The Importance of Detox and How to Do it Safely

Detox diet, pills, and juices are very popular today. But do you really need them? Learn about detox, its importance, and how to do it safely and effectively.

Detoxification is the process of removing toxins from the body. It helps improve overall health including boosting the immune system, losing weight, increasing energy levels, better memory, and decreasing digestive problems. It is important to get rid of toxins in the body as they can damage organs and affect their functions. The harmful substances can also cause weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, and diseases such as: cancer, liver cirrhosis, and diabetes.

The human body is capable of detoxifying naturally. Thanks to its organs that flushes out toxins on a daily basis. The liver, kidneys, glymphatic system of the brain, and skin. The liver is the primary filtration system which cleanses the blood and converts toxins into waste products. The kidneys strain the harmful substances from body fluids and excrete them through urination. The brain on the other hand has its own filtration system called the glymphatic system which cleanses out unwanted substances from the brain. Preventing damage to brain cells and occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.  While the skin eliminates toxins through perspiration.

However, the diet, lifestyle, and environment that we have today make it harder for our body to eliminate toxins. Hence, it is important to detox regularly. There are many detoxification products in the market such as teas, juices, and pills which claim to remove toxins from our body. But it is uncertain whether they are safe and effective as advertised. In fact, there are reported cases of severe gastrointestinal issues caused by detox products.

The safest and most efficient way to detox is by helping your body excrete toxins naturally instead of relying on detox products. Here are some tips.

• Avoid processed and sugary foods. Ready-cooked meals are full of preservatives, artificial ingredients, and additives that are harmful for the body. They have high amount of saturated fats and sodium which are the most common causes of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
• Keep away from soft drinks and prepacked juices. Like processed and sugary foods, these beverages are made mostly from additives and artificial ingredients that can cause serious health problems.
• Stop smoking. Nicotine from cigarette smoking is one of the most harmful chemicals for your body. In fact, inhaling smoke that is exhaled by smokers alone is enough to damage your organs, especially the lungs. This can greatly affect how your body detoxifies as your whole system can be affected.
• Choose green tea instead of coffee. Green tea is rich in antioxidants which helps remove toxins and repair damaged cells in the body. Although coffee also contain antioxidants, the beverage is high in caffeine which can cause acid reflux and upset stomach. It can interfere with the body’s metabolism and detoxification process.
• Avoid alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol builds-up fats in the liver, causing the organ to enlarge and scar as it tries to repair itself. This can greatly affect liver functions which includes removing toxins from the bloodstream and throughout the body.
• Have adequate sleep. Resting and recharging your energy level by sleeping is important to make your body function well. This includes flushing out toxins and other waste products from the body. Moreover, the glymphatic system which is responsible for cleaning toxins from the brain is most active during sleep.
• Drink a mixture of mint, cucumber, and lemon juice. This beverage can greatly help in flushing out toxins from the body and cleaning your digestive system. The drink is also rich in antioxidants which has properties that repair damaged cells and remove harmful substances from the body. To prepare, wash and peel two cucumbers then slice them into thin pieces. Chop some fresh mint leaves finely. Then wash and cut lemon into thin slices. Put the cucumbers, mint, and lemon into a jug of water. Then refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour to infuse their flavors well into the water. Drink as often as you can all throughout the day.
• Exercise regularly. Physical activities increase blood flow which help the body organs to work more effectively and eliminate toxins faster. Exercise also promotes perspiration which is another way to excrete toxins from the body.

Detox is critical to maintain a healthy body. Especially now that we are exposed to toxins almost everywhere. The air that we breathe is full of pollutants. Foods we eat have additives and chemicals from growing them. The sun becomes hotter and hotter causing risks to our health. And the products that we use on a daily basis such as cleaning liquids, cosmetics, and body sprays contain harmful substances that are toxic for our bodies.