What Is Detoxing?
Detoxing, which is sometimes referred to as "cleansing," is the process by which you remove toxins from your system. Health experts have identified a number of natural substances as detoxifying, and you can ingest these substances in a variety of different ways. Some people drink teas that contain detoxifying substances, and others follow detoxifying diets that include lots of foods that absorb toxins.Under normal circumstances, your body is fully capable of removing excess toxins on its own. However, the modern Western lifestyle involves nearly constant exposure to toxic substances, which overloads the organs and systems that your body uses to cleanse itself. In light of these environmental and dietary issues, many people choose to help their bodies clean themselves by detoxing.
Why Is Detoxing Beneficial?
When toxins build up in your body, it's harder to stay healthy. Every function that your body performs each day is inhibited by the presence of toxins, and you may notice that these substances are in your body if you experience a basic set of symptoms. In general, detoxing will improve your body's ability to metabolize energy, and every aspect of your day-to-day life will become easier if you remove toxins from your body. If you suffer from certain skin conditions, such as acne, you may also notice these conditions alleviating when you remove toxins from your body, and detoxifying may also slow or reverse the aging process.
Signs that You Need to Detox
Pretty much everyone who encounters the environmental stressors of the modern world can benefit from detoxing, but some people are more in need of a full-body cleanse than others. If you are exhibiting any of the following symptoms, chances are that a detox regimen is just what you need:1. Low Energy
Low energy is one of the most common signs of a system that contains lots of toxins. Fatigue is so prevalent in modern life that there's even a medical condition that encompasses this problem: chronic fatigue syndrome. Even if a doctor hasn't diagnosed you with chronic fatigue syndrome, if you feel exceedingly tired throughout the day for no particular reason, toxins might be interfering with your ability to create energy in your body.The main effect that toxins have on your body is inflammation. While inflammation is a natural response to potential sources of physical harm, when it remains in effect for an undue period of time, it becomes chronic inflammation, which wears away at your body's tissues and gives rise to many different diseases. In fact, some scientists have gone so far as to say that inflammation is the root cause of every type of disease. Whether or not this assertion is true, inflammation does cause a silly-sounding condition called "leaky brain syndrome;" however, nothing is silly about the effects that this disease causes.
Under normal conditions, your brain is protected from toxins by a system called the blood-brain barrier. However, the presence of inflammation in and around your brain causes this barrier to function inefficiently, which allows toxins into your central nervous system. When enough toxins accumulate in your brain and brainstem, you may start to feel unnatural levels of fatigue. Toxins can also affect other parts of your body that control your energy levels, so mitigating the inflammation associated with the presence of toxins can help you get your vitality back.
2. Chronic Headaches
Just like fatigue, headaches can be a sign of a number of different underlying health problems. Poor posture can cause headaches, and undue stress can also cause your head to hurt during various portions of the day. However, if you've corrected your habits and eliminated these potential causes of headaches, it's possible that toxin-related inflammation could be the cause of your head pain.
Scientific research has shown that if you have high levels of heavy metals in your body, you're more likely to have chronic headaches. These headaches can also be caused by common pesticides, which means that you have potentially headache-inducing chemicals all around you unless you're living entirely off the grid.
One common cause of chronic headaches that's toxin-related is liver damage. Your liver serves the purpose of escorting toxic substances out of your system, but it can become overloaded when your body contains too many toxins. The liver also serves the important purpose of sending energy to the brain, and when this function is interrupted by toxins, your central nervous system can become irritated. Any inflammation or irritation of the central nervous system can cause headaches, so your first step in conquering your chronic headaches or migraines may be a thorough liver cleanse.
3. Acne Breakouts
Since your body goes through a lot of hormonal changes during adolescence, it's normal to experience bouts of acne during your teen years. If acne persists into adulthood, however, this could be a sign that you have too many toxins in your body.Like ancient Chinese physicians surmised, there's a close link between your skin and your gut, and when toxins interfere with the balance of bacteria in your digestive tract, skin issues will almost certainly follow. Plus, your body excretes toxins through your skin, and these toxins have to pass through your pores before they can leave your body. Inflammation in the pores appears to be one of the leading causes of acne, so your body's own response to toxins can sometimes cause acne flare-ups.
Even if you don't experience the symptoms of acne, your skin still might suffer if you have a toxin buildup. Other signs of the presence of toxins that show up in your skin include rashes, dry skin, and oily skin, so if your skin isn't perfectly in balance, you might benefit from a detox.
4. Digestive Issues
Your digestive organs comprise a very delicate system that can easily become imbalanced. Each part of the digestive tract is filled with billions of microorganisms, and this community of tiny bacteria and other creatures is collectively called the microbiome. Over time, toxins can damage your gut microbiome, and your ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria can skew in favor of nefarious microorganisms. When this imbalance occurs, your gut becomes inflamed, which can lead to various digestive issues. Whether you're experiencing diarrhea, gas, bloating, or constipation, damage to your gut microbiome caused by toxins may be to blame, and removing these toxins from your system may get your digestive functions back on track.
5. Bad Breath
Bad breath, which is also known as halitosis, is sometimes caused by a toxin buildup in your body. Hundreds of different types of bacteria live in your mouth, and these various microorganisms usually live in harmony. However, if excess toxin buildup causes damage to your liver, the numbers of bad bacteria in your mouth can skyrocket, which in turn causes bad breath.A white or yellow tongue coating often accompanies halitosis, and even if your breath isn't bad yet, tongue discoloration can indicate that bad breath is on its way. While observing better oral hygiene habits can go a long way toward making your breath smell better, you might also want to try a liver cleanse to help your body produce the kinds of bacteria that it needs to keep your mouth healthy.
6. Trouble Sleeping
When your liver is filled with toxins, sometimes your adrenal gland goes into overdrive. This condition is called adrenal fatigue, and it occurs when your adrenal gland is working harder than it should. Even though your adrenal gland is just trying to pump extra energy into your liver so that it can remove toxins from your system more effectively, adrenal fatigue also increases the levels of adrenaline throughout your system, which can mess with your sleep schedule. Specifically, adrenal fatigue can interfere with your circadian rhythm, and when this happens, your body can't tell what time of day it is, and insomnia follows. There are a lot of reasons why you might be having trouble sleeping, but trying a detox might help even if your adrenal gland isn't to blame for your sleepless nights and moody days.
7. Weight Gain
If you enjoy a healthy, natural diet, but you're still gaining weight, an overload of toxins in your system might be to blame. In most cases, dietary choices are the main cause of weight gain. Some people suffer from hormonal or endocrinal issues, and these people may gain weight even if their toxin levels are normal. However, since toxins interfere with the natural functioning of the hormonal and endocrinal systems, a detox may even help people who suffer from pituitary gland disorders or Crohn's disease return to their normal weight.For people who don't suffer from these particular conditions, their toxin-related weight problems usually stem from damage to the gut microbiome. Scientists have labeled some toxins as "obesogens," which means that they cause you to gain weight, so if you flush toxins out of your system, you may finally be able to attain the figure you've been looking for.
How Do You Detox?
If you resonated with any of the above conditions, you're long overdue for a serious detox. But how do you remove toxins from your body and get your vitality back? Thankfully, there are a number of natural cures that you can use to remove toxins from your system without harming your body further. One of the best ways to detox is to avoid toxins in your food. Modern agricultural practices have introduced many different types of toxins into the food supply, and many of the chemicals that food processors use also lead to toxin buildup in your body.The only way to make sure that you avoid toxins is to grow your food yourself and supervise its preparation, but you can at least be a little bit safer by only eating foods that are labeled organic and all-natural. The USDA organic certification system isn't perfect by any means, but it does screen out a lot of the worst offenders when it comes to food-borne toxins. Since a lot of toxins leave your body via your sweat and urine, you should also make sure to drink lots of water every day, and while you're at it, make sure that your water is pure and filtered.
Exercise is another great way to detoxify, and you may even want to try fasting. When you don't eat food for a while, your digestive system has time to heal itself, which can protect you from toxins in your food. Lastly, make sure to eat lots of fresh foods, and avoid processed snacks even if they're labeled organic.