Put
most simply, detoxing involves giving your body a break from anything
toxic, so that the body can work these toxins out of your system. The
outcome of a successful and well-planned detox is that you will
be likely to experience
- more energy
-
clearer skin
-
weight
loss (if needed)
-
brighter eyes
-
a stronger immune system
-
greater mental clarity
-
increased self-confidence
- and when necessary
a great boost against illness.
A detox basically cleanses your body, and makes
you feel like you are bursting with energy and on top of the world! So Why is Detoxing Necessary?
The body is constantly in a flux
of detoxing, however due to the
modern diet,
our heightened daily stresses, the toxic chemicals we ingest daily,
and the increase in chronic degenerative diseases the body often
needs a helping hand and to be cleansed so that it can work more
effectively to eradicate these toxins from the body.
Why Do So Many People
Detox to Lose Weight?
Although it may seem strange - fat is actually
saving your life! The body retains fats as a way to protect
the vital organs in the body from the toxins that we ingest (and
create through stress). It is literally a last resort, life
saving action to hang on to fat. However, this should give
you some indication as to how harmful these toxins must be as to
retain fat as a defence mechanism the body must be fairly desperate
- as we all know - excess fat leads to a whole host of other degenerative
conditions and diseases!
So when we detox and cleanse the body of toxins,
we give the body a chance to repair and strengthen itself - and
when the toxins disappear, guess what happens to the protective
layer of fat...yes, that disappears too!
What Does a Detox Do? A cleanse or detox helps to strengthen the
organs that the body uses to flush toxins from the body on a
daily basis. These
include
the skin, the lymphatic system, the intestines, liver, lungs, and
kidneys.
These toxins could invade the body from a variety of sources including
the environment, foods, drinks, stressful lifestyle (for instance
alcohol, tobacco, pesticides, heavy metals, food
additives,
oral
contraceptives,
and drugs).
Detoxing works because it gives your body
a break from the toxic excesses that modern life creates. By removing
the body's necessity to burn energy digesting heavy, sugar and
fat-laden meals and snacks that are difficult
to digest
and
metabolise,
and
which play havoc with blood sugar, your energy is released to
cleanse and regenerate your bodies tissues and vital organs.
Will I Need to Starve Myself?
A common misconception is that detoxing
or cleansing the body involves restricting your food and basically
starving yourself
for days on end. Not a very appealing thought, and you can
understand why the people who attempt this ill-fated approach often
fail and then renounce their new-found drive for a healthy lifestyle!
A perfect example of a slightly crazy, and
most definitely idiotic detox is the 'Lemonade Diet' popularised
in the 1990's and somehow
still being attempted across America today! This diet involves
consuming nothing but homemade lemonade (containing maple syrup!)
for anything up to 14 days and beyond, with the mantra - if you
feel hungry, just have another glass of lemonade! I'm sure
I do not have to explain the dozen flaws in this plan - but let
me assure you, a proper detox is about abundance, not starvation.
To give your body the tools it needs to
detoxify, cleanse and regenerate a detox must give the body even
more vitamins, minerals
and nutrients than normal. This is often achieved through
consuming fresh juices, soups and occasional supplements. A
bottle of lemonade simply doesn't cut it I am afraid!
As put perfectly on ivillage 'A
detox regime increases your intake of foods and drinks that serve
our
bodies
well as building
blocks...(and) provides protective antioxidants and simultaneously
cuts out those
habits that rob you of nutrients and optimal health.'
What If I Have a
Bad Day?
The most important
thing to remember is that if you have a bad day it is not the
end of the world and it should certainly not spell the end
of your detox. You should use this opportunity to think
about what went wrong, why you made the decision to move away
from your goal and use this as an opportunity to understand
how you will respond next time. Worrying about it will
do no good - so don't beat yourself up, see it as a positive
step towards improving your health.
What About Temptations?
There will always be temptation! The
best way to combat this is to address it before it becomes a
problem and two excellent techniques for doing this is to set
measurable and achievable goals and to create a list of all of
the benefits you will gain from following through with your detox
and all of the things you stand to lose if you do not follow
through. This list can then be copied and placed strategically
around the home, office and even your car! It is also a
good idea to run through the list and carefully consider each
point when you wake up (to set yourself up for the day) and before
you go to bed (to reward yourself and give yourself a pat on
the back!).
The list can include anything
you like, and can be spread over time - for instance, what will
life be like in 1, 5, 10, 20 years if you follow through with
the detox and start a new healthy lifestyle? If you achieved
your health goals, how would this affect you? And if you
did not achieve them, what would your life be like then?
The list could look something like this:
If I Achieve My Health Goals:
- I will have loads more energy to achieve the
things I want in life
- I will be able to spend more time playing with the kids
- I will be able to get up earlier and go running, swimming etc
- I will
have energy all through the day
- I will have the body of my dreams
- I will be able to attract the man/woman of my dreams
- I will be able to wear a swimsuit/swimmers this summer!
- My confidence will be through the roof
- I can buy that dress/suit/shirt I have always wanted
- I can start wearing shorts/a skirt!
If I do not follow through on my commitment to achieve my health
goals:
- I will be so fat/thin for the rest of my life
- I will have no energy
- My skin will be blotchy
- I will be bloated and heavy
- I will have no mental clarity
- I will still find it difficult to get up in the morning
- I will still be too embarrassed to wear x, y, z
These are only very basic examples to give you
an idea - you should really try to be as detailed as possible and
as emotionally charged as possible for yourself - throw yourself
into it and you will be surprised on how much of a motivating effect
it can have. Be graphic, aim high with your expectations!
Of course - another great way to avoid temptation
is to remove it! Clear your cupboards of ANY unhealthy foods...and
enjoy it! This is a great way to embrace your new lifestyle!
'Ouch, My Head Hurts!' Is
This Normal?
When detoxing people often
experience what is known as 'detox flu' or 'detox crisis'. As
your body is systematically cleansing itself of toxins and pollution,
this is the period during the detox that these toxins are being
eliminated from the body. Different people experience different
symptoms, but commonly they can include headaches, nausea, cold-like
symptoms (blocked nose, shivers etc), spots and pimples etc. Different
people also experience these symptoms in varying degrees of severity,
with some people not experiencing them at all! Fear not
though, as these feelings are never more than uncomfortable and
they rarely impact too much upon your normal daily routine. The
symptoms also usually occur between days 2-4, so it can be planned
that these days fall over a weekend, or even better a long weekend/holiday.
The best medicine is to drink lots of fluids to
help speed up the toxin flushing process, especially vegetable
juices or 'green drinks'. Have lots of rest and try to relax
- but remember, try to steer clear of pharmaceutical medicines
as these may end up putting more toxins back into your body.
As ever, always consult with a medical practitioner
before undertaking any new dietary changes and seek their professional
advice. If
symptoms persist - go to see your doctor!
Can I Continue My
Exercise Routine?
Some forms of exercise
are beneficial to cleansing and detoxing, such as gentle jogging,
walking or rebounding - however you should try not to place
undue stress on the body during this time. Click
here to find out more about the ideal forms of exercise during a
detox.
> Top
> Detox Plans
> Shop for Detox Products
> Home
|
