Table of Contents
What is a body detox – an urgent need or a popular myth? Does a full body detox have a sense, or does the body actually remove all toxins by itself? Home detox programs are getting more and more popular. It seems like using information from various sources (e.g., about detox drinks on AddictionResource), you can easily compose a program yourself.
However, both in the choice of pharmaceuticals and in carrying out cleansing procedures, many nuances must be taken into account. That is why we recommend that you definitely seek the advice of a specialist to make your personal detox program effective and beneficial.
Why do we need a complete body detox?
The history of detoxication goes back more than one century. In ancient times, doctors used charcoal and clay for these purposes. With their help, the condition of patients with poisoning, dysentery, jaundice, etc., was alleviated. Avicenna was the first who prescribed sorbents: he said that in order to maintain health, you need to cleanse the body of “excess.” In the 16th century, the well-known Nostradamus, who was not only a predictor but also a doctor, used pills consisting of natural sorbents to fight the plague.
The question is, where do these toxins come from in the body? There are two sources:
- exogenous toxins — they can come from the outside with food, water, during respiration, through the skin, etc. These can be both chemical compounds because we all know about the current state of ecology and plant or animal poisons. With prolonged use of various drugs, such as antibiotics, the barrier function of the body weakens, which can also be fraught with the accumulation of toxins, allergens, bacteria in the body.
- endogenous toxins, which are formed in the body during metabolism. This is the very case when “something went wrong”: either there was a failure in the metabolism itself or the processes of removing toxins from the body were disrupted. For example, in liver diseases, the body accumulates ammonia, bilirubin, phenols, and in diabetes mellitus, ketone bodies.
So is it necessary to cleanse the body at home with affordable means? Experts note that this procedure has clear benefits: allergic reactions get weakened, the load on the excretory system of the body gets reduced, thus it is possible to eliminate the imbalance of the intestinal flora to stimulate the regeneration processes.
Potential Harm of Detoxification
It seems that the benefits of detoxification by taking enterosorbents are obvious. However, not everything is so simple: prolonged or improperly carried out detoxification can lead to negative consequences for the body. For example, together with toxins, sorbents will “absorb” vitamins, microelements, and water, which will eventually lead to an imbalance in their balance. In the same way, the electrolyte balance and intestinal motility can be disturbed. Other possible at-home cleansing courses, such as diets, enemas, etc., if used improperly, can also be harmful, upsetting the balance of the body. That is why, before starting a detox, it is imperative to consult a doctor and foresee all possible negative consequences for the body.
Experts note that from time to time, traditional methods of detoxification, such as the intake of enterosorbents, are replaced by more modern ones. For example, some time ago, direct blood purification was at its peak. However, such radical methods of detoxification are not shown to everyone, but only 5–6% of patients who need efferent therapy, that is, treatment aimed at normalizing the blood composition. So the use of sorbents remains relevant.
How to detox the body with food
For many, a home detox program starts with a nutritional review. Please, do not exhaust yourself with fasting or trendy diets. Better pay attention to the balance of your diet.
In order to improve the processes of removing toxins from the body, choose foods that stimulate the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. These include:
- products containing organic acids (sour milk, black bread, freshly squeezed fruit juices);
- products containing carbon dioxide (for example, mineral waters);
- products containing plant cell membranes (vegetables, cereals – oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley);
- vegetable fats (vegetable oil, nuts, avocados);
- stringy meat;
Better replace sugar with honey – it also stimulates the intestines. But it is better to refrain from drinking tea, coffee, cocoa, pomegranates, persimmons, blueberries, radishes, pureed or heavily chopped food: all these products inhibit the evacuation function of the intestines.
And do not forget that when using plant fiber, you need to drink more water than you are used to: for 25 grams of fiber, you need about two liters of water, and then its effect will be most effective.
Detox-work with the body to get rid of toxins
Today, numerous spa salons offer detoxification, including various types of massage, sauna, and steam baths. Please note that many of the seemingly harmless procedures can only be performed after consulting a doctor. For example, baths and saunas are not shown to people who have problems with the cardiovascular system. Lymphatic drainage massage, which is often offered by SPA-salons as a procedure that cleanses the body, should not be done for people with venous insufficiency.
Detox drinks
In a lot of cases, people get tricked by the companies which sell detox drinks for drug tests. Sometimes people need to pass a drug test for employment, probation, and other requirements, which is illegal and doesn’t guarantee any result. Detox cleanse drink can indeed eliminate toxins from the body. Some manufacturers even include chemicals that mask the presence of drugs, but it still does not help people pass a drug test.
People who need drug detoxication should always look for help at professional rehabs. A lot of them even offer free detox programs, others have a wide variety of cleanup and recovery programs.
Exercises and lifestyle correction
Exercises improve health, increase endurance, and help you lose weight. Additionally, physical activity contributes to a more active elimination of toxins. If you don’t have time to regularly spend at least an hour at the gym, consider CrossFit.
You choose the intensity of your workout, so it can be shorter. The main distinguishing feature of CrossFit is the combination of different load types in one complex. They all alternate, and the exercises are performed in a circle without interruption. Thus, in CrossFit, high intensity is combined with a variety of loads.
How to draw up a comprehensive program for the complete body detox?
For a detox program to really help cleanse the body and maintain the achieved result, it must be comprehensive and developed with the participation of a specialist. It is the doctor who will help to properly balance diet and physical activity, determine which traditional medicines can be used for detox, as well as which drugs can be used.
