It may be time to learn how to detox to clean up the mess in your liver, kidneys, bowels, lungs and blood. Whether you're indulging in greasy hamburgers, giving into sugar cravings or imbibing in a few too many glasses of wine, the effects of our bad eating habits can add up and take a toll on our bodies beyond the rising number on the scale. Even a healthy diet can be filled with toxins from processed foods, pesticides used to grow produce and even the air we breathe and chemical-based cleaners carry pollutants that can stick around in our system.
There are several methods of body cleansing detoxification. You should start by removing alcohol, cigarettes, refined sugars, coffee and saturated fats from your diet. Next, swap out chemical laden household cleaners and personal care products for organic and natural alternatives. Lowering your stress level can help, too, so consider yoga and meditation. Some believe you can sweat toxins by spending time in a sauna or steam room. A detoxifying bath soak can also help draw the toxins out.
The most intense step in a body cleanse detox - and the one you probably think of when you hear "detox" - is a week-long liquid or juice fast. Drinking fruit and vegetable juices can help your body release toxins. You'll reap the benefits of nutrients from the nutritional load of whole fruits and veggies, but when drinking them in pureed juice form, your body can consume a greater amount of those nutrients. Alternatively, herbal cleanses are popular; they are offered in powder form, along with a healthy diet. Different herbal combinations can help clear different organs. Nutritionists also recommend adding Vitamin C to your diet along with other antioxidants to help neutralize free radicals that can cause cellular damage.
Restricting yourself to a diet of raw foods can also be effective for body cleansing detoxification. Raw fruits and vegetables generally have greater nutritional benefits than their cooked counterparts. Plus, in their raw and high-fiber form, fruits and vegetables are a great approach to cleansing the colon; they even take more energy to digest.
 | Detoxification helps support various systems in your body when you're losing weight. Toxins are stored in body fat and are released into the bloodstream during the fat-burning process unless they're flushed out first. |
 | A sugar detox is a diet worth trying if you want to avoid too many carbs, lower your diabetes risk or help manage your energy levels. Here's what you can expect when cutting excess sugar out of your diet. |
 | The hot water of a bath brings toxins to your skin's surface; as the water cools, it can help draw the bad stuff out. Take a detox bath to help your body release buildup both internally and externally. |
The cleansing of the colon using copious amounts of water was a common procedure in the era 1930-1950s. The first instance was recorded in 1500 B.C., in the Ebers Papyrus, a medical instruction book. In the fourth and fifth centuries B.C., colon hydrotherapy was used to treat fever, and Galen in the second century A.D. |
Do you ever wonder why some people are always on the go yet still full of energy, need only a few hours of sleep, and rarely have a cold or the flu? The answer may be body chemistry. |
