There are a number of people that believe that when the body feels sluggish or out of sorts, a good detox or cleanse can help. What is a detox? A detox is a short term change in diet that is designed to help remove the toxins in the body to aid certain health problems or conditions. You may feel you need a detox if you’re out of sorts. It’s It often focuses on the liver and kidneys, the two primary detoxing organs. It provides the nutrition they need to be optimized, while also aiding in removing toxins.
What are toxins and what are the symptoms of overload?
Our environment is filled with toxins. Whether it’s heavy metals like mercury or pollutants in the air, you face toxins every day. Even some of the food we eat contains toxins. The EWG has a list called the dirty dozen that lists the fruits and vegetables that contain contaminants and pesticides, so unless you’re eating organic from a farm or garden you trust, you’re even subject to toxins with healthy eating. These toxins can cause inflammation, producing symptoms like fatigue, headaches, depression, anxiety, joint pain, bloating and constipation.
There are several ways to detox.
You can go on a detox diet, focus on healthy eating and detox drinks or simply fast for short periods. Intermittent fasting has been proven to provide benefits, but not necessarily because of detoxing. Fasting for one to three days, which is different from intermittent fasting, is another way. Some detoxes include limiting your intake to drinking specific liquids like fresh fruit and vegetable juice or lemon juice and water. Some detox diets are elimination diets that often eliminate allergenic foods. Some just eliminate bad habits, like smoking, drinking coffee or alcohol or cutting out refined sugar.
There’s even a popular move toward detox water.
Drinking water is good for you. You need 8 eight-oz glasses a day, especially if you exercise and sweat it out. It helps prevent mild dehydration that can affect your overall performance, cause headaches, body aches, memory problems and if severe, even death. 60% of the body is water. It’s been noted that dehydration in seniors is often mistaken for dementia. That’s easy to understand since 73% of the brain is water. To make water more palatable and add extra benefits, you’ll find slices of lemon, herbs, apples and other fruits and vegetables added.
- Exercise is normally part of a detox program. Sweating is one way to get rid of toxins. Just make sure you drink plenty of water when you do.
- Constipation is one problem that detoxing can solve, particularly if detox drinks are used. It adds fluid to hard stools to soften them and make passing waste easier.
- One important benefit that detox water can offer is energy. It’s not necessarily the additives that help, but the water itself. Water is the quicker picker upper when you’re tired. It’s even better than coffee in most cases.
- Infused water, often called detox water, can be even more complicated with actual recipes for flavorful water. Cinnamon, apple slices and a touch of apple cider vinegar provides flavor, nutrients but no calories. Some people drink water with slices of lemon or cucumbers to aid weight loss.
For more information, contact us today at LIV Fitness