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The Best Way to Clean Out Your Body Naturally
Detox diet programs are becoming increasingly popular as people try to gain some control over an increasingly toxic world 2. While many experts, such as those at Mayoclinic.com, state that the human body is perfectly capable of detoxing itself, there is no harm in occasionally cleansing your system. Most advocates of body cleansing advise that you do a seven-day detox no more than once a year, while a 24-hour cleanse can be done as often as once a week. Detoxing your body is best done as naturally as possible, avoiding any plan that is harsh or extreme. Before starting any cleansing regimen, consult your physician.
Stop taking in anything toxic. Alcohol, caffeine, saturated fats, artificial sweeteners and chemical additives are all things that can clog your system and cause problems in your energy levels and overall health. Avoiding them entirely may not be possible for you, but giving your body a rest from things you know are harmful for a few days a month is a good start.
Safe Natural Ways to Detox Your Digestive System
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Set aside three to seven days for a juice fast. Drink nothing but vegetable juices, fruit juices and organic vegetable broths. Have as much as you want, but don’t drink or eat anything else, except water. If you become too hungry, snack on raw, organic fruits and vegetables.
Flush out your system with plenty of water. Drink between 32 and 64 oz of water every day while you are on your juice fast. Water helps your liver and kidneys do their jobs, which is to help flush toxins from your system.
How to Colon Cleanse Using Lemon Water
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Sweat the poisons out. Vigorous exercise is not a good idea if you are new to fasting, but a visit to a sauna or a summer day outdoors can help you flush toxins out through your perspiration. Drink plenty of water to keep your electrolytes in balance.
Support your system as you cleanse it. Lemons contain high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C, which helps support the liver and kidneys, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice helps keep water from getting boring. In addition, milk thistle aids liver function and can be taken as a supplement or brewed into tea.
Tips
Cleanse your outsides with a gentle dry brushing. Go over your body lightly with a soft skin brush to slough off dead skin and encourage circulation.
Warnings
Stop a cleansing fast if you experience severe digestive problems or dizziness.
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References
- MayoClinic.com: Detox Diets: Do They Work?
- Detox Safely: How to Detox
- Detox Ideas: Home Remedy For a Body Detox
- Natural Health Research: Detoxification: Dietary Supplements to Support & Promote the Process
- Dixon, B. (2005). “Detox”, a mass delusion. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 5(5), 261. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(05)70094-3
- Klein, A. V., & Kiat, H. (2014). Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 28(6), 675–686. doi:10.1111/jhn.12286
- Hodges RE, Minich DM. Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application. J Nutr Metab. 2015;2015:760689. doi:10.1155/2015/760689
- Obert, J., Pearlman, M., Obert, L., & Chapin, S. (2017). Popular Weight Loss Strategies: a Review of Four Weight Loss Techniques. Current Gastroenterology Reports, 19(12). doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0603-8
- Pankevich DE, Teegarden SL, Hedin AD, Jensen CL, Bale TL. Caloric restriction experience reprograms stress and orexigenic pathways and promotes binge eating. J Neurosci. 2010;30(48):16399–16407. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1955-10.2010
- Detox Diets and Cleanses. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. September 24, 2017
- Detox Diets and Cleanses. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. September 24, 2017
- Dixon, B. (2005). “Detox”, a mass delusion. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 5(5), 261. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(05)70094-3
- Hodges RE, Minich DM. Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application. J Nutr Metab. 2015;2015:760689. doi:10.1155/2015/760689
- Hodges RE, Minich DM. Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application. J Nutr Metab. 2015;2015:760689. doi:10.1155/2015/760689
- Klein, A. V., & Kiat, H. (2014). Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 28(6), 675–686. doi:10.1111/jhn.12286
- Obert, J., Pearlman, M., Obert, L., & Chapin, S. (2017). Popular Weight Loss Strategies: a Review of Four Weight Loss Techniques. Current Gastroenterology Reports, 19(12). doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0603-8
- Pankevich DE, Teegarden SL, Hedin AD, Jensen CL, Bale TL. Caloric restriction experience reprograms stress and orexigenic pathways and promotes binge eating. J Neurosci. 2010;30(48):16399–16407. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1955-10.2010
- Gardner B, Lally P, Wardle J. Making health habitual: the psychology of “habit-formation” and general practice. The British Journal of General Practice. 2012;62(605):664-666.
- Gardner B, Sheals K, Wardle J, McGowan L. Putting habit into practice, and practice into habit: a process evaluation and exploration of the acceptability of a habit-based dietary behaviour change intervention. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014 Oct 30;11:135.
- Wood, W, Neal, DT. Healthy through habit: Interventions for initiating and maintaining health behavior change. Behavioral Science and Policy. Volume 2, Issue 1, 2016. pp. 71-83.
Writer Bio
Emmy-award nominated screenwriter Brynne Chandler is a single mother of three who divides her time between professional research and varied cooking, fitness and home & gardening enterprises. A running enthusiast who regularly participates in San Francisco's Bay to Breakers run, Chandler works as an independent caterer, preparing healthy, nutritious meals for Phoenix area residents.