We all hear the talk about cleansing and detoxing to get rid of the harmful chemicals and poisons inside our bodies. And although a cleanse may be a good way to get rid of body toxins, your body is also built to detox on its own. Here are 10 things you can do to boost your body’s natural detoxing power:

1. Drink water to stay hydrated.

Proper water intake keeps body salts balanced. Water is part of every metabolic process in your body. Water flushes your body of toxins. Check the color of your urine to find out if you are getting enough water. It should be pale yellow. If it is darker than that, drink more water. The “right” amount of water varies by person and the environment they are in but for most people, about a gallon a day or more is necessary.

2. Eliminate sugars and artificial sweeteners.

I’ve often written about the evils of sugar. The body lacks the nutrients used to metabolize the vast amounts of sugars and artificial sweeteners consumed by most Americans. This results in toxin build up throughout the body, especially in the nervous system and brain. Stay away from sugar unless it is natural to the food you eat (and no more than one piece of fruit a day…your body does not need fruit to be healthy).

3. Sweat.

Breaking a sweat every day is a great way to help your body eliminate toxins. Sweating eliminates excess body salts and other nasty poisons from your body. Exercise each day. It helps your body sweat out poisons and it relieves stress.

4. Stop eating prepared and processed foods.

Foods that come in cans, jars, bags or boxes are generally foods to avoid. The longer the food shelf life, the more it can harm your health. These foods are packed with GMOs, trans fats, added sugars and in many instances chemicals, all of which destroy the body. I advocate that people eat a Paleo diet, and I’ve even published a free eBook titled, The Natural Heart Health Guide to Grocery Shopping, to help people make the right food choices.

5. Eat vegetables and nuts.

Green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds stimulate your digestive track to eliminate toxic body waste. Stick with green, fresh, organic vegetables, as non-organic vegetables have been treated with pesticides that harm your body. Learn more about the health benefits of nuts and seeds.

6. Sleep.

Proper rest is essential to proper body function. The body rejuvenates itself during rest. Sleep 7-9 hours a day.

7. See a chiropractor regularly.

Body toxins collect in pressure points and other areas of the body. Proper manipulation and stimulation of these areas “release” body toxins, allowing them to be naturally eliminated from the body. Chiropractors treat patients through the manipulation of the musculoskeletal system, making them an ideal choice to help naturally eliminate body toxins.

8. Drink green tea instead of coffee.

A little caffeine is OK. Just a little. Change from coffee to green tea. You can get some caffeine from green tea while getting natural antioxidants that your body needs for natural detoxification.

9. Fast for a day or two.

Give your internal organs time to rest and rejuvenate. Fasting for a day or two once every two months means that your organs don’t have to work to digest food and process food related toxins. Fasting allows them to recharge, leaving you with less toxins and a healthier, more effective digestive system. Replace foods with an organic greens drink while fasting and see how much better you feel when you are done!

10. Use natural methods to take care of yourself.

Your goal should be to always use natural methods to take care of yourself. Sure, in life-saving instances, medications may be necessary. However, for the most part, medications are artificial chemicals viewed as toxins by the body. All disease is caused by poor nutrition and chemicals. If we eat the right foods and avoid toxic chemicals, we prevent disease. Our planet has become so polluted we also need organic natural nutritional supplements for healthy living.

Learning to take care of yourself the right way is a big step to keeping your body free from damaging toxins. Do the right things to help your body detox naturally for healthier living.