Workout Wednesday: Detox Baths

There are tons of reasons to take a detox bath and I didn't realize the importance of it, until one of my friends told me about them. As a runner, it was something that became very important to my body as I ran farther distances.

There are lots of recipes out there. In fact, you can find 100s of recipes on Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=detox%20bath). The one I like best includes the three ingredients above.

2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup Epsom Salt, 1 tablespoon (or more) ginger, essential oils (optional)

Baking soda: It’s been said that this bath can help you de-stress. It’s important to look at stress as a toxic condition, and to look at ways of relaxing as a way to detox the body. The scientific way of referring to baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, and it’s great for neutralizing the chlorine that’s been added to most city water sources. It’s hard to detox in a bath that is full of a toxic chemical, so it’s good that this makes it naturally cleaner.

Epsom Salt: Epsom salts are great to have around the house because they have many uses when it comes to your health. One of those is to put them in the bath with you so that it is drawing out toxins while you are relaxing in a hot bath. Epsom salt is said to be able to help with the circulatory system as well as improving nerve functions. Taking a regular epsom salt bath is a relatively easy and painless way to improve your health and well-being. Here’s an easy step by step on how to draw a bath relying mostly on epsom salts.

Ginger: Ginger Detox Bath- Ginger is a root that has plenty of healthy properties when you eat it, but it can also be used in other ways to help the body, like making a ginger bath. They say you can use different forms of it, either grating fresh ginger into the bath or sprinkling in some ginger powder. The author of the recipe says that it’s a way to get the body to sweat a lot more and get an extra amount of toxins out, similar to taking a sauna or sitting in a steam room. They say it led to feelings of increased energy, feeling cleaner, and kicking the symptoms of an oncoming cold.

1. Add 2 cups epsom salt  to a standard tub full of water. If your tub is bigger, add more.

2. Ideally, you want the water quite hot as we are looking to create a nice sweat.

3. If your bath water is not filtered, add 1 cup of baking soda as this helps neutralize the chemicals, primarily chlorine, as well as increase mineral absorption.

4. Immerse yourself in the water, all the way up to your neck. You want as much of your body underwater as you can. Close your eyes, do some breathing exercises and soak for at least 20 minutes.

5. Once you are done soaking, rise out of the tub very slowly and cautiously. You may feel a little dizzy and light-headed, this will go away as you shower off quickly in cool water.

6. It is important not to use harsh soaps or shampoos as your pores are open and will just absorb the chemicals found in those products.

7. Once dry you can apply a natural moisturizer like body butter, shea butter or coconut oil and somealuminum-free deodorant, but again no lotions with perfumes, dyes or chemicals.

8. Do not eat immediately before or after taking a detox bath.

9. Instead hydrate yourself with filtered water before and after.

10. Allow time after your bath to rest and rejuvenate.

Many of the seasoned runners all agreed: Epsom Salt Bath was tops on the list. Recipes varied as to how much salts to add to the bath water, but the general consensus was “more isn’t a bad thing.”

Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate, have been used for hundreds of years to ease aches and pains from muscle over-exertion. It draws out the toxins in our bodies, helps us to relax and promotes the absorption of essential nutrients. Yes, by soaking in a bath you can help your body absorb more nutrients from the food you consume – our skin is, after all, our largest organ and absorbs everything we put on it. This report from the Epsom Salt Industry Council shows that bathing in Epsom salts is an easy way to increase the levels of magnesium and sulfate in our body.

I piped up and mentioned that we receive added benefits by including baking soda in the bath water as well (it softens the water, neutralises the toxins that are being drawn out and allows us to better absorb the magnesium in the Epsom Salt). And if you REALLY want to detoxify, toss in some ground ginger which will cause a massive amount of sweating (beginners should add < Tablespoon of ginger, and work their way up with the amount).

The recipe I am most experienced with came from Mind Body Green and is included below:

• 1 cup epsom salt
• 1/2 c baking soda
• 4 T ground ginger (more or less depending on your tolerance)
• Essential oils of choice, optional (I used tea tree oil, but lavender is another good option)

Fill your bathtub with hot water – as hot as you can tolerate it. Once it fills about half way, sprinkle in your ingredients and give it a few big stirs with your hand to help it all dissolve. Once it’s full, get in and submerge yourself to your neck. Soak for at least 20 minutes but you can stay in as long as 40 minutes. The first 20 minutes is to extract toxins while the second 20 minutes is when the body begins to absorb the minerals. Beginners can soak for a total of 20 minutes and work their way up over time.

Important Note: Do not take hot baths and salt baths (including Epsom salt baths) if you have heart trouble, high blood pressure, or are diabetic.