How To Detox Your Body for Optimal Health

Even if you’re the most health-conscious eater and careful about everything that enters your body, you may still want to detox your body for optimal health occasionally. Research shows that heavy metals are discarded in our waters, soil, and the atmosphere and that these sources seriously pollute the environment. Although some metals are essential to the function of the human body, many studies link diseases and cancers to an excess of these toxins building up in our systems.

Detoxing your body from harmful pollutants, chemicals, and heavy metals is the first step toward a commitment to healthy living and a feasible way to refresh your body from the inside out.

Even though your body is well-equipped to detoxify on its own using the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, and digestive system, certain supplements and processes can help optimize the natural detox system of your body by helping to cleanse these systems.

Please keep reading to learn more about how to detox your body and how completing an effective 7 day detox cleanse can help keep your body working the best it can, for years to come.

What Are The Top 7 Benefits of Detoxing?

There are many opinions about detoxing, both on the positive and negative sides, but many people, myself included, can attest to the benefits of regularly detoxing the body. Detoxing doesn’t have to be expensive or overly complicated. Instead, a simple program can help you quickly see and reap the benefits.

In a few minutes, we’ll go over some therapies, herbs, and other ways that you can incorporate into a detoxification program or routine. However, before you consider detoxing, first consider the following benefits.

#1. Detoxification Helps With Weight Loss

Weight loss is perhaps one of the most popular reasons people embark on a body detox program. The promise of being able to shed a few extra pounds quickly seems like it’s too good to be true.

I agree that detox programs that focus too much on weight loss can appear untrustworthy or like a gimmick. Many people give up on detoxing when they quickly regain the weight lost during the process.

The truth is that, yes, a detox program can help you shed a few extra pounds, but the weight you’re losing is not actual fat but instead comes from water weight and inflammation.

To help maintain weight loss after the detox program, you must concentrate on introducing foods that do not contain toxins and will help you continue to reap the benefits of the program. You probably don’t want to hear it again but, yes, eat as organic as you can. Companies like Trader Joes and Thrive Market can help with this.

So, it’s not a myth that weight loss can be a benefit of detoxing your body, but it is essential to realize that sustained weight loss must also include specific lifestyle changes.

#2. Detoxing Can Improve Your Energy

As our bodies build up toxins, we can become fatigued even if we get enough sleep. We can often attribute these feelings to a diet of excess sugar, caffeine, or saturated fats which leaves us lethargic. Often, we repeat the vicious cycle of indulging in another cup of coffee or something high in sugar when we start to feel an energy slump. These practices may help us feel better for a short while, but soon the “crash” comes, and we’re left feeling even less energetic than before. In this case, listen to science and not your body. Your body can be saying “feed me stimulants” but science says “feed me the right food.”

As you flush out the various toxins in your body by detoxing, you will also flush out the things that make you feel less energetic. Over time, you’ll start to feel an energy boost. The good thing is that the energy boost that comes from detoxing is not temporary, and the “crash” doesn’t shortly follow it.

#3. Detoxing Makes for a Clearer Mind and Thinking

Like decreased energy, the toxins in our body can leave us with that feeling of “brain fog.” We can also attribute this condition to a large intake of sugary or highly-processed foods. Some experts even suggest that poor gut health can also be a critical contributing factor.

Once you start to detox from these foods, rebalance the bacteria in your gut, and remove the associated toxins from the body, your mind and thinking will seem clearer again. A clearer mind will help you solve daily problems with less stress and keep you from fatigue and tiredness. Admit it. Every time you have a great bowel movement, don’t you just feel better? Not just lighter but there is a bit of clarity that follows. Part of that is the removal of a certain amount of toxins and inflammation from the body.

#4. Detoxification and a Strengthened Immune System

These days more than ever, people are looking for ways to strengthen their immune system and ward off infections and viruses. Studies show that environmental toxins and heavy metals do harm the human immune system and, in many cases, work to suppress it, leading to increased vulnerability to disease.

As you remove heavy metals and other environmental toxins from the body, your immune system will respond positively. It absolutely will! Your internal organs will detox and function more efficiently, carrying out their jobs in an intended way.

Many herbs and plant extracts used in detox programs assist with this process and help your body battle against viruses and chronic diseases.

#5. Detoxing and Removal of Excess Waste From The Body

Our digestive system serves as a way to remove waste products from the body, but sometimes toxins can cause these systems to work less effectively and start to store waste. For example, if your colon gets backed up, it can actually re-release toxins into your body instead of removing them.

If your thymus is overloaded it won’t recognize harmful chemicals when they come in contact with the body and so it will not react in a warning sort of way. Your lymphatic system doesn’t flow like your bloodstream and therefore needs up and down movement (like jumping or running for instance) or detoxing to help it recover when it becomes overwhelmed.

As you complete the detox program, your body will flush out these toxins and stimulate these other organs/systems as well as the digestive system to perform its job more appropriately.

Even after you complete a detox program, it’s a good idea to continue to take a digestive enzyme supplement that helps with proper digestion and includes soluble fibers to help keep it healthy.

#6. Detoxifying Promotes Better Sleep

Most people know how important sleep is to the body and immune system, but getting a good night’s sleep often proves more challenging than it should.

Something incredible that scientists have discovered in the past decade is that a good night’s sleep actually helps flush out toxins. This information further stresses the importance of sleep quality and overall health.

Additionally, other studies have also linked a build-up of toxins in the body to insomnia, which turns into a situation where you’re not getting the amount of sleep necessary for your brain to detox at night. As you remove these toxins from your body, your sleep and your natural detoxification process improve.

#7. Reduced Bodily Inflammation

Many people don’t realize that symptoms of inflammation, like arthritis, are often exacerbated by toxins within the body.

If you incorporate anti-inflammatory herbs into your detoxification routine, you will remove at least part of the inflammation and see some inflammatory related symptoms and chronic conditions improve as well.

More reading: Know the Effective Natural Anti-inflammatory Supplements that Help Reduce Inflammation Quickly.

What Organs Can Be Helped with Detoxification?

As mentioned, the human body is already a fantastic machine that uses the liver, lymph, thymus, kidneys, lungs, skin, and digestive system to identify toxins and naturally detox from harmful substances. However, over time, even these systems can get backed up or not function as effectively as they should, leading to health issues and other problems. We’ve briefly talked about lymph and thymus processes but here’s how a detoxification program can help improve the function of these other filtering organs.

Liver

The liver breaks down toxins and converts the food you eat into valuable substances. It also cleanses your blood to help provide the body with some of its most essential nutrients and proteins. The liver also plays a vital role in the use of hormones. Oftentimes, cleansing the liver can be the difference between fertility and infertility. This is often why natural hormone creams are used as they boost the liver’s inability to process hormones on its own.

If you take steps to keep your liver healthy, it will be able to more effectively do its job of removing harmful substances from your body.

Kidneys

The kidneys are another critical organ for filtering toxins and waste products from the body. Over time, diet and other pollutants can cause toxins to build up and negatively impact the kidney’s overall function. Examples can be kidney stones or urinary tract infections. By naturally cleansing the kidneys, you can help them to maintain their optimal function and improve your health.

Lungs

You should always try to keep your lungs as healthy as possible, as they can accumulate environmental toxins and other irritants. Every day we are exposed to these things, whether we try to avoid them or not.

Detoxing your lungs can help to keep them clear and reduce inflammation and swelling. These improvements can help with everything from inflammation leading to respiratory diseases, asthma, throat infections, chronic bronchitis, COPD and even bad breath.

Skin

The skin tends to be one of the most overlooked organs of the body when it comes to detoxing. However, each day it accumulates pollution, makeup, oil, dead skin cells, and other things that negatively impact its appearance and function. Ever think about where those spots come from as you age? They aren’t beauty marks; sorry.

As you detox your body for optimal health, your skin will also reap the benefits. It will look brighter, have better moisture, and be able to naturally detox your body better through the natural process of sweating. As a side note about sweating. Read about aluminum toxicity before you buy your next aluminum antiperspirant. Instead consider natural deodorants that don’t just mask the scent of sweat but address the bacteria that causes odor.

Digestive System

Your digestive system, including your stomach, gut, intestines, and colon, can suffer from an accumulation of toxins. Most often, you can trace issues like bloating, heartburn, and constipation to a poorly functioning digestive system. The subject no one wants to talk about is parasites. Did you know that inflammation in the bowel causes mucus, thus giving them a home to nestle into as well as depleting oxygen? This creates a perfect environment for parasites to thrive in?

Cleansing and balancing your digestive system can help you feel better all around and even help remedy some issues often attributed to food or gluten intolerances.

Don’t be surprised if people get a little closer since your breath with thank you as well. But it may come with a small price; having the detox flu for a few days is common. Make sure to drink plenty of water whenever you do any kind of detoxification.

More reading about: The Brief Overview of the Digestive System and How It Works.

How to Detox Your Body Fast, Yet Safely

Now that you have an understanding of the benefits of detoxing, it’s essential to understand the process of how to detox your body. Committing to a 7-Day Detox Cleanse can help jumpstart the body’s detoxification process and start you on a healthier lifestyle. You’ll feel cleaner and clearer, and want to stay that way.

A program like this involves taking a specialized mix of natural herbs and extracts three times a day for seven days. After compiling the initial 7-day body cleansing regimen, you should not repeat it again for another 6 to 8 weeks. However, if you combine it with a healthy diet and adequate hydration that you continue after the cleanse has been completed, you should continue to see the benefits.

If you’re looking for a slightly less-aggressive cleanse, you can also stretch it out over two weeks with a 15-Day Cleanse. This regimen will give your body a powerful cleansing and a dose of healthy probiotics that will assist with quickly remedying issues like constipation or irregular bowel activity by improving digestive health.

As with any type of cleanse, remember to drink plenty of water, get plenty of sleep (more than usual) and be sure to be near a bathroom. Experts agree to divide your weight in half and drink that number of oz per day of water, if at all possible and to give yourself 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Your body needs rest to heal itself. During sleep is when the body does its best work.

5 Effective Natural Therapies Used to Detox

Once you’ve jumpstarted your body’s detox process with a formulated 7 or 15-day cleanse, you will want to maintain the benefits by incorporating some other elements and natural therapies into your healthy lifestyle.

#1. Juicing

Using a juicer to separate the juice from fresh fruits and vegetables is a popular way to support detoxing the body. It can help your body absorb the nutrients (vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants) from these foods better because your digestive system does not have to digest the fiber. Many people find regular juicing also gives them a quick burst of long-lasting energy. Try incorporating juicing into your breakfast routine or having one in the afternoon as a way to reap the benefits. Even still smoothies leave the fiber along with all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

#2. Dry Brushing

Performing this simple ritual before each shower or bath effectively improves your lymph flow and stimulates the lymphatic system. The ritual feels more like an act of self-care than a detoxing process. Using a specially-designed brush, make broad, circular, clockwise motions over your body, starting at your feet and moving upward towards your heart. The process exfoliates off dead skin cells and opens up the pores to allow you to better release toxins through sweat.

#3. Gallbladder Cleanse

This cleanse can help reduce gallstones or keep you from getting them in the first place. Different cleansing methods exist but often involve sticking to a special diet for a day or two. Some popular cleanses involve drinking a combination of lemon juice and olive oil or apple juice and vegetable juice at regular intervals.

Do not do this cleanse without either supervision, checking with your doctor, and/or having explicit step by step details and a friend or family around just in case.

#4. Eating Raw Nuts

Certain raw, unsalted nuts, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, and almonds, can provide your body with the essential fatty acids needed to stimulate your lymph system. To reap the benefits, you only need to consume about a handful daily.

#5. Hot/Cold Showers

Alternating the temperature in your shower between hot and cold is another way to promote natural detox by improving blood circulation and positively affecting lymph flow. It also locks hair follicles so that nutrients stay in. Although it can take some time to get used to, and this process is not for everyone (pregnant women and those with heart or blood pressure conditions should avoid it), it can be an attainable way to incorporate natural detoxing therapies into your daily routine.

The best way to do it is to take your lovely hot shower. Then after rinsing the conditioner out of your hair, quickly turn the knob to a cold position, not enough to shock you into a heart attack but to what degree you can stand it. Rinse your hair and then move just enough to quickly rinse your body and then shut off the water.

Other Herbs Which are Best for Detoxing

Many herbs are known for their detoxing properties. Incorporating these into your healthy diet or taking a supplement can help with continued, ongoing detoxification. Here are 10 of the best herbs to help you detox your body.

• Aloe Vera Inner Leaf —supports the urinary tract and kidneys and flushes out impurities from the body.
• Dandelion Leaf — studies show that it has been known to rid the body of free radicals and is excellent for liver health.
• Oregano — has high levels of antioxidants and can potentially reduce oxidative damage and act as an anti-inflammatory. As an oil it is often used for infection and deworming.
• Guarana Seed — helps to speed up your metabolism and provide energy. Some studies done in mice have shown that it helps regulate digestion and decreases oxidative stress on the intestines.
• Red Clover Flower — supports the lymphatic and immune systems and can reduce inflammation. Studies have been done on its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
• Psyllium Husks —act as a gentle laxative to help clean the intestines and strengthen and soothe the protective mucus lining of the bowel. Some studies have shown that it helps improve symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
• Fenugreek Seed —helps to lubricate the intestines, cleanse the digestive tract, and balance blood sugar levels. A study has shown that it reduces oxidative damage to the liver.
• Garlic —helps to oxidize heavy metals in the body, such as mercury, that may build up over time by making them dissolve better and helping the body to eliminate them more effectively. Much research has been done on the health effects of garlic.
• Ginger —helps to remove toxins from the digestive system and makes the passage of waste through the body a bit easier.
• Stinging Nettle — has an extensive amount of vitamins and strong antioxidant properties. It is known to have more phenol content than cranberries and dandelions.

If you jumpstart your detox using a specially formulated nutritional and detox supplements, you will find that a good one incorporates a good mixture of many of these herbs. After completing the initial detox program, you can continue incorporating these into your daily routine to maintain their positive effects.

What Will I Experience with Detoxing?

Once your body starts to detox correctly, you should begin to experience the benefits that we noted above, such as increased energy, weight loss, a clearer mind, and a better immune system. However, to get to this point, your body must first adjust to releasing the toxins, which means that you may initially experience some symptoms.

The first few days of the program will most likely be the hardest, but having certain symptoms suggests that your cleanse is working. It is important to note that not all detoxing goes the same way. Pay attention to your own symptoms to understand if your detox program is working. Your underlying issues determine which way your detox takes you.

Some detox symptoms that you might experience during the first few days include:

• Changes to bathroom habits, such as constipation or diarrhea. You may also initially have more gas or bloating, but it will soon resolve as you progress with the program.
• Changes to your body odor, which shows that your body is removing toxins through your sweat. You detox through your mouth also and so your breath might be bad for a short time. Carry mints.
• Feeling more tired than usual for a few days as your body removes the sugar, caffeine, and the effects of fatty/ non-nutritious foods. Get plenty of rest. Now is not the time to party.
• Mood swings, such as irritability, as the waste is drawn out of your blood and system and as hormones begin to balance.
• Headaches, which can be caused if you remove caffeine from your diet during the detox. Sometimes people will just take tiny sips of black coffee or you can drink green or black tea during this time if it is too much, but only if it is too much. Stay strong. It won’t be long.

Remember that if you’re experiencing these symptoms, they should start to resolve as you progress through the detox or cleanse. Soon, you will start to feel the program’s benefits, have improved energy, and start to feel healthier.

Best Diet During Detoxing

As you focus on removing toxins, chemicals, and sugar from your body, you want to ensure that you work hard not to reintroduce these things simultaneously. Although there’s not a specific “detox diet” that you should follow, you should make sure you try to eat healthier, stay hydrated, and avoid processed foods. Snack on nuts or fruits and veggies with a lot of water or low glycemic index so you are stressing your body.

Here are some tips on how you should adjust your diet during and after your detox:

• Eat lots of whole, unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables.
• Ensure you drink lots of water to stay hydrated and help eliminate toxins.
• Incorporate green or black tea into your hydration routine.
• Eat plain whole grains, organic lean meats, and raw nuts.
• Avoid foods that are harder to digest like fried foods, carbohydrate-heavy foods, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners.

The Paleo diet is actually a great way to start since it removes processed foods, beans, dairy, grains and refined sugar. Also we recommend you read more about how the dangerous chemical glyphosate is being sprayed on so many foods and how it is poisoning the planet, one grain at a time.

Foods High In Chemicals to Avoid After Detoxing

Once you’ve completed your 7-Day Detox or 15- Day Cleanse, you will want to keep up with your new healthy habits to avoid accumulating harmful toxins and chemicals. Quickly returning to your old diet and not watching what you eat will negate the effects of the cleanse.

Stick to eating whole foods like fruits and vegetables and avoiding unprocessed foods during this time. Also, continue to drink a lot of water and tea throughout the day. Finally, eat organic whenever possible. A great place to find organic chemical-free foods is at Thrive. Avoid eating foods known to be high in chemicals, such as the following:

• Anything on the dirty dozen list
• Canned fruit
• Processed salad dressings
• Non-organic cereals
• Highly-processed peanut butter – especially with sugar and hydrogenated oils added
• Fast food or fried food
• Commercially-packaged protein shakes and bars with cheap useless ingredients
• Alcohol and caffeine
• Become that annoying person – the label reader

Final Thoughts on a Detox Cleanse

Incorporating a periodic cleanse or detox program into your lifestyle can help keep your body functioning optimally. Toxins surround us daily in our environment and in the foods we eat, and it’s impossible to avoid the harmful effects of them accumulating in the body.

Along with detoxing, eating a diet rich in whole foods, incorporating probiotics into your routine, and staying properly hydrated will also help your system more effectively eliminate toxins. In turn, you will find that you are more energetic and feel like a better version of yourself.

Best of luck on your detox journey! We hope that you find it rejuvenates you and helps put you back on track to optimal health.