Summer Detox Tips: Supporting Your Gut Health after Vacation Indulgences

Have you ever felt like you needed a detox after vacation? We’ve all been there– maybe you indulged in too many yummy (yet not so gut-friendly) foods during a Fourth of July trip, and you just want to get back to feeling like yourself again. 

It can be difficult to maintain your healthy habits while on vacation, and getting your body back to normal may seem like a distant goal.

Your body is SO resilient and you will feel back to normal. Your body just needs a little extra support right now is all!

Here are our favorite summer detox tips to help reset your gut after vacation and get you feeling amazing ASAP:

What Is a Detox?

A detox, or detoxification, is essentially the process of your body ridding itself of toxins and other nasty substances that it doesn’t like! Detoxification is INCREDIBLE for the body, as it helps:

• Eliminate toxins
• Boost energy levels
• Improve overall well-being
• And more! 

The body has multiple different natural methods to detoxify your body, such as sweating, breathing and urinating. There are also some things that you can do to give your body an extra boost when needed!

It is important to note that not all detox techniques are created equal. For example, only drinking celery juice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will do more harm than good. 

On the other hand, drinking water throughout the day and eating a balance of nutritious foods are two amazing strategies to start a summer detox!

Looking for Summer Detox Tips? Read On!

Drinking LOTS of water:

It is so important to go beyond drinking water only when you’re thirsty, because it is NOT enough to keep you adequately hydrated, let alone flush those nasty toxins from your system! 

The more water you drink, the more you urinate and the more toxins you sweat out of your system (especially during these hot summer months!)

Keeping a water bottle with you at all times and incorporating hydrating fruits and veggies into your diet, such as watermelon and celery, will help aid in the detox process due to their water content.

P.S. you’re likely dehydrated after vacation, girlfriend… so bottoms up!

Eating detoxifying foods:

Certain foods are better than others for eliminating toxins from your body. Nutrient-dense foods like fruits and veggies in general are unsurprisingly AMAZING for detoxification!

For example, lemon helps the liver process toxins and other substances, while also acting as a cleanser for the kidneys. Other foods that aid in detoxification include bitter-tasting foods like arugula, dandelion greens, leeks, onion, shallots, endive, citrus peel, cruciferous veggies, and fiber-rich veggies!

Reducing sugar and processed foods:

As a whole, processed foods and foods with lots of added sugar don’t help the body get rid of unwanted substances, and they also elevate inflammation in your system, which is the last thing you need if you want to reset your gut after vacation.

While all foods should be eaten in moderation, eating mostly fresh, whole foods will make you feel amazing while also helping you detox after vacation! 

Moving your body:

Believe it or not, exercise plays a HUGE role in how well your body is able to detoxify. For example, engaging in vigorous physical activity can help you release more toxins just by breaking a sweat!

In addition, exercise also helps increase your blood circulation, which then helps your kidneys eliminate toxins even more! AMAZING!

We encourage you to move your body in some way after coming home from a trip (even if you may not feel like it!), whether it be going on a bike ride around your neighborhood or going on a hot girl walk outside! :)

Supporting Your Gut Health Overall

Keeping your gut happy and healthy goes beyond just the summer and after going on vacation, so it’s important to keep these tips in mind to incorporate into your daily routines!

Consuming lots of foods and/or supplements that contain probiotics is a GREAT starting point for maintaining your gut health! Probiotics help boost the amount of good bacteria while helping to balance out the bad bacteria in your gut. Some probiotic-rich foods that your gut will thank you for include Greek yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut. Not all probiotic supplements are created and personalization is important. Take THIS QUIZ to learn the kind of probiotic YOU need!

Fiber is another essential component for supporting your gut health because it helps keep things moving in your digestive system, which helps to prevent constipation. If you experience constipation while traveling (which is SUPER common), eating fiber-rich foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits, and veggies will help your digestive system get back on track!

When it comes to healing your gut, don’t forget herbs and spices! Herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric are FANTASTIC for combating inflammation in your gut. Try throwing a teaspoon of turmeric powder + a sprinkle of black pepper into a smoothie for some amazing anti-inflammatory benefits!

Creating Healthy Habits for the Future

Going on vacation is all fun and games until your gut feels less than optimal– that is why a post-vacation detox can feel SO GOOD for maintaining summer wellness and healing your gut! Using these holistic techniques to detoxify your body will help you flush all those nasty substances out of your system, while also healing your body from the inside out!

Want to heal your gut and prevent feeling constantly bloated this summer? Check out our 21 Day Summer Meal Guide for recipes and meal inspo, specifically created to be bloat-free! Take the confusion out of nutrition this summer and feel amazing!

We hope that these tips help you establish long-term healthy habits beyond just the summer months so that you can be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself! :)