Every day your body is assaulted by toxins. They come from the food you eat, your personal care products like shampoo, deodorant and cleanser, and include habitual abuse from cigarettes, sugar, trans fats and alcohol. You should detox about once a year to help perform at its best. Detoxing isn’t a new science but has been used for centuries in many cultures as part of their medicine. It does more than just cleanse the body and eliminate toxins; it gives your organs a rest.
Start by preparing your body for a detox.
Cut back or eliminate cigarettes, coffee, refined and processed food, sugar and even reduce the amount of household cleansers and toxins you use. Focus on finding a day or two that you can spend time at home and eliminate much of the stress you face on normal days. Stress not only produces hormones that can create toxins, they slow the act of detoxification. If you don’t have a technique to deal with stress, like meditation, deep breathing or yoga, consider learning one so you’ll be ready for a detox, but don’t wait to do it if you don’t have a technique, just focus on relaxation.
Find a detox program that works best for you.
There are many types of detox programs from detoxing with vegetable and fruit smoothies, eating just fruits and vegetables, doing a juice cleanse or a water fast. Choose one that works for you and the amount of time you can devote to the detox. Don’t attempt to detox when your schedule is crowded. Much of detoxing is about self-care and relaxation.
You give your digestive system a rest when you detox.
It’s not all about flushing out toxins. Detoxing also gives your digestion a break. When animals are sick and normally when people are, you’ll notice they often quit eating for a short time. That’s a form of detoxing. However, detoxing before you become ill has other benefits. It helps boost elimination through the kidneys, intestines and skin, improves circulation and causes the liver to be more active in removing toxins from the body.
- Not all detox programs are safe, nor are all detox products. Beware of detox programs longer than a day or two that severely restrict caloric intake. If you’re diabetic, nursing, pregnant, have a serious medical condition or taking medication, always check with your doctor before starting any program.
- If you’re detoxing with fruits and vegetables, choose food high in fiber, such as cabbage, broccoli and beets. Make sure you drink plenty of water, particularly if you’re upping your fiber intake. Remember, increasing fiber abruptly can also cause digestive issues and gas, so start ahead of time.
- If you have access to a sauna, use it to help eliminate waste through perspiration. Plan to take walks periodically throughout the day, but keep those walks leisurely. Other mild forms of exercise like Qigong can also be included.
- If you want a program that can help you feel better for a lifetime, we can help. Our personalized programs aren’t short term and provide a lifetime of healthy living, energy and feeling your best.
For more information, contact us today at ProWeightLoss