When it comes to cleansing our body of toxins, detoxing often comes up as a popular option. Like we previously discussed here on Living Smart Girl, it is often done for weight loss purposes. These detoxes also come in many forms — from simple juice cleanses, or trying digestit colon cleanses, or to more restrictive diets that cut out sugars. And while all these sound simple enough, detoxing is not something you can usually just jump into like other diets, especially if you’ve never done it before.
In order to reap its full benefits and ensure your body still gets the nutrients it needs, it helps to know some key dos and don’ts. Here are some tips to get you started:
The Dos:
Have all three macronutrients at every meal
Detox professionals will surely tell you to avoid food like grains and meat so your body can clean itself faster. However, this may not be the best way to approach this new lifestyle. The three macronutrients — protein, fat, and carbs — are the things your body uses in large amounts, and thus need to be replenished often. There are lots of healthier substitutes like coconut oil for fats, or seafood for protein. No matter what anyone tells you, don’t cut these three essential nutrients from your diet completely. If you really must, then at least consult your doctor beforehand.
Choose the right ingredients
Whether you’re drinking juice or trying out a new tea blend, it’s important to keep an eye out for ingredients that will allow your body to detox the healthy way. Pretty Me’s review of Lean N Green Coffee highlights the importance of natural ingredients like psyllium fiber husk, l-carnitine, and green tea for their cleansing and fat-burning properties. Not only do they not rely on chemicals, but they’re also clean and give your body the boost that it needs during this period. If your goal is weight loss, then all the more can they assist you.
Eat every three to four hours
Let’s get one thing straight: Detox cleansing is not a fast, which means you’re supposed to keep your body nourished and healthy. Eating every few hours stabilizes your blood sugar levels, which keeps your metabolism revved up. If you need to whip up something really quickly, then Jus by Julie has ready-made substitutes for juices and other food items that are formulated with nutrients to help your body cleanse, while satisfying your food cravings.
The Don’ts:
Stress your body
Because detox is often seen as a physical thing, it might seem that stress has little to do with it. However, even external stress can cause a surge of hormones that can impair your nervous and immune systems. In turn, this interferes with your body’s metabolism and ability to properly absorb nutrients that are vital to cleansing. To counter this, try doing relaxing activities like yoga, going on walks, and indulging in your favorite hobby.
Touch the alcohol
Alcohol, specifically brownish liquors like rum and whisky, contains toxic substances that places added stress on your liver, kidneys, and intestines. Not to say that moderate consumption of the beverage is bad. But all of the potential benefits of alcohol (such as supporting good lipoprotein cholesterol, preventing blood clots, and promoting antioxidant properties) can all be obtained with proper exercise, water, and integrating proper foods into your diet. And after all, you’re on a detox for a reason, so it pretty much cancels it out if you continue to drink as you go about your cleanse.
Skimp on sleep
We all know that getting enough sleep is important for everyday functions, but this is even more crucial when you’re on a detox. A good night’s sleep can help clear the mind – literally. Deep sleeping (or the level of rest where you dream) for at least seven hours a day encourages your brain to remove potentially toxic proteins. Plus, it also helps repair damaged tissues, which is an added benefit to your detox.
That said, the list of benefits for going a cleanse can go on and on. However, it’s also important to note that the benefits of a short-term detox cleanse are also just that — short-term. When you’ve successfully flushed out all the toxins in your body, try to keep up those healthy choices and you’ll be on your way to a holistic lifestyle fix.
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