitamin C supplement as well but start low like 500mg and increaseslowly if well tolerated. Vitamin C clears nicotine by-products while shieldingcells from ongoing damage.

 

6. Take Targeted Detoxification Supplements

Certain supplements aid cleansing by supporting liverdetoxification pathways. Milk thistle, NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) and alpha lipoicacid specifically help the liver clear nicotine residue. CoQ10 shields cellmitochondria from oxidative damage. Vitamin E and selenium bolster antioxidantprotection. A B-complex supports stressed adrenals and mood. Speak to ahealthcare provider about suggested doses and finding quality brands.

 

7. Sip Soothing Herbal Teas

Herbal infusions like chamomile, passionflower, mint, lemonbalm and licorice root make excellent nicotine detox allies. Their antioxidantsmop up lingering free radicals while calmative compounds ease anxiety,irritability and cravings. Slowly sipping these teas 2-3 times daily has aserene, grounding effect. Those on certain medications should exercise cautionwith passionflower and licorice.

 

8. Stimulate Sweating

Gentle sweat-inducing activities help expel toxins throughskin. Hot yoga, low impact cardio, dry saunas and Epsom salt baths encouragewaste elimination. Be sure to shower after sweating to rinse residue frompores. Additionally, pungent foods like garlic, onions, ginger and cayennepepper can stimulate circulation and cellular detox pathways. However, thosewith digestive issues may need to avoid.

 

9. Add Grape Seed Extract

A powerhouse antioxidant, grape seed extract bolstersinternal cleansing efforts. It specifically supports liver pathways thatdeactivate and eliminate toxins. As an added benefit, it helps restoreantioxidant status depleted by years of smoking induced oxidative damage.Standard doses are around 100-300mg daily. Those on blood thinners or withsurgery scheduled should avoid.

 

The path to full cleansing post-smoking takes perseverancebut reaps huge benefits for lung health, vitality and wellbeing long-term. Bepatient, yet consistent in supporting your body’s natural detoxificationcapacity with the help of these targeted cleansing strategies. Within 1-2months you’ll really start noticing positive changes!

 

Credit: Natural Cures

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You can also learn more about health and nutrition by joining our group Lung, COPD and Health Examiner.

A great method of easing COPD, lung symptoms, and mucus build-up is by going through our Mullein Lung Detox Programme.