Do I need to Detox?

Do we need to detox our bodies?


Detoxing is our body's way of getting rid of toxins that would do our body harm if left to build up.



How does our body detox?

The fact is our bodies are naturally detoxing us all the time. Many of our organs are involved in this process. 
We are exposed to many different toxins from different sources , and our bodies are working continually to rid us of these toxins.

Toxins come from food we eat(especially highly processed foods), the air we breath and chemicals we are exposed to, eg smoking , alcohols ,drugs, detergents and more.

Our livers, kidneys, skin, lungs and other organs all work to remove toxins, ie detox us.

What our body needs

To help our bodies do this job well we have to supply it with what it needs to do this.
This includes drinking sufficient water to flush us out,eating plenty of fibre to clean up our digestive tract, eating plenty of fruits and vegetable and plant-based foods to supply us with nutrients and antioxidants.

Detoxing has become a very popular term recently but really this is something the body has been doing since we were born.
Our prime aim should be to nourish our body and give it what it needs to do its job of detoxing us.

Our main aim should be to help our body detox, itself while limiting our exposure to the toxins.  This is why we avoid certain foods while on 'detox diet' and eat or do plenty of other things.

If our bodies do not get rid of the wastes and toxins in our bodies  efficiently we get sick.

How do we help our body to detox?

We can help our body do its detoxifying job in many ways:


-Drink plenty(1.5-2 L) of water every day.You can add freshly squeezed, or a slice of lemon to your water. 

-Get plenty of fibre to keep your bowel motions regular. Eat plenty of fruit and veg,eat cabbage,broccoli, kale.Oats.Nuts,seeds.Whole grains.

-Eat detoxifying foods- cruciferous vegetables, cabbage,broccoli, sprouts,turnips,garlic,onions,tumeric, thyme chilli powder,rosemary parsley. Drink green tea.

-Eat organic as much as possible -this helps reduce exposure to pesticides,herbicides,chemical fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics in animal produce.Organic foods are also more nutritious gram for gram and are often more tasty.

-Avoid or limit refined foods as much as possible ,eg regular sugar,white bread,biscuits white pasta.

-Avoid or limit processed foods, eg ready made meals, microwave dinners.

-Avoid drugs,smoking,alcohol.

-Limit sugar intake, eg regular white sugar, sodas,

-Be active. Moving,exercise doesn't have to be strenuous.   Anything that raises your heart rate and increases blood circulation and immune system . Walking,swimming yoga are all great forms of exercise.

-Eat gut-friendly pre-biotic foods such as leeks, asparagus,bananas,   garlic,onions.Fermented foods such as suaerkraut, kefir, miso,  tempeh. 
You can also buy prebiotic and probiotic supplements to keep your gut healthy.A balanced and healthy gut is very important to good health, detox   and immunity against all sorts of illnesses.

-Adequate nutrients,especially zinc,selenium,phytonutrients, milk   thistle,vitamin C, play an important role in detoxing us.

-Get enough sleep.

-Avoid stress and de-stress as much as possible.
 Find ways to relax and unwind,for example  playing soothing music,having relaxing baths, a stroll in park or in nature, are great ways to unwind.

-Make time to be happy!..A happy and relaxed mind is a great detoxifier too.


Some signs you may need a detox.

Sometimes our body will give us signs that we are in need of some extra help and attention.
Signs may include:


-Abdominal bloating
-Stubborn belly fat,hard to lose
-Cravings 
-Diff in losing weight,despite taking measures
-Fluid retention
-Bad breath or furry tongue
-Excessive sweating Lack of energy


So do I need a detox course?

Well if you eat clean and live a pretty healthy lifestyle chances are you doing fine without a detox program.
However, if you have not been eating so well and living quite unhealthy then you may give your body a detox boost or kick-start using a detox program.
Once you've completed the program you can then concentrate on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Detox programs can be seen as a great way to get you into the rhythm of living a healthy eating lifestyle.

Think you may need a detox?

If you would like to try a detox program one of my favourites is this 14 Day Youth  Method Detox program . The system helps to stop cravings for sugar, processed foods and unhealthy carbs.
It helps to reset the body's ability to burn fat, flush out toxins and look more revitalised.
By nourishing the body you will:

.Loose weight 
.Expose radiant skin
.Experience improved mood
.Get better quality sleep and
.Get your energy back

Like the name suggests, the program is 14 days and is packed full of delicious recipes and tips.
After the program you'll most likely to be inspired to maintain a more healthy lifestyle and keep the good results going!

If your main aim is to lose weight while also cleansing your body another great system is the Red Tea Detox which works by drinking a special red tea. This tea works to banish hunger whilst burning fat at a fast rate.

For those of you that love smoothies, and are trying to lose weight while detoxing, the Green Smoothie 7 Day Detox Diet is another great program.

So if you need some help in the detox and/or weight loss area there are some great options available to you.

To you health!!