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The theory behind detox is that every day we are exposing our body to toxins. The air we breathe is likely to be polluted, the vegetables we eat are covered in pesticides our diets are likely to include red meats with added hormones. Most people also bombard their bodies with caffeine and alcohol. The liver and kidneys work valiantly to remove these toxins from our bodies, but a detox can give these organs a break from all the hard work as well as helping the body remove deep seated toxins from fat deposits and tissues.
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However, there are scientists who believe that detoxing simply does not work. Dr Janet Walberg of Virginia Polytechnic in the US claims that there is no evidence that a detox increases the rate at which toxins are eliminated. In fact, she claims that the potential drop in metabolic rate and temperature due to a reduced level of food can actually reduce the rate at which you sweat and pass food through your system, defeating the purpose. A study done at Quebec's Laval University also found that levels of pesticide in the blood actually increased in subjects following a low calorie diet. This was because when their fat stores were being released, so was the pesticides in them! These levels continued to increase as they lost further weight. These pesticides are called 'Organochlorines' and have been linked to breast cancer and endometriosis.
Be prepared for a number of side effects from a strict detox:
- Headaches - some people say these are signs of the toxins leaving the body, but others say they are mainly caffeine withdrawal. They can be severe and generally last around 2-3 days. However, many detox followers claim that after the headache goes your head feels clearer and that this effect lasts until you revert to drinking alcohol, coke and coffee;
- Bad breath - again claimed by some to be toxins leaving your body, however some scientists believe that it is mainly due to ketosis which happens when the body stops using its stores of carbohydrate and starts using fats and tissues and this in turn causes the smelly breath. Followers of the Dr Atkins Diet also experience ketosis. Dr Atkins feels this is a good sign as it clearly indicates the body is beginning to use fat stores;
- A natural high - this happens in fasting when you get past the first 2-3 days. It is the body's reaction to starvation to ensure you are still feeling good enough to find food. Some people who regularly fast find that this time is good to make decisions as the natural high also helps reduce worry and anxiety so that decisions are more objective;
- Skin eruptions - although this may well be the body's reaction to cleansing itself, there are some who believe it is due to internal stress showing up on the face. Nevertheless, most people find that after a week or so, the skin clears and even glows;
- Weight loss - a good side effect we feel! The average loss during a detox is 4 lbs in 2 days, but this largely water. Longer detoxing would be required to lose fat, but the initial weight loss can act as a boost and get you started.
So, overall is detoxing a good idea? The answer probably lies in the level of detox you follow, which can be anything from a full fast to just eliminating alcohol and coffee. Clearly, the latter is unlikely to do any harm, and if you do have a high intake of caffeine or alcohol will give your liver a much needed break. There are also those who feel that as long as you are healthy, even a total fast of up to one week is unlikely to do you any harm. After all, before food was so easily available our prehistoric ancestors would have sometimes gone days without food. Many people also feel that following a detox helps them get back into a healthier way of living including eating more fruit and vegetables, cooking proper food, eating less saturated fats and drinking less coffee.
So here is a rough guide to following a detox:
- If you do drink a lot of coffee or alcohol, get ready for some really bad headaches!
- If you are following the detox for 7 days or less, you are probably OK, however if you have any existing medical condition, are pregnant, nursing or under 18/over 65, always get a doctors approval before following a strict detox.
- Try not to food shop - you'll only give in to temptation! Get everything you need before you start.
- Keep plenty of the foods you can have around - and be creative - smoothies are really good and feel more like a meal than an apple.
- If you want to follow a long detox, make sure it has adequate nutrition. Whilst your body can go without certain foods for a while, it will struggle over a month. Lack of protein, calcium and iron can be a problem, so make sure you are getting plenty of the right foods.
- A short detox can be beneficial, but it will be most positive if you use the plan to make some positive long-term changes.
- Make sure you drink plenty water to aid the cleansing process. Some people find that even if there are no other benefits, the discipline of drinking 2 litres of water a day made them feel a lot better.
Happy detoxing! If you want to find detox plans or more free slimming and fitness information and advice, keep looking round the site!
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