Detox: the detoxification cure for the body

Some days you wake up in the morning and think to yourself: No ten horses will make me leave my cozy bed. You feel lethargic, exhausted and listless. Already too much stress in the morning and hardly any time. This goes on all day and in the evening there is no time to cook properly. You prefer to buy something quickly on the way. How do you get your full energy back and what role does the detox health trend play in this?

How Detox helps our body

Detoxification is about cleaning the body from the inside out. There are several methods for doing this: you can avoid products containing animal, sugar and fat, or you can avoid foods that consist largely of additives. Such a change helps your detoxification organs to free themselves from harmful substances. Harmful substances that you ingest through food. Detoxification organs include the liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines and skin. Detoxing also helps to get rid of excess kilos. 

Detox cure variant 1: the juice cure

This is similar to religious fasting. You still eat food, but solid food is avoided. If you do so, a so-called juice cure is recommended. This detoxification treatment helps your organs to free themselves from harmful substances. Treat yourself to a lot of fruit and vegetables and above all to plenty of fluids. This means: drink lots of water, tea, fruit and vegetable juices (cold-pressed) and smoothies rich in vitamins. You can also make smoothies yourself very easily, all you need is a blender and nutritious fruit and vegetables. Soups and vegetable broths are also allowed.

Detox cure variant 2: Avoidance of certain foods

In this detox treatment you primarily leave out unhealthy foods: no fast food, no sugar, no carbohydrates or animal products. You should also stop drinking alcohol and smoking. On the other hand, you can take fruit and vegetables in salads, cooked or as a snack. As with the juice cure, it is also important to drink plenty of fluids. 

Detox means: balanced acid-base ratio

The main aim of the detox treatment is to bring the acid-base ratio back into balance. Often the body is over acidified. Over-acidity can already occur when one suffers from lack of sleep.

In order to rebalance this ratio, it is important to follow an alkaline diet as much as possible in a detox treatment. Basic foods are rich in valuable vitamins and basic minerals (potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium). They have a high water content and thus support the intestinal flora and are particularly good for our detoxification organs.

Here is a small overview of basic foods: 

Are there rules about detoxing? 

There are a few important rules you should be aware of when detoxing.

1. Drink, drink and drink again

Drinking enough is important for our kidneys. They have the task of cleansing our blood of toxins. On average, the body needs about 2 to 3 litres per day.

Get up in the morning and first of all drink a large glass of warm water. This will save your body the energy it needs to heat the water to stomach temperature. It is best to dribble in some freshly squeezed lemon juice. This boosts the metabolism and at the same time cleanses the gastrointestinal tract. Accumulated toxins are flushed out more quickly.     

2. Healthy food is the order of the day

Of course, a healthy diet includes fruit and vegetables. If possible, take food that is organically grown in a controlled way. They are free of pesticides, pesticides and harmful fertilizers. If you want to eat healthily, you should avoid sweets and fast food. Instead put couscous, chick peas, sweet potatoes or eggplants on your menu. It may be difficult to do without chocolate completely at first, but after a while your cravings usually subside.

3. Enough sleep, exercise and out into the fresh air

Sleep is essential - the important detoxification organs are particularly active at night. If we suffer from lack of sleep, our body suffers. The toxins that have accumulated during the day are broken down less or hardly at all.

A lot of exercise helps with sleep problems. Outdoor sports are the perfect mixture to be active and get fresh air at the same time. If you don't like jogging big laps through the park, you might want to try yoga. Correct breathing also plays an important role in detoxifying the body: deep inhalation and exhalation through the nose and mouth supports the blood flow to our detoxification organs.

Detox for your well-being - are there any disadvantages?

Detoxing is very popular after a large family meal: the cure can work wonders for an unpleasant feeling of fullness and a bloated stomach. And even make a few kilos disappear. 

But as nice as it sounds, there are still some disadvantages of the detox cure.

1. The yo-yo effect

Anyone who has ever been on a diet may also know what it is like to put on a few kilos again afterwards - sometimes even more than before. What is the reason for this? It is called the yo-yo effect. Your body is denied unhealthy food and it uses fat reserves. After a certain period of time, the kilos just tumble off you. However, when you resume your usual diet, your body quickly falls into a survival mode. It puts on enough fat pads to be prepared for the next little famine.

The yo-yo effect does not have to happen - but it can. Anyone taking a detox cure does without unhealthy food. But those who do not change their diet and lifestyle in general often suffer from the yo-yo effect after a 3-week strict diet. It is important that you maintain your healthy diet and integrate it into your normal everyday life.

2. A change is a burden

Changing the diet can put the body to the test. When detoxing, you avoid many types of foods such as animal products or solid foods. The body does not simply put that away. It uses its reserves for the time being, but is under stress as a result. In order to be able to concentrate, you need sugar. To compensate for the lack of sugar, it is advisable to resort to fruits and nuts. It is better to get your body used to solid food more slowly afterwards. Above all, supply it with valuable vital substances and nutrients.

3. Who should not take a detox cure?

People with serious chronic diseases, pregnant women or immunocompromised persons should discuss a detox treatment with their doctor beforehand. During the course of the treatment you will not eat any solid food and will therefore consume fewer calories. As this change is very radical, it can sometimes be unfavourable for some people.

How you too can manage the detox treatment

The detox treatment requires stamina and a lot of motivation. It is never advisable to jump into cold water without any mental preparation. The body should know what you intend to do with it. You can do this to make the start of the detox treatment easier: 

1. A good preparation

An emptying of the bowel or a colonic irrigation with Epsom salts is the most suitable method. The body gets a preliminary cleansing and is then free of old burdens.

2. Draw up a plan

Before you start the cure, make a plan of when you will eat something. Write your own cure plan. A detox treatment should be for a maximum of three weeks.

3. The right time

The right time is also important for a detox treatment. The change in the body will most likely make itself felt. Tiredness or hunger - the body longs for the usual. So if you have to perform physically more in your job or have responsibility for many people, you should also consider this. Perhaps you are considering taking the cure over a long weekend. Or wait for your next holiday and use the time to detox.

So if you want to rid your body of toxins, do it a great favour with a detox treatment. And remember: A healthy and stress-free life also requires a lot of exercise and enough sleep.