Why do you need to cleanse the body? Benefits of body detox
The body is a kind of well-oiled mechanism that works tirelessly, but an unpleasant moment comes when any mechanism stops working due to pollution. The same thing happens with our internal organs. Our body tends to systematically retain something extra (toxins, kilograms), and if you feel heaviness, are very tired, and sudden mood swings appear, then it’s time for a detox. Many people are perplexed - where can toxins come from in their body? The answer to the question is simple, toxins are breakdown products that each human cell releases after processing nutrients. Just imagine, the human body consists of a billion functioning cells, each of them works smoothly and releases toxins in the process of its life. When the body is overfilled with them, some of the toxins remain in the cell, which does not allow it to work at full strength. If you do not detoxify the body, then decay products (toxins) will accumulate in the cells and prevent them from coping with their direct responsibilities. This will lead to disruption of organ function and various diseases.
By helping the body cope with toxins through detox, you get:
- a surge of strength - by giving up sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, and eating more fruits and vegetables, you saturate your body with vitamins and essential microelements, which give a natural surge of strength;
- cleansing - detox programs are designed so that the body cleanses itself on its own, and you will help it by eating right;
- a beautiful body is an additional bonus to cleansing the body, since extra pounds will be lost along with toxins;
- strong immune system - having gotten rid of toxins, the immune and lymphatic systems will begin to work in full mode;
- healthy and rejuvenated appearance - active cell work at full strength will give clear skin and rejuvenation of the whole body.
Ways to properly cleanse the body at home
It is possible to cleanse the body yourself at home. Here are a few ways you can get your body in order.
Food culture
The theory of cleansing the body through nutrition is based on the fact that the “right” food entering the gastrointestinal tract removes harmful substances from it, helping to cleanse the body as a whole. Thanks to this, toxins do not enter the blood, since the gastrointestinal juice absorbed into it in the lower intestines has already been purified by food.
Here are some examples of such cleansing.
Bran
Eat foods high in fiber; it is not absorbed by the body, but is excreted naturally. This product is bran. Bran in the stomach, under the influence of a moist environment, greatly increases in volume, turning into a “washcloth” for the walls of the stomach. The swollen bran cells remove the remains of rotting food while absorbing waste, toxins and the results of the vital activity of pathogenic microflora. This cleaning can be done no more than twice a year. Carrot and zucchini cake has identical properties. Citrus juices Cleanse with citrus therapy for 3 days. You should drink juice when you want to eat. We just drink juice instead of food. To prepare the drink you will need:
- 3 large lemons;
- 2 kg grapefruit;
- 2 kg orange.
We dilute the squeezed amount of juice with water until the full volume is 4 liters. To improve the effect of such cleaning, it is recommended to drink a laxative in the morning on an empty stomach. This complex will cleanse the intestines and lymph of waste and toxins.
Massage
It probably surprised many people how massage can help remove toxins from the body. For cleansing, they do not just a massage, but a massage with honey. Honey is a remedy that perfectly absorbs toxins and fatty tissue. By doing a honey massage, you cleanse the upper layer of the epidermis, this helps remove unnecessary substances out. Problem areas where this procedure should be performed are: abdomen, arms, thighs and buttocks. This cleaning should be done in sessions. One session includes 10 procedures, they are done every other day.
- Take a small amount of honey in your palms and apply it to your skin.
- Using patting movements, massage the honey into the skin.
- After some time, a white mass forms on the skin - waste honey, which has drawn out particles of fatty tissue, waste and toxins.
- The procedure should be continued until this white mass begins to stick to the palms, on average this happens in 5-10 minutes.
- Afterwards, rinse off the remaining honey mass with warm water. If you have dry skin, then apply a nourishing cream.
Bath
Mud baths are used to remove toxins through the skin.
Blue or white clay is used for them. The clay is applied for 20 minutes, and then washed off with warm water without using soap. A salt bath effectively removes toxins:
- Dissolve 3 kg of salt in water at 38 °C and rest for 15-20 minutes.
- For more thorough exfoliation, add 2 tablespoons of pine needle extract or the same amount of oat bran to the water.
Such baths draw out toxins accumulated in the subcutaneous tissue.
Signs of body detoxification
How to understand that the body requires cleansing? It will signal this; it is important not to miss the following symptoms:
- General malaise of the body. Constant fatigue, drowsiness, lack of desire to do anything. It may also be accompanied by headaches, aches in the joints and throughout the body.
- Decreased immunity. Frequent ARVI and colds indicate that the body cannot fight viruses and bacteria
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract. They may be accompanied by a constant feeling of heaviness in the stomach and excess weight gain.
- Problems with skin, hair and nails. With a large amount of toxins in the body, hair loses its shine, nails become brittle, and acne appears on the face. Correctly applied principles of detoxification will help cope with this problem.
- Hormonal changes in the body. Anyone who has at least once encountered a change in hormonal levels will never confuse this condition. It is characterized by fluctuations in weight without changes in diet, irritability.
Such states of the body signal that it needs cleaning. But do not forget that they can also be symptoms of serious diseases. Therefore, before you start cleansing your body, you should visit a doctor and consult with him.
Detox program: week of body cleansing
The time comes when it is necessary to urgently do a “spring cleaning” of the body. This is especially necessary after long holidays, which are spent overeating and lying on the couch. You can realistically cope with this task in a week and a weekly detox program will help you with this.
- Initially, avoid meat products, white flour products and polished cereals.
- Drink plenty of clean water in small sips.
During the cleansing week, you should drink only water and the following cocktails every day.
Green fresh
Mix the following ingredients in a blender:
- 1 bunch of basil;
- 1 bunch of mint;
- 2 bunches of celery stalks;
- 2 large apples;
- 1 lime.
The resulting mass can be diluted with drinking water if desired.
Cleansing smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 banana;
- 1 lemon;
- 2 large carrots;
- 2 bunches of parsley.
Make juice from carrots and lemon using a juicer. Beat the banana and parsley in a blender. Mix everything and the smoothie is ready.
Now let’s break down the week of detoxification day by day:
- Day 1 - getting ready for cleansing. We do not eat meat, bread, or cereals, replacing them with fruits and vegetables. We drink a lot of clean water and 2 cocktails.
- Day 2 - we give up confectionery and dairy products. We increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables. We drink water and cocktails.
- Day 3 - exclude all food except vegetables and fruits. We drink cocktails and water.
- Days 4,5,6 and 7 - reduce the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed, replacing them with cocktails and water.
That's the whole process of a quick weekly cleanse. During this period, you will get rid of waste and toxins and receive a pleasant bonus in the form of 4 - 6 kilograms lost.
Let's start detoxifying
Before we start talking about the cleanse diet, there are a few other important keys to good health to note. So, don’t forget that your body needs healthy rest. It is also very important to include foods rich in proteins and various vitamins in your daily diet.
During the two-week body cleanse, you must avoid foods containing gluten, sugar, and dairy products. On the other hand, you need to increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain rice, nuts, sea salt and olive oil.
Try to use your imagination and make the dishes varied and interesting, avoid boring and monotonous food. Various recipes for delicious and healthy dishes will come to your aid.
As for drinks, try to avoid during these fourteen days:
- coffee,
- milk,
- soda,
- alcohol.
The same goes for sports drinks and unnatural juices from supermarkets.
The following will bring invaluable benefits to your health:
- green tea,
- natural cocktails,
- homemade juices.
Particular attention should be paid to water - the main source of hydration for our body. Many of us tend to underestimate the importance of drinking water and do not drink it properly.
During the two-week detoxification diet, you need to increase your daily water intake to three liters. It is also recommended to drink one glass of warm water on an empty stomach with the juice of half a lemon. This will cleanse the liver and kidneys of toxins and fats.
Another key part of detoxifying is gut detoxification . Therefore, you will need to increase the amount of fiber you consume .
Include the following foods in your diet:
- whole wheat bread,
- bran,
- oats,
- nuts,
- whole grain rice and other whole grain cereals.
It is possible that in the first days you will be bothered by headaches, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, stomach discomfort and skin rashes. You may feel weak and tired.
Don’t be alarmed, this reaction of your body is normal and natural. This is because your body begins to rid itself of toxins. Be patient a little, because in a day or two you will feel refreshed and renewed.
During cleansing of toxins, a weight loss of 2-3 kilograms is acceptable. Weight loss in this case occurs due to the removal of excess fluid and toxins that have accumulated in the intestines recently.
Homemade recipes for cleansing the body of waste and toxins
Recipe for cleansing the body with activated carbon
Activated carbon itself is an absorbent that can cleanse toxins. Therefore, there is no need to invent anything; just calculate the daily dose of the drug and drink it 2 times a day. The cleaning course can last from 4 days to 2 weeks. One tablet of activated carbon is taken per 10 kg of body weight.
On cleansing days, you should limit your diet. Food should be light and should be eaten in small portions. After the course, it is advisable to take vitamins and increase the consumption of fermented milk products. For prevention purposes, you can drink activated carbon 2 times a day, one tablet, but not more than two months.
Recipe for cleansing the body with water
- For water purification, use only raw water.
- When you get out of bed in the morning, drink two glasses of water
- Next, do not eat anything until lunch, drink another 2 - 3 glasses of water (add 1 teaspoon of honey to the water if desired).
- On such days you can only eat vegetables and fruits. This way you can cleanse the body within 1 - 2 weeks.
Water has the ability to cleanse the body, so get into the habit of starting every day with a glass of raw water, drunk 20 minutes before meals. Also, replace drinking tea and coffee with water as much as possible, this will promote intestinal function and help in the fight against toxins.
Cleansing the body with kefir
The bacteria contained in kefir ensure a healthy balance of intestinal microflora. To cleanse the intestines, kefir made at home using starter culture is ideal; in the absence of such, fresh store-bought kefir with a fat content of 1% to 2.5% is also suitable.
- You will need 1.5 - 3 liters of kefir.
- Drink 1 glass every 1 - 2 hours all day long.
- No food is allowed, only clean water is allowed.
Kefir cleaning is carried out once a month.
Cleansing the body with rice: rice diet
To cleanse the body with rice, you should be patient, since the rice diet is designed for 40 days.
The diet consists of eating unpolished rice on an empty stomach (for breakfast), which was soaked in water for 6 days.
- For convenience, prepare 5 jars.
- On the first day, pour 3 tablespoons of washed rice into one jar and fill with raw water.
- Second day - change the water in the first jar and add rice to the second jar.
- On the third, change the water in the first two and add the third, etc.
- On the sixth day, when all the jars are filled, you can eat rice from the first one, and add a new portion to the jar.
- If you can’t eat raw rice, pour boiling water over it and let sit for 30 minutes. You can eat food three hours after eating rice.
The disadvantage of the rice diet is that potassium is washed away along with toxins and waste products, so add more nuts, dried fruits, legumes and potatoes to your diet.
Recipe for cleansing the body with flax seeds
The essence of this cleansing is:
Before eating, you need to eat 2 tablespoons of flax seeds soaked in water. It is recommended to pour the required amount of seeds with boiled water overnight. This cleansing lasts from 1 week to 1 month.
During this period, you should not eat hot foods; you can only eat slightly warm food.
Cleansing the body with soda
Cleaning with soda is also called alkalization. It is used both internally and externally.
- To alkalize the intestines, you need to dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of soda in a glass of raw water.
- Drink morning and evening on an empty stomach.
- So we drink for 3 days, 3 days off.
- The next 3 days we increase the dose to 1/2 teaspoon, 3 days break.
- Next, we drink a solution with 1 teaspoon of soda for 3 days.
This course can be used if no side effects occur (abdominal pain, flatulence, etc.), otherwise the first three days will be enough. Cleanse the lymph with soda externally. To do this, dissolve 100 g of soda in the bath and immerse it there for 1 hour. The procedure can be done no more than 3 times a week. It has been proven that Cleopatra herself took such baths.
Oats for cleansing the body: recipes
Oats are a storehouse of health; with its help, it is possible to cleanse the body not only of toxins and waste, but also get rid of cholesterol, it promotes the resorption of plaques.
Oats are rich in fiber (how it works in the intestines is described above), has an enveloping effect, and improves peristalsis. You can cleanse the body with oatmeal or oatmeal broth.
For porridge:
- Soak oatmeal in water for 10 hours.
- After this time, drain the water (do not cook the porridge) and add prunes or dried apricots to the flakes.
- We eat in the morning for 10 days.
For the decoction:
- Boil 1 cup of unpeeled oat grains for 25 - 35 minutes. in 1 liter of water.
- Strain and drink warm, 0.5 cups half an hour before meals.
The course of cleansing is 10 days.
Cleansing the body according to Genghis Khan's recipe
This cleaning method is described by Doctor of Traditional Medicine, Professor A.T. Ogulov. He tried Genghis Khan's recipe on himself and shares his experience.
You can also watch a video about the experience of using body cleansing according to Genghis Khan’s recipe.
Smoothie recipes to cleanse the body
Green vegetables and fruits are considered ideal for cleansing the body, and you can combine them in the popular smoothie drink.
Above, in the detox program for a week, two examples of such drinks are already given, I would like to offer another one that will help get rid of toxins in a week. Ingredients:
- 3 large cabbage leaves;
- 1/2 lemon;
- 100 g apple juice;
- 100 g water;
- 1 tbsp maple syrup;
- a slice of ginger.
Mix everything in a blender. Drink in small sips. This drink should replace one meal.
What is detox like?
Detoxification programs typically include “Detoxes” and “Cleanses”: What You Need To Know / National Institutes of Health one or a combination of the following approaches:
- Water fasting. That is, giving up food, for example, for 2–3 days. In some cases, the “cleanse” lasts a week or more. At the same time, drinking water is not only allowed, but even necessary: it, in detox terminology, “washes out toxins.”
- Drinking only juices. A multi-day and complete abstinence from food is expected. Instead, you should drink fruit or vegetable juices, or a mixture of them.
- Smoothie detox. This is the same as the previous option, only in this case you also get fiber from the ground fruit. The smoothie is prepared in a blender and then diluted with clean water or coconut milk.
- Eating only certain foods. For example, only baked or steamed vegetables. No cereals, potatoes, bread! Vegetables are easy to digest and are therefore believed to give the digestive system a rest. Another popular food detox option is vegan. In this case, you are allowed to eat any vegetables and fruits and nothing more. Of course, except for water.
- Fasting on herbal decoctions. Or vegetable decoctions with the addition of some “cleansing” ingredients - turmeric, parsley, ginger, lemon.
- Fasting based on dietary supplements.
- Cleansing the colon using enemas or taking laxatives.
- Long trips to the sauna to “detoxify” through sweat.
Such programs are often used for home detox. However, some of them are definitely unsafe.
What herbs are used to cleanse the body?
It is popular to cleanse the body with the help of herbs and herbs. The following are considered significant for detox:
- Stinging nettle is the most powerful herb for cleansing the blood, thanks to it, toxins, poisons, and waste products are eliminated;
- dandelion - almost in no way inferior in beneficial properties to nettle;
- violet tricolor - gives a diuretic effect, regulates metabolism, removes waste and toxins;
- Yucca root - acts as a mild laxative, cleanses the intestines;
- alfalfa - rich in fiber, acts as a diuretic and laxative;
- sarsaparilla - anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, ideal for detoxifying the body;
- horsetail - normalizes the water-salt balance, due to which harmful substances are eliminated.
What is detox
Detoxification, or detox, is the process of freeing the body from various harmful substances that are formed as a result of life.
Most often, detox is carried out using a diet that includes drinking plenty of water, or multi-day fasting. This diet is believed to remove toxins from the body, help you lose weight, reduce skin and hair problems, and do many other wonderful things.
There is only one problem: all these wonderful results do not have scientific confirmation.
Cleansing the body with medications: sodium thiosulfate reviews
The drug sodium thiosulfate is a specific antidote (antidote) that weakens and stops the effect of toxins.
At home, a 10-day cleansing is carried out using sodium thiosulfate. To do this, dilute 1/2 an ampoule (5 ml) in water and drink it at night, since it has a strong laxative effect and it is unknown where trouble can happen. According to reviews from those who have tried this detox method, all the “dirt” comes out of the body through cleansing the intestines in a natural way and a slight allergic reaction on the body. But digestion is normalized, sleep improves, and weight is reduced.
But no matter how flattering the reviews are, you shouldn’t risk prescribing treatment for yourself without consulting a doctor.
What is detoxification
There are 2 main phases of detoxification therapy:
- cytochromes P-450, which are liver enzymes, change the structure of toxins thanks to oxygen
- binding of toxic substances and removing them from the body, it is at this stage that the transformed substances are completely eliminated by the body with urine and bile.
Detoxification methods directly depend on the severity of the clinic resident’s intoxication. Doctors at the Narcology No. 1 clinic select an individual body cleansing program for each patient. Before starting the procedures, blood is drawn from the patient to fully assess the severity of intoxication. In certain cases, detoxification therapy should be carried out exclusively in a clinic so that the patient does not have the opportunity to return to use, but in some situations it is advisable to carry out the procedure at home. It all depends on the patient’s condition, the severity of intoxication and the patient’s mood for recovery.
There are 2 methods of detoxification:
- natural
- artificial.
Our body is a unique system that has a system for recycling toxins. Toxic elements are eliminated through the intestines, kidneys, circulatory system and sweat glands. Natural detoxification includes gastric lavage, laxatives and diuretics. This method shows high effectiveness in treating alcohol intoxication, after which the patient is recommended a healthy diet, vitamin complexes, walks in the fresh air and increased physical activity.
The duration of natural detoxification is from 1 to 3 weeks. The body independently regenerates all processes in the initial stages of the disease, but with prolonged use of alcohol or drugs, the liver cells simply cannot cope with the increased load, and natural detoxification does not bring the desired result.
In this case, doctors at the Narcology No. 1 clinic use artificial detoxification depending on the patient’s general well-being, the presence of contraindications and the duration of use:
- medicinal
- extracorporeal
- combined.
Medical detoxification is an intravenous infusion of drugs that promote the rapid removal of toxic substances from the body and the restoration of the body’s protective functions. Upon completion of the procedure, the patient’s general condition normalizes and the manifestation of withdrawal symptoms decreases.
Extracorporeal detoxification is a more radical method of removing toxic substances from the body, which is carried out in several ways:
- hemodialysis is a method of extrarenal blood purification through a dialysis machine
- hemosorption - cleansing with activated carbon
- plasmapheresis - blood replacement with a change in the structure of hemoglobin, is carried out only in critical situations.
A combination of methods makes it possible to achieve faster and more effective results. Along with detoxification therapy, restorative treatment is also carried out, which normalizes the functioning of all organs and systems of the body, which leads to improved well-being of the patient and normalization of sleep.
The biological treatment method is based on the use of natural methods, without the use of chemicals. The patient is prescribed vitamin and mineral complexes, a visit to the bathhouse to increase sweating, and increased physical activity. After completing the detoxification course, the patient no longer feels a strong craving for use.
Cleansing the body for weight loss at home
All of the above methods of cleansing the body lead to weight loss. And no matter what detox program you choose, there are a number of rules that you should follow:
- give up fast food, smoked meats, alcohol, coffee and other junk food;
- forget about cigarettes;
- do not eat sweets and baked goods;
- eat more foods high in fiber;
- exclude fried foods and meat.
Methods for losing weight can be gentle and radical. Those that are gentle include:
- enema - the colon is cleaned of “deposits” of feces and waste;
- drinks - replacing food with drinking;
- laxatives - cleanse the body;
- Proper nutrition normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and helps to cope with extra pounds.
A radical way to put the body in order is fasting. It can be one-day, three-day or full.
Whatever folk recipes for weight loss are used, regularity and consistency are important.
Different techniques have different effects. Some immediately, and others after a certain time. But you will feel the result in the form of lost kilograms with any detox method.
How can detox be dangerous?
At the very least, severe nutritional imbalance. It’s one thing to limit your food intake (but not water!) for a day. It’s quite another thing to give up food for several days: in this case, you will not receive enough nutrients, so you are guaranteed to feel weak and tired.
There are more serious side effects “Detoxes” and “Cleanses”: What You Need To Know / National Institutes of Health. For example:
- If you want to try a juice or smoothie detox, be aware that some juices (like spinach and beets) are high in oxalate. This is the name given to a chemical that can cause the formation of kidney stones.
- A detox using water or herbal infusions, if it lasts longer than a day, can lead to a dangerous imbalance of electrolytes in the body.
- Detoxing with laxatives or an enema is quite likely to lead to dehydration. And again, electrolyte imbalance. In addition, such “cleansing” procedures can cause serious complications, especially in people with gastrointestinal diseases, colon surgery, severe hemorrhoids, kidney or heart problems.
Detox is especially dangerous for people with a variety of chronic diseases. They can carry out “cleansing” procedures only after consultation with the attending physician. And only if, of course, the doctor approves detoxification.