Why should I cleanse or detoxify my body?
Toxins are in our environment, our foods, even in our minds, and eventually collect in our bodies.
There they can:
- cause inflammation,
- make us feel sluggish,
- cause bloating and headaches,
- prevent us from being able to lose weight,
- and even cause serious illness like heart disease and cancer.
How do I go about freeing my body from toxins?
To successfully detoxify your body, you must approach it in several ways:
- cleaning up your diet from processed foods, sugar, and caffeine or fasting,
- stress-relief in the form of breathing and meditation exercises and / or yoga,
- flushing out the toxins by drinking lots of water, taking hot / cold showers, sauna visits, and massages,
- and journaling to identify toxic behaviors or relationships in our life.
Are there reasons not to go on a detox?
Yes, there a reasons you should avoid going on a fast or detox.
Some of them include:
- if you are pregnant or nursing,
- if you are taking medication for a chronic condition,
- have cancer or another terminal illness,
- have mental illness,
- have hyperthyroidism,
- or have an autoimmune disease.
You also probably shouldn’t start a detox if you are feeling sick or have a busy and stressful time ahead of you.
To fast or not to fast?
Personally, I have never tried a fast. Being used to eating at least 5 meals a day and not being able to do anything without starting the day with breakfast, I cannot imagine not eating. A fasting detox will always be shorter than an eating one and for some people they work well.
A detoxification with organic, unprocessed foods will give you a chance to learn about good nutrition and see how good it can make you feel. It can also prove to you that those cravings for unhealthy foods go away. The transition to eating a normal diet is also easier than transitioning from a fast.
The detoxification I’ve tried before included a lot of liquids like vegetable juices and broth, and rice protein shakes. At first it was hard to feel satiated from "liquid food" even though they provided the same calories and nutrition solid food provides.
The first couple of days are the hardest, as you may experience fatigue, headaches, and other withdrawal and detoxification symptoms. After that it does get easier, though, and your energy and mood will improve.
It is important to get lots of rest and incorporate all the parts of a detox mentioned above.
The detox I followed for 5 weeks last year was " The Detox Box" by Mark Hyman, M.D.
I highly recommend you read some of Mark Hyman M.D.’s books as well.
books as well.Read my other posts on detoxification.
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