Full Body Detox – Guide to Detoxify Your Body & Find Inner Self

Are you feeling lethargic or out of sync? Or struggling with aches, skin problems, and digestive problems?

Can’t seem to lose weight, no matter what you try? If yes, then it might be time for a body detox.

What Is Detox?

Detoxification is the primary function of the body to neutralize, transform or get rid of unwanted materials or toxins.

So, when we talk about detoxification, it’s about optimizing and improving the function of your body’s detoxification system.

This is done by decreasing the amount of toxins in our bodies while at the same time supporting body’s detoxification systems with the nutrients, which it needs to function properly.

Now, let me explain how I understand body detox

We bath and wash our hair daily or every other day, we brush our teeth daily.

Why?

Because we like to look and smell clean as it makes us feel better and confident.

Similarly, detoxification is internal cleansing (for me, as I don’t know about others).

However, the problem is – It’s hard to know how well our liver is working, as it is the main detoxification organ.

Apart from secreting bile, liver acts as a filter for toxins and bacteria in the blood and chemically neutralizes toxins to convert them into substances which can be eliminated by the kidneys.

In other words, detoxification is all about resting, nourishing and cleansing the body from inside out.

It  can also help protect you from various diseases and renew your ability to maintain good health.

Wait!! Did I mentioned liver and kidney Cleanse? Okay, apart from:

• Kidney cleanse
• Liver cleanse

there are lot more other types of cleanse you need to do. Some are:

• Lung Cleanse
• Gallbladder Cleanse
• Intestine / Colon Cleanse
• Skin detox (Ex: Foot Detox)
• Blood Cleanse

When do you need to detoxify?

With more toxins in the environment than ever, everyone should detox at least once a year. However, nursing mothers, children, and patients with chronic degenerative diseases should stay away from it.

Also, consult your Healthcare Practitioner if you have any questions about whether detoxing is right for you or do you really need it.

You need to detoxify, if you’ve these symptoms

• Unexplained fatigue
• Irritated skin
• Sluggish elimination
• Puffy eye or bags under the eyes
• Low-grade infections
• Bloating
• Allergies
• Menstrual problems
• Mental confusion

Or if you’re suffering from

— Insomnia

Toxin build up is a common cause of insomnia. If you find it quite difficult to sleep at night, then it is high time for a cleanse.

As part of your cleanse, drink the juices of cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli.

— Lethargy

It often occurs with insomnia. If you feel lethargic most of the times, it is also a sign that your body is carrying unwanted weight in the form of undigested food.

And you need to detox now.

— Depression

It is widely known that certain patterns of thought can affect your body and make you feel depressed.

And this depression is also a sign of toxin build up in the liver, bowels, and brain. Eat orange and yellow food to avoid getting depressed. Some are Apricots, Papaya, Pumpkin, Grapefruit, Pineapple and Sweet Corn).

— Indigestion

Indigestion gives a bloated feeling that makes you feel like you’re pregnant (even if you’re a man 😉 ).

If you’ve common indigestion problems, there may be blockages which make proper functioning of digestive tract impossible.

— Stress

If you feel stressed out, then your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong. As it may be a sign that your body needs detox.

— Body Odor

If you just smell like a skunk (OK that was a bit of exaggeration) and you do not know the reason, then it may be time for a detox cleanse.

Because bad smell = detox time.

— Weight Gain

If you can’t seem to lose weight, it means toxins are building up in your body, which is the main cause of excess weight gain and your inability to lose it.

To get rid of those toxins, you’ll need a liver cleanse using fruits and vegetables in a liquid form (blended or juiced).

— Mental Fog

When your body is not able to function properly, then your brain will also not be able to function properly. This causes this results in inability to focus on tasks or mental fog.

However, a detox can fix this.

How to start a detox?

First things first, lighten your toxic load by eliminating alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, refined sugar and saturated fat from your diet.

As all of these are obstacles to your healing process.

Also, minimize the use of personal health care products like cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and tooth pastes and chemical-based household cleaners by substituting them with natural alternatives.

Another deterrent to good health is stress (with a big ASS), which triggers your system to release stress hormones.

These stress hormones can provide “adrenaline rush” to win a race or meet a deadline, but when they’re released in large amounts they slower down the detoxification enzymes in the liver.

What Are the Best Ways to Detox Your Body?

— Avoid the Excessive Intake of Sugar

Because this sugary habit can gift you diabetes, cancer, make you put on excess weight. So, follow a no sugar diet plan as it is also the best way to detox from alcohol.

— Drink Herbal Tea

Give preference to green or chamomile tea or go for turmeric or Oolong tea to ease out your digestive problems, instead of milk tea or coffee.

— Eat Organic Food

Ditch processed foods and go organic as it is the best way to detox if you really want to escape from the dangers of toxins.

— Exercise a Bit

Begin your day with exercise or go for walking, jogging, or cycling as regular exercise reduces tension, enhances digestion, and helps in losing those extra pounds.

— Exfoliation is the Word

Exfoliate your skin regularly. Dry skin brushing is the simplest and most effective way to detox your body.

— Add Naturally Detoxing Foods to Your Diet

By adding citrus fruits, green veggies and garlic to your diet can do the trick naturally.

How to detoxify your body with water?

Nothing supports body’s cleansing capacity like Water; the most potent natural detox ever known to Man. Whether by sweating, drinking it, or bathing in it, water has been in use since eons to expel toxins, and restore health.

But the first thing that comes to your mind is – How to detoxify your body with water? Scientific research has proved that you should consume water according to your size and weight and the place of your residence.

Water detox is easy to start with and is very much useful in cleansing away the toxins from the liver.

We’re familiar with the dangers of, even minor, dehydration. If your body is not sufficiently hydrated, then the cells will draw water from the bloodstream, which will pressurize and burden your heart

And when this happens, some of the kidney’s workload is transferred to the liver and other organs, and all this may cause them to be severely stressed.

As a consequence, minor health problems such as acne, constipation, dry and itchy skin, nosebleeds, urinary tract infections, sneezing, coughs, sinus problems and headache might develop.

Water fasts are praised highly and are regularly practiced by keen detox advocates. However, fasting is not to be taken lightly, because any fast longer than 48 hours should be medically supervised.

In addition to fasting, Steam and Sweat Baths have been in use for hygienic and health purposes.

Because sweating has proven  time and again its effectiveness in flushing out the toxins and maintaining optimal health.

However, you must keep in mind that excess of anything is bad for you. So, never ever drink huge amount of water in one go as it can cause stress to your internal organs such as kidneys and stomach.

Which type of water can help in getting detoxed?

Hard water is considered to be best for detoxing as it contains magnesium and calcium which is not present in distilled water.

But soft water does not have much of these minerals; rather they have the mineral content lesser than 120 mg/L.

It is due to the presence of magnesium and calcium ions that are present in the water that removes the toxins from your body and detoxes you.

These minerals also promote healthy fat and a metabolism that helps in burning a good amount of calories in your body so that you can lose weight.

But Magnesium doesn’t directly enhance weight and fat loss. Increased intake of this mineral can promote enhanced levels of free testosterone in the body.

Testosterone can reduce the levels of body fat and can increase the lean muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so this can help in weight loss.

Perfect Time to Drink Water

Of course, you need to drink water whenever you are thirsty, but there are some specific times of drinking water that is considered best for detox.

— Just after waking up

As you wake up in the morning, this is the best time to drink your first cup of water. Drinking soft water at room temperature just after waking up is good for the gut as it improves your digestive system.

— Just before meals

Drinking water just before taking your meals will help you from indulging in overeating. Drink water at a slow pace so that the stomach gets time to react and you feel full that keeps you away from overeating.

— After breakfast, before leaving for office

When you get ready after your breakfast for your regular work, this is the time when you can consume the maximum amount of water.

Drink water so that your body gets the required minerals and you can stay away from eating anything extra till lunch.

— After exercising

This fact is quite obvious that after you exercise and sweat, you feel thirsty and wish to drink water. During this time you should have something carbonated but not soda.

Carbonated detox drinks are the solution that you should try. It helps in breaking down the lactic acid in you and vanishes your fatigue so that you are ready for your next task soon.

Just before a good night sleep

It is recommended to drink soft water at room temperature or a bit warm just before going to sleep of 7-8 hours. This particular drinking time helps in maintaining the blood circulation in your body and also improving the metabolism that helps in losing your body weight.

Some Tips to Detox Your Body Without Starving Yourself

• Eat beets, radishes, asparagus, artichokes, cabbage, avocados, broccoli, and seaweed as they are excellent detoxifying foods.
• Cleanse and protect your liver by having herbs such as dandelions, milk thistle, and burdock, and drinking green tea.
• Add vitamin C to your diet as it helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that shoos away toxins.
• Using laxatives, enemas or colon cleanses.
• Abstain from drinking alcohol and coffee, smoking and eating refined sugar.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate through your system properly.
• Keep stress at bay and surround yourself with positivity and positive people.
• Sweat in sauna so that your body can eliminate wastes via perspiration.
• Dry-brush your skin or try detox foot spas to remove toxins through your pores.
• Exercise regularly. I prefer Yoga and jump-roping because when you’re on a detox diet, you can’t do anything which requires a lot of energy.

Here are Top 5 Detox Diets

• Smoothie Cleanse
• Simple Fruit and Veggie Detox
• Hypoallergenic Detox
• Detox Water Recipes
• Juice Cleanse
• Sugar Detox

Weight Loss and Detox Diets

Presently, very few scientific studies have investigated the effectiveness of detox diets for weight lose.

Some people might lose a few pounds quickly due to the loss of fluids and carb stores, rather than fat. Once you start eating normally again, this weight is regained as quickly as it’s lost.

The weight loss effects of “lemon detox diet,” were studied recently in some overweight Korean women.

The diet involves consuming only a mixture of organic palm or maple syrups and lemon juice for a week.

Results

• Reduced body weight
• Reduced body mass index
• Reduced body fat percentage
• Reduced waist to hip ratio and waist circumference
• Reduced markers of inflammation in the body

Well, weight loss and improvement in metabolic health is certain if a detox diet involves severe calorie restriction.

Unless you change your lifestyle, this type of “crash” dieting won’t lead to long-term results.

Overdosing of Detox Pills and Supplements

There is a lack of regulation in the detox industry, and many detox supplements and foods may not have any scientific basis.

Some detoxifying diets may pose the risk of overdosing on laxatives, supplements, diuretics and even water.

In worst cases, like this one, the components of detox products may not match their labels resulting in serious, and even fatal effects.

Does Detox Work?

Detoxification diets are popular, but there is a little to no evidence that they actually eliminate toxins from your body.

However, some people feel more energetic and focused during and after detox diets. Indeed, the liver and kidneys are generally quite good at their work of filtering and eliminating ingested toxins.

Then the question arises, why do so some people have claimed that they have benefited from detoxification? Well, it may be due to the fact that a detox diet helps to eliminate highly processed foods that have added sugar and solid fats from the system.

But, if you’re considering a detox diet, then get the OK from your doctor first. Because these diets have many side effects.

For example, detox diets that limit protein or that require fasting, might result in fatigue. The much talked about, long-term fasting can also result in mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

Colon cleansing (often recommended as part of a detox plan) can cause bloating, cramping, nausea and vomiting.

Dehydration can also be a concern.

Therefore, keep in mind that cleansing diets aren’t a good long-term solution.

For long lasting results, your best bet is eating a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean sources of protein.

Which Toxins are Eliminated? (Nobody has an idea about it)

Cleansing diets rarely identify the toxins they aim to remove or how they eliminate them. In fact, there is no scientific evidence that detoxification actually removes any “toxins” from your system.

More importantly, there is really not even a single evidence backing up the claim that our bodies are loaded with toxins and we need to cleanse it.

Well, in case you don’t know, our bodies are actually very capable of cleansing themselves, through the liver, sweat, urine and feces.

The liver can make toxic substances harmless, and then make sure that they’re released from the body. However, there are a few chemicals that may not be easily removed by these processes, and they’re persistent organic pollutants, phthalates, and heavy metals.

These chemicals tend to accumulate in blood or fat tissue and can take a very long time or even years, to get out of the body.

Possible Side Effects of Detox

— Hunger and Fatigue

It is not surprising to learn that hunger is a common complaint in people following a detox cleanse.

In addition to hunger, you might also feel tired while you’re on a detox cleanse, which in turn affects your activity level and decrease your metabolism.

— Unhealthy Weight Loss

One of the most common side effects of a cleanse is unhealthy weight loss. And you should know that you’re not losing fat weight with such a severe diet, but precious muscle mass.

This loss of muscle can make you feel weaker and further decrease your overall activity level. Also, the less muscle you have, the lower your metabolism, which will make it even harder for you to lose weight once you stop the detox.

— Gastrointestinal Side Effects

Diarrhea is a common side effect of detox cleanse. But the proponents of these types of diets claim that diarrhea is a sign of your body getting rid of toxic substances.

However, the main culprit behind diarrhea is the sugar in your fresh juice or an herbal substance in your detox tea, such as senna or dandelion, which can have a laxative effect.

Dangerous Side Effects

These cleanse diets can be unbelievably harmful to your health. For example, a long-term detox diet which is not closely supervised by a medical practitioner may lead to severe electrolyte imbalance, that can cause life-threatening heart problems.

Additionally, long-term use of a cleansing teas with a natural laxative may have a negative impact on your digestive system and create a dependency on laxatives for bowel movements.

— It is Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea

Some people should not even think about detoxification because of its potential impact on their health. For instance, a detox cleanse in teens can affect their growth and is not recommended.

People with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease, and pregnant women should also avoid these enticing diets.

Winding up

Now that you know what does detox mean, how is it beneficial and its side effects, then ask yourself, do you really want to do it or not.

Because everyone is unique and if your friend or colleague has benefitted from it, then it doesn’t mean that you’ll also be able to reap its benefits.

Also, the information presented in this article is for educational purposes only and is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling.

And if you’re considering a detox diet, then get then BIG OK from your doctor first. However, if a detox diet makes you start feeling better, then it is no doubt, a great thing.

This probably has nothing to do with eliminating toxins, but simply the fact that you’re putting less junk in your body.

Last but not the least, do share your views on what you think of detoxification and everything that comes with it.