Body Detox 101

If you’re feeling sluggish, or you think you’re always full and the food has settled in your stomach, undigested. If you think you’re fat and need to lose weight. And if you think that you’ve ingested more than the allowed preservatives and additives into your body and your liver’s starting to show symptoms of abuse, then it’s time for you to go on a Detox program.

Detox or detoxification is the process of neutralizing or eliminating toxins from the body. Detox plans may be in different forms and ways – from regular exercise to body scrubs and spa massages, to yoga and meditation. But the simplest and the most common perhaps is to go on a detox diet.

A detox diet is a program that minimizes the chemicals ingested into the body by going for organic food. It highlights food like vitamins and antioxidants that the body needs for detoxification. It also involves taking in of food that will aid in the elimination of toxins like high fiber food and water. It generally suggests a high intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and lots of fluids, while cutting down on caffeine, alcohol, yeast and sugars.

So why go for a detox diet? If you’re a regular fast food chain eater, you’ve probably ingested many fat-soluble chemicals contained in the French fries, cheeseburgers, twisters and soft drinks you’ve consumed. An ‘overload’ of these chemicals in the body can lead to illness and conditions like liver malfunction, kidney problems, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies and inefficient metabolism. And the most common symptoms of these illnesses are the usual fatigue, poor skin and low tolerance to pain.

By going on a detox diet, people would have improved energy, clearer and fairer skin, a regular bowel movement, improved metabolism and digestion, increased concentration. Generally, it spells wellness and a better well-being.

A word of caution…though anyone is allowed to take on a detox diet, pregnant women or those who are nursing are cautioned not to go on such plans as they need the necessary nutrient for nursing. And unless recommended by a doctor, people with anemia, eating disorders, heart disease, low immunity, low blood pressure, ulcers, cancer, the underweight or those suffering from alcohol or drug dependency should try on a detox diet. Furthermore, such detox diet programs should be properly planned with the doctor and a nutritionist.

Side effects may occur within the first few days of starting the detox diet. There’s headache and a general feeling of weakness as the body is adjusting to the change in food intake. So it is recommended to start your diet plan gradually or on Fridays when you won’t be doing much physical activity or requiring much energy. Others may experience diarrhea as the body eliminates the toxins, so take care not to be dehydrated. Drink plenty of water.

Take note that such detox diet programs should not be done for a long time. They are normally recommended to be done at least one to two times a year, and should be done during the warm months.

If you’re thinking of getting started, make sure you consult a doctor or a nutritionist. Read up on detox diets and seek advice from the experts. Remember: Too much is bad. After all, you’re doing it to improve your health, not ruin it!

Detox is needed by the human body. As today’s environment, as well as highly processed foods contain toxins that are destructive to the immune system. These toxins are any substances which creates harmful and irritating effects to the human body. It can undermine the health or stress organ or biochemical functions.

Such alarming results are due to the side effects of taking any forms of drugs or changes in the physiology patterns that are normally different from the usual functioning. These free radicals usually irritate, inflame, age, and degenerate body tissues. Negative ethers, spiritual and psychic influences, negative emotions, and thought patterns are also considered as toxins. Thus, it stresses the body causing changes in normal physiology that produces specific symptoms. 

Keep in mind that the body needs to function in balance. However, it can be disturbed when the body takes more than what it can eliminate or utilize. Toxicity then occurs. It is dependent on the frequency, potency, or dosage of the present toxins. It can produce rapid or immediate occurrences of symptoms as been displayed by some drugs and several pesticides.

The imbalance being caused by these toxins can be distressful to your life which disrupts you of a sound mind and a good soul. Detoxing is very helpful so that you can purify your body from these harmful toxins regaining your beautiful outlook in life.

Detox also known as detoxification occurs on various levels. Physically, it is a process that can help in clearing illnesses, congestions, and potential diseases improving the body’s energy. Many detoxification processes are helpful in rejuvenating the body and preventing degeneration.

Detoxification of the mind is important. Cleansing the minds from negative patterns can improve the health of a person. Physical detoxification can also alleviate mental stress. It also helps in terms of emotional aspects of the person where he or she can express and uncover feelings particularly hidden anger, frustrations, fear, or resentments, and later on replace it with love, forgiveness, hope, and joy.

Cleansing processes can also enhance the purpose of a person about how they view life on a more spiritual level. Light detoxification within a few days can help the person in feeling better while a longer detox process can allow a deeper commitment on eating better diets and eliminating abusive habits.

Body detox is a portion of the transformational medicine which instills changes in various levels. Evolution and change are the keys to the person’s healing. Enhancing elimination can help in dealing with and clearing problems from the past, childhood as well as parental patterns, relationship or job stress. Toxic build-up elimination can make a person feel lighter and experience a new horizon of the future.

Well, detoxification can be done in simpler ways. Drinking extra quarts of water each day is good in eliminating more toxins. Eating more cleansing foods, vegetables and fruits with higher contents of water, and less protein foods are helpful in reducing congestion problems. There are other levels of progressive detox diets ranging from simple diets to total fasting. Nevertheless, don’t over detoxify yourself. Extreme fasting, enemas, diuretics, colonics, laxatives, and exercise can start losing the body’s essential nutrients. This also results to a negative balance where mineral-vitamin deficiencies occur which can cause problems in the future. Never forget to maintain the balance to have a better life.

You probably know by now what detoxification is and the ways that it can be done. A detox diet provides the simplest way to detoxifying yourself. A rule of thumb in detox diets: the more fiber and water, the better. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, beans and nuts. On the other hand, steer clear of caffeine, carbonated drinks, sugars like chocolates, alcohol and yeast.

Dr. Kiki Sidhwa recommends going on a monotrophic diet after a three-day fast. By monotrophic, we mean eating only one type of fruit for every meal. Example, for breakfast, you can eat apple. For lunch, try out oranges or pineapples. Eat until your hunger is satisfied. You can squeeze in a grapefruit juice at around 4 pm for your snack. And in the evening, eat only apples, pears, grapes or bananas.

Of course, this is just one of those do-it-yourself diet plans that you can take on when you’re on a body detox program. For most people, however, detox recipes are the best way to go. These detox recipes are especially designed to provide you with the necessary nutrient in the body and at the same time, providing you with the necessary antioxidants and substances that will cleanse your body from toxins.
For more fluid intake, you can try Ginger Healing Tea with Turmeric. What you need are the following: 2 cups of water, ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger, ½ teaspoon of tumeric, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and lemon extract. To make your special healing tea, add powdered herbs to boiling water and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea into a mug and add maple syrup and lemon extract. Stir and whalaaah--- you can start drinking!

For breakfast, you can try the vegetable super juice. This juice gives you the needed energy boost for your senses, wakens your digestive system and can keep you going until lunchtime. For starters, you need 1 whole cucumber, 4 celery sticks, 2-4 handfuls of spinach, 8 lettuce leaves. You can also add other green vegetables like parsley and fresh alfalfa sprouts. The process is easy and simple, juice all ingredients and add distilled water. You can also add lemon juice for better taste.

And now for lunch, try the Alkalising RAW Soup. All you need are 1 avocado, 2 spring onions, ½ red or green pepper, 1 cucumber, 2 handfuls of spinach, ½ clove of garlic, 100 ml of light vegetable Bouillon, lemon or lime juice and Bragg Liquid Aminos for added taste. Just like our vegetable juice, the recipe is simple and easy to do. Blend the avocado and stock to form a light paste. Add other ingredients and blend. And then you can start eating!

Our dinner treat is Warm Broccoli Soup. All you need is ½ avocado, 6-8 broccoli heads, 1/3 red onion, 1 celery stick, a big handful of spinach, inch of root ginger, cumin and bragg liquid amino for added taste. Lightly steam the broccoli for 5-6 minutes. After steaming, blend all the ingredients together and add garlic and pepper to taste. This is perfect for a cold winter night.

Feeling hungry still? These recipes are just few of the hundred other detox recipes available on the net. The key here is to pack yourself with enough water and nutrients to keep you going without ingesting a plateful of additives, sugars and food preservatives. So what are you waiting for? Start eating healthy!