Take a hint from new year spring cleaning! Get rid of unwanted stuff that’s rummaging around inside your body! A detoxification plan is just the thing. What you need to do is find the one that’s tailored to your convenience, age, lifestyle and preferences.
What’s It All About?
Today, we’re flooded with celeb endorsements, TV ads and shows, flyers in the mail and posters in the doctor’s clinic, all touting the wonders of detoxification.
The concept of detoxification has been around for centuries, in various forms. Most religions prescribe regular periods of fasting, avoiding certain foods and beverages at certain times of year and consuming only a particular kind of food/beverage on certain days etc.
These are in fact, ancient, traditional processes of helping the body to rid itself of any accumulated toxins and harmful residues.
“Toxins” are the residue of the body’s daily energy utilization (endotoxins) or the ones that come in from outside (exotoxins).
- Endotoxins comprise compounds like urea, lactic acid, waste from microbes that inhabit your digestive system etc.
- Exotoxins include environmental pollutants, pesticides and mercury found in plants, meat, seafood, lead from vehicle-exhaust, chemicals in tobacco, parabens from cosmetics, phthalates from plastics etc.
Generally, these toxins are excreted through sweat, urine, feces or respiration. However, if there’s an overload, toxins are stored in the body in fat-cells, soft-tissue or bone and they can impact your health.
We need to take time off from processed, junk and fast foods, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, cigarette smoke, pollution and other harmful stuff that we pump into our bodies through the year. These toxins may create hazardous overloads that prevent your body’s natural defenses from kicking in, leaving you prey to weight-gain, bloating, fatigue, allergies, depression, etc.
Detox diets are best when prescribed by qualified health-care professionals, traditional healers or nutritionists. They need to be tailored to your individual profile, keeping your health status and goals in focus, while objectively evaluating the program for safety and efficacy. Otherwise, they can be ineffective or even harmful.
Sample Detox Diets
Generally, detox diets are based on the theory of toxification held by the author of the diet. They are restrictive in terms of the foods, eating habits and beverages that are deemed to be beneficial and they eliminate the foods deemed to be toxic.
They may range across:
- Single item diets : Fruit or veg fasts, soup/juice/liquid diets, color-coded foods/beverages
- Elimination diets: Salt, alcohol or sugar free diets, no-caffeine/no-carbs/no-fat/no-processed-food meals
- Phased/Regular consumption plans: Eating only at certain times, prescribed intervals
- Organic/Natural only: Certain foods like free-range eggs/chicken, organic fruits/veg/grains, pesticide-free/farm-fresh foods, unrefined sugar/flour etc
- Specific supplements: Herbal drinks, appetite suppressants, vitamin/mineral supplements, etc.
Are They Truly Beneficial?
Detoxification certainly boosts your sense of well-being and health. It also makes you mindful about what, when and how you consume. If you’re eating excessively to counter depression or stress, such plans help you break the habit. Most detox diets motivate you to supplement with exercise, get enough sleep and destress. You may also get into the habit of consuming more fresh foods, fruit and veg.
You learn to cut out unnecessary caffeine, alcohol and use appropriate substitutes for salt and sugar. Cooking without oil and eating healthy fats is another benefit that usually arises from detox plans. Natural home-remedies for common ailments are often included in these plans. Eating whole, clean, unprocessed stuff also helps boost energy and immunity.
Bewares
While there are huge benefits in taking a break from junk or processed foods, carbs and trans-fats, caffeine, salt and sugar, it’s important to understand your goals when you opt for detoxification.
If it’s weight-loss, be aware that most of the weight-loss post-detox is due to water-loss, burning of stored glycogen and other waste-products. Many of us regain this weight quite swiftly once we go back to our regular eating habits and life-style.
Experts recommend that those who opt for detox should ensure that they have no pressing health issues. They should also restrict themselves to only two or three days of the plan initially and then gradually increase to the complete requirements.
Certain detox plans can be extreme – for instance a liquids only plan – and they can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies if they’re not carefully monitored or they’re followed for extended periods.
Conclusion
Detoxification is a great way to cleanse your body of accumulated harmful wastes. But ensure that it’s a reliable plan, created by a health-care professional/dietitian/nutritionist. Make sure it’s tailored to your individual needs, goals and health status.
Best Detox Guides:
>>> Click Here For My “Red Smoothie Detox Factor” Review
>>> How to Have a Flat Belly through Detox
Related Posts:
==> 8 Simple Homemade Detox Smoothies To Cleanse Your Body
==> Smoothies for Detox: 5 Best Ingredients to Use
==> 5 Low-Calorie Ingredients For Your Own Weight Loss Smoothies
==> Five Steps to a Flat Belly through Detox
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