The word detox gets thrown around left and right these days. Particularly at this time of year when we’re all trying to start off a new year on the right foot and set ourselves off for a healthy summer with our best bodies ever. But most people who detox tend to focus on the physical benefits. Our tummies get a bit flatter. Our skin glows a bit brighter.

But what about our brains? It’s crazy that we manage to forget about what is probably one of the most important parts of our bodies. When we have an overload of toxins in the body thanks to inflammatory foods, medications, heavy metals, chemicals, tobacco, alcohol, pollutants and other wellness baddies, our detoxification pathways focus all of their energy on removing these harmful substances, and the metabolically active organs like the heart, the muscles and, of course, the brain start to suffer.

This energy diversion away from the brain has a number of unpleasant knock-on effects. Not only do we feel generally unwell, but we are also likely to experience chronic fatigue and weakness. Additionally, our brain’s ability to process will be slowed, and we can even experience cognitive difficulties. Pretty terrifying, don’t you think?

And now that we’ve scared you, we certainly aren’t going to leave you hanging with this horrifying knowledge. As usual, we’re coming to you with some excellent suggestions for how to detox for brain health. With these simple tips, you can detox your brain from the negative effects of toxins, inflammation and contaminants.

As you might have expected, eating lots of fruits and vegetables is amazing for your body and your mind. But you have to make sure to eat with diversity! Think about tasting the rainbow when you are making your meals. Each colour of each fruit or vegetable represents different nutrients and vitamins, so be sure to fit in as many brightly coloured fruits or veggies as possible. And though we love just about every type of fruit and veg under the sun, it is possible to have sensitivities to certain foods, even our beloved bananas or peppers. Doing an elimination diet is a smart way to find out what sits well with your body and what doesn’t. When you eliminate foods that you are sensitive to, you will reduce inflammation in your body and aid in detoxification. Another good thing about it? It will also help you lose stubborn weight you’ve been holding onto.

Though you may have heard from many people that carbs are evil, we’re here to tell you otherwise. Complex carbohydrates are actually an important energy source for the brain. Opt for whole grains that are nutrient-dense, like the quinoa in our Middle Eastern Tabbouleh Salad or our Cauliflower, Lima Bean, Paprika & Red Quinoa Soup. Did we peak your interest? Increase your appetite? Well, luckily you can have either of these (or any of our super nutritious products) to your door in 30 minutes thanks to Deliveroo and UberEats.

And whether or not you’re eating fruit and veg or complex carbs, it’s important to practice interval eating patterns. Intermittent fasting will allow your body to take a break from its regularly scheduled digestive programming and divert energy to its detoxification pathways. You can do three-day long fasts or simply narrow your daily eating window. Whatever works best for you is best to do!

Minimising your exposure to contaminants and toxins from the get-go is very beneficial, so that’s why we always go for organic here at TCPJ. This reduces our exposure to pesticides, farm chemical residues and herbicides. We have the same mentality when it comes to our home cleaning products and personal care products as well. Removing potential toxins from the outset is as important as ensuring you have a daily movement practice. It doesn’t matter if it’s walking in the Vondelpark, boxing at Underground or simply biking to work. Sweating is a great way to detox your brain and your detox pathways. Though indoor exercise is great, aiming to have at least 20 minutes outside in nature every day is also crucial. Studies have shown that being immersed in nature reduces anxiety and stress, lowers heart rate and blood pressure and improves mental clarity. All of this will help the brain and the body during detoxification.

And, as you may have expected, the last essential elements for improved detoxification for brain health are some of the things we’ve been telling you all along! Make sure you are well-hydrated and sleep at least seven or eight hours each night. When you are properly hydrated, your lymph and blood will flow through the kidneys as they should, encouraging more toxic elimination through urination. And when you enjoy that wonderful, deep sleep, your brain is infinitely better at repairing the cellular damage that is cause by toxins in the body.

So, whether you choose to take one of our suggestions or all of them, taking even a few small steps will help encourage detoxification in the body and boost your brain power and health. And that is truly a wonderful thing.