Summer's in full swing, and now is the time most people want to get their body looking fabulous. But don't you want your body feeling fabulous, too?

(ENLARGE)

Every minute of every day, your body performs detoxification and cleansing processes to remove toxins that are clogging up your system. Stress, poor eating habits and general environmental pollutants all play a part in your body's buildup of toxic baggage.

You can help your body drop that baggage by jump-starting a detox of your own! By doing so, you'll see an improvement in your skin condition, energy levels, sleep, weight maintenance and mental clarity, said Arthur Price, of Jack's Natural Foods in Longview.

Change your lifestyle

"To begin a detox of your system, do whatever is in your own power to stop toxins from entering your body," Arthur said. "No, we can't eliminate the pollutants in the air, but we can stop smoking. We can stop eating fatty foods. You must put an end to anything you're doing that you know can be harmful to your body ... then you can start cleansing yourself."

Pick an amount of time — usually about five to seven days — that you will stick to this program. Then, on the first day, begin eating hypoallergenic foods. By eating a diet low in allergenic foods, you'll give your body a break so it can focus on cleansing itself.

Good foods:

Brown rice; fresh vegetables such as artichokes, pepper, broccoli, cucmber and spinach; fresh fruits such as berries, apricots, kiwi, mangos and peaches; condiments such as garlic, cayenne pepper and ginger; fish such as salmon, halibut and mackerel; tofu; and herbal teas

Things to avoid during detox:

Meat, dairy, shellfish, wheat products, alcohol, sweets

Supplement your life

Below is a chart of vitamins, minerals and supplements that play an important role in body detoxification. Once you begin to eat right, take your vitamins and drink lots of water, you're body will be on its way to being refreshed, recharged and ready for summer!