We hear more and more about the benefits of a detox so perhaps we should really understand what it is, what it does and why we should do it, before we dismiss it altogether.
Firstly, what is detox?
Detox, or to give it its full name, detoxification, is the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body. Detox is often thought of in terms of treatment for alcohol or drug dependence, but the term also applies to removing environmental and dietary toxins from our bodies that we accumulate from the air we breathe and the food we eat.
The effect toxins can have on our bodies shows in our general fitness and health. They can make you feel sluggish and stressful; your body may experience continuous aching, diarrhea or constipation, or lethargy and clumsiness. Rapid weight gain and the inability to lose excess weight easily can also be signs of having toxins in the body.
The toxins are stored in your fat cells. People on a typical Western/North American diet, which typically consists of high fat and highly processed foods, will consume a lot of toxins through eating. This type of diet will produce the types of symptoms previously mentioned and detoxification is beneficial in countering the negative effects of this.
There are specific organs in your body that handle the waste management. These organs play a major role in the detoxing process for a fit and healthy body.
1. Your liver is the organ that recycles the unwanted chemicals in the body. It sorts out the toxins and places them to the organ for elimination during the process of circulation. As well as having very little nutritional value, fast foods, fried foods and processed foods have to be processed by the liver and this take its energy away from other detoxification work it has to do.
2. The lymph glands also play an important role in eliminating the toxins. A network of tubing brings out the excess waste of the cells from the body and to the final eliminating organs. The appendix, thymus, tonsil, and spleen are major lymphatic glands that help the major organs of the body in the cleansing and detoxing process.
3. The kidneys are responsible for the water management of the body. They are the organs that keep the good chemistry of the blood alkaline by eliminating the dissolved acid waste. You can help your kidney to function well by drinking plenty of water. It's much better if you drink fresh alkaline juices made from fresh vegetables as well as purified water.
4. The lungs are the organs that keep the blood aerated and purified. They allow the oxygen to get directly into the bloodstream. They are also responsible for removing waste gases that are found in every cell of the body. Deep breathing and fresh air is very beneficial in keeping the lungs healthy and free from toxins. If you are in an urban area for much of your time, it's recommended that from time to time you find an oxygen rich area where you can perform deep breathing.
5. The colon is the solid waste management organ in your body. Detoxing and cleansing the colon through colonic hydrotherapy and colonic irrigation can be of real benefit in providing a clean and healthy body.
The things you can do to help your body detox naturally are:
1. Exercise is a major factor in having a fit and healthy body. Light exercise such as walking will still be benficial. Many diet doctors also suggest that you drink plenty of lemon water. This is an effective way of maintaining a very good circulation and can increase the rate of detoxification inside the body.
2. A healthy low fat diet, which includes lots of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables supports the liver with nutrients and easy-to-digest food. Making such a diet part of your lifestyle should be the first step in an over-all detox program and it has the additonal benefits of giving you more energy, helping you to lose weight and feel younger, healthier and fitter.
We each have to make our judgements on whether detoxing is worthwhile but logic says that removing potentially harmful substances from our bodies and our systems can only be a good thing.
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