How to Detoxify Your Body After Eating Junk Food – 11 Ways

The Need to Detoxify Your Body

Have you wondered sometimes why you feel lazy and heavy to move, though you are not sick? You intend to carry out some tasks but your body is not just up to it. In order to resolve the problem, you go on to smoke cigarettes, or take some cups of coffee in an effort to revive your body. This could work for a while and after some time to go back again to smoking or resort to taking more cups of coffee, etc. By repeatedly doing this you are unknowingly accumulating toxins into your body. Repeated occurrence of this situation signifies that you might need to detoxify your body.

One of the greatest concerns of our time is toxicity. Several factors contribute in the development of toxins in the human body; this includes ingestion of chemicals, water, polluted air, radiation, etc.

Causes of Toxin Build Up In Your Body

What are toxins?

Toxins are agents that are able to cause body harm. Toxins are of two types: Exogenous or external toxins and Endogenous or internal toxins. Toxins from external sources such as car fumes, tobacco smoke, drugs, factory pollution, etc. are referred to as Exogenous, on the other hand, the Endogenous toxins come from viral or bacterial infection. The body, due to metabolism, also creates its own toxin called Autogenous toxins. It is important to detoxify your body.

Fast Food Chain Eater

If you eat fast food regularly, the chances are that you may have consumed many fat-soluble chemicals contained in the French fries, cheeseburgers and soft drinks. Too much of these chemicals in the body can lead to illness and could result in health conditions like liver malfunction, kidney problems, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies and inefficient metabolism.

The most common symptoms of these illnesses are tiredness, poor skin condition, etc.

Unhealthy Lifestyle

An unhealthy lifestyle implies that you are doing things which are somewhat harmful to your body, and even to other people. A typical example is cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol. Cigarette and alcohol contains harmful chemicals that are considered toxins once they enter a person’s body. There is every need for you to detoxify your body.

Daily exposure of your body to pollution, consumption of various types of junk food, aerated drinks; alcohol etc. leads to the accumulation of toxins in your body.

Todays refined diets and stressful lifestyles can deplete the body’s natural store of important minerals and vitamins leading to the disruption of the delicate balance in our body.

For most of the time you may have considered yourself fairly healthy. You may not be overweight; however, your diet may comprise of processed food, soda, drinks, not real juice but man made sugary drinks, fast food and lots of fat! You may consider your lifestyle and eating habits normal. This is how most people live their life. What you may not realize was all the dyes, preservatives and hydrogenated oils people consume, not to mention exhaust fumes, solvents, chemicals pesticides and heavy metals in our environment. It is very important to key into your program and plan to detoxify your body.

All these ingestion builds up over time and may have adversative effect on your body if not being tacked timely.

Exposure to obnoxious chemicals

We are exposed to harmful chemicals when we spray our homes with chemicals to kill off insects, rodents, etc. and when we put chlorine in our swimming pools. When we go outside our premises there are chances of being exposed to the exhaust fumes from cars, generators, planes etc.

Nutrient deficiency in food

Some of the foods we eat these days lack nutrients. This is as a result of depleted soil due to long usage.  What rather get into our system are the chemicals used to obtain a larger yield of crops. Our grandparents and great grandparents ate food richer in nutrients.

What exactly does this mean? This simply implies that we live in a highly toxic environment!

Biochemical Activities

Biochemical activities lead to the production of biochemical toxins which produce free radicals. These free radicals can cause inflammation or irritation of the tissues consequently leading to the obstruction of normal functioning of an organ, cells, or entire body.

Microbes, bacteria, intestinal bacteria, parasites, and yeasts produce waste products that are metabolic. Emotions, thoughts, and stress also increase biochemical toxins.

Body Stimulants

In order to meet up with the current fast paced lifestyles we want our bodies to be constantly active. As a result, we resort taking body stimulants such as coffee, cigarettes, diet pills, drugs, etc. in view that they will help the body to stay up all the time, but reverse is the case. Rather these stimulants cause immediate loss of energy and lead to emotional symptoms such as headaches, sickness and depression. Actually they are considered as toxins in the body.

These toxins increase the body’s tendency of acquiring diseases such as cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, obesity, allergies, arthritis, and other health issues. Rise in toxins leads to the display of symptoms linked with weak immune system.

Sugar has a stimulating effect. It is advised to cut down on it by using brown sugars like cane sugar which is natural. Note that refined fruit Juices also have the same effect as refined white sugar.

By using all kinds of drugs, eating more sugar as well as refined foods, a lot of people are consuming chemicals, thereby harming themselves with toxins.

Considering the enormous pollution your body is exposed to daily, as well as the consumption of numerous types of junk food, aerated drinks, alcohol etc. it is quite obvious that over time your body accumulates various toxins. Detoxify your body when due.

Why you need to detoxify yourself

So why go for a detox?

Detoxification (also called Detox) is the process of neutralizing or removing toxins from the body.

It is the process of eliminating deposited toxic products from the various parts of the body such as the bowel, the blood, liver, kidneys, etc. Harmful elements are removed from the body by the process.

There are different forms of detox plans ranging from regular exercise, body scrubs and meditation. Detox diet is possibly the simplest and the most common.

Natural diet is the easiest way to detoxify the body. A change in the diet from a poor to a healthy one is a simple way to detoxify the body naturally. A healthy diet comprises fresh food diet, specifically, fruits and vegetables.

A typical detox diet helps to minimize the chemicals ingested into the body. It lays emphasis on food like vitamins and antioxidants that the body needs for detoxification. It includes taking in of food that will aid in the elimination of toxins, for example, food that contains high fibre and water. Detox diet generally suggests high intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and lots of fluids, while cutting down on caffeine, alcohol, yeast and sugars.

By undertaking a detox diet program, you will have enhanced vigour, good skin, a regular bowel movement, better digestion, increased ability to focus, etc. In general, it brings on the individual wellness and a better well-being.

Precaution before a Detox

Before embarking on a detox program, it is noteworthy to take some precautionary measures to ensure you are safe to engage in the detox program. Although anyone can undergo a detox program, there are some exceptions. Pregnant women or those who are nursing are advised not to go on such plans. Unless recommended by a doctor, people with anaemia, eating disorders, heart disease, low immunity, low blood pressure, ulcers, cancer, the underweight or those suffering from alcohol or drug dependency should not go on a detox diet.

A detox program can help to free up energy which can be channelled for regeneration and cleansing. A detoxification program helps in intake of foods and drinks that nourish our body.

A detoxification plan makes available protective antioxidants and at the same time helps you to discard those habits that rob you of vital nutrients and optimal health.

Besides other methods of keeping ourselves clean and healthy such as taking vitamin supplements, natural therapies, and so on, body detox is among the best ways.  Body detox is an important step that can help you to restore or replenish energy levels, as well as make you more alert in different areas of your life, such as at work.

A good step to take in order to restore your body as well as give your body a boost after a night of over-indulgence – eating all the wrong foods and consuming more alcohol than is healthy is by undergoing body detox program.

Chronic and critical ailments can be assuaged through cleansing or detoxification program. Detoxification naturally eliminates the harmful toxins from the body.

The amount of time for a detoxification program depends on the individual. If can either be a short-term or a long-term activity. Detox programs should be properly planned with your doctor and a nutritionist.

Weight loss is one of the much-desired benefits of body detox. Liver and Kidneys detox is good to undergo during a weight loss program, as it will improve weight loss results.

When do I need to go for a detox?  

If you sense that the food you ate has settled in your stomach undigested, if you are feeling sluggish, or if you think you are fat and need to lose weight, or you feel you have consumed more than the allowed preservatives and additives into your body, if you feel body aches and very low energy level, then it is time for you to consider going for a detoxification program.

Detox program will enable you have better skin, sharper mind, energised, stronger immune system and feeling healthy inside out. Detoxification cleanses the blood – by removing impurities from the blood..

Essential Detox techniques for your health

Steps for detoxification

There are many techniques to detox the body. It is left for you to decide method that best suits your lifestyle.

A detox program will require an evaluation of one’s health history. This includes examination of the body’s physical condition, biochemistry tests, mineral level tests, dietary analysis and other related specific tests to diagnose your entire health status. A fore knowledge of your health history is helpful in determining the appropriate natural procedure that you should take to clean up your body.

Evaluation of your current health status, lifestyle, and diets can help in making a body detox plan that is best suited for you. Note that a well-planned detoxification program, when followed accordingly, achieves positive results.

Successful detox program takes discipline to achieve; however, your body will express gratitude to you for your efforts to change to a healthy way of life.

This explains why our parents keep on repeating to us to eat fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables help to keep us fit and healthy.

If you’re thinking of starting a detox program ensure that you consult a doctor or a nutritionist. Seek advice from the experts.

Natural detoxification

The human body eliminates noxious substances from the body by a built in detox system. It does this through excretion. The body detoxifies itself all day naturally. The peak of detoxification occurs when the body is rested.

However, when we put pressure on it by eating unhealthy foods, drinking too much alcohol, exposing it to polluted environment and not getting enough sleep the system is weakened. In this case the body can’t handle the detoxification process alone.

There are various types of detox methods that help your body rid itself of its toxic overload. The following are essential detox techniques for your quality health:

Essential Detox Techniques for Your Health:

1.       Reduce the Consumption of Certain Types of Food and Stimulants 

The first step you have to take is to watch what you eat and ensure that you reduce toxins in your body. Begin to cut down on the following: cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, eating foods with saturated fats and refined sugars – these acts as toxins in your body and as a deterrent to your healing process.

Note that the use of household cleaners that are chemical-based and personal health care products such as shampoos, toothpaste, deodorants and cleansers may contain some percentage of toxins and as such should be reduced as well.

Once these chemicals are ingested, they remain inside us; we never really fully eliminate them unless we undergo detoxification process.

2.       Fasting

Fasting is at times included as a detox therapy. Basically, It is considered as the oldest natural detox activity for humans. The method adopted in eliminating these toxins is very important to the health of a person. Although the body can handle certain amount of toxins, it is always necessary to think of reduction or elimination in case of excess toxin production.

The body spends many hours processing the food through digestion when you eat. When you stop eating and drink a lot of fluids, the body can then focus on removing toxins and healing the body. Fasting can be 1 to 3 days or as much as 7 days if done properly and under the care of a licensed practitioner.

Successful detox activity can help clear dead cells, wastes, and revitalize the natural functions as well as the healing capacities of the body. Basically, at the end of the detox activity you will have a well-working and stronger immune system. In this way, you will live a much better life.

Water Fasting

Water fast involves the consumption of only water during the fasting period. When water is consumed, it lets the digestive tract and organs to rest completely, allowing all of your energy to self-repair and strengthen damaged organs. It also reduces toxin build-ups.  Water fasting not only removes obstruction and aids in self-healing, it is also revitalizes, enabling a fresh start.

Juice Fasting

Juice fasting simply implies drinking only the juice of fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrot, spinach, celery, cabbage, apple, pineapple, cranberry, etc. during the fasting time frame. It is an effective way of eliminating toxins; it also provides lots of nutrients as well as enzymes thereby enhancing the cleansing process.

One of the main benefits of juice fasting is weight loss. A person may drop 10-40 lbs  on a 20/30 day juice fast. Benefits of juice fasting includes: feels light and clean, sharp, self-confident, etc. Simple juice fasting is usually about 1-3 days, however, for a longer fasting duration/as well as one with medical condition such as diabetes (sugar content of some fruits may be unsuitable for diabetics) , medical administration and careful assessment is required.

3.     Change in diet.

Change to diet that comprises whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables instead of packaged and fast foods that are high on fats and sugar can become part of your daily lifestyle – in order to maintain good health.

Using raw vegetables and fresh fruits as a full body detox diet plan is good for young persons whose bodies have been subjected to high levels of alcohol, burgers and pizzas.

Mild detox can consist of vegetable meals which add proteins in your body. Fresh fish with a lot of vegetables can also energize you.

However, a detoxification plan doesn’t have to be entirely boring. By getting rid of the offending foods, you allow your body to heal. The aim is to focus on simple, fresh foods and you will enjoy the detox activity.

4. Sauna

The Sauna (put link to Wikipedia or other website) or steam Bath is widely used by many cultures as a regular part of detox. Sauna helps greatly in removing chemical build-ups in fat cells. They are usually combined with diet, exercise and nutritional supplements.

5. Regular Bathing

Regular bathing is a detoxification method that promotes healthy skin when done properly. It is vital in cleaning your skin from accumulated toxins. Sweats and saunas are most often used in purifying your body via more enhanced skin elimination. Dry brushing your skin using the right skin brush is often suggested before bathing.

6. Skin Brushing

Brushing the skin is a gentle way of detoxing. With the combination of diet, exercise and nutritional supplements, it removes old skin cells, stimulates the lymph system and draws out toxins through the skin. For best results use a dry skin brush made of soft vegetable bristles.

Our present-day surroundings call for taking action in caring for our bodies. Detoxing is a great approach to reduce toxic build up. Detoxification will help you to feel great and have extra energy.

7. Colon Cleansing

Colon is one of the body organs which are prone to develop toxins. Note that large intestines can put up much toxicity which can result to its slow functioning. Detox programs are designed to solve this problem. Cleansing diet which includes fibre and other supplements are incorporated for cleaning and toning colons.

The majority of people have some difficulty with their colon, constipation being one of the big ones. Colon cleansing can be done naturally by eating foods high in fiber or taking fiber supplements. A diet that includes vegetables and fruits such as raspberries or blueberries are a great source of fiber. This helps hydrate and nourish your body and flush toxins and fecal matter out of your system.

8. Regular Exercise

When you exercise, it stimulates sweating which helps to eliminate toxic wastes through your skin. It improves general metabolism and aids in your overall detoxification. Aerobic exercise done regularly can help to eliminate toxins. For best results exercise should always be accompanied with intake of antioxidants, adequate fluids, mineral and vitamins.

Exercise detoxification is an effective technique of cleansing many vital organs concurrently and should become a regular part of your life. There are numerous exercise programs and plans out there, or just walking for at least 12-15 minutes a day is beneficial to the body including the colon function.

9. Relaxing and Resting

It is vital for us to make out time to relax and rest from the daily hustle. This is important in the recuperation process. It is actually unhealthy not to schedule break time into your day work. When your plan for a short break, for example, it will at least help you to get some fresh air, clear your mind and get you ready for the coming task. Study shows that if you do not plan at least one hour break every day during your work period for a prolonged time, you may experience some health issues.

Incorporating relaxation and resting (youtube link to relaxation music) in your schedule helps your body in rebalancing your attitude and mind which sometimes interferes in natural homeostasis.

10. Consuming Herbal Detoxification Teas

If toxins find their way from our air, food and water into the tissues of our bodies, they tend to take a heavy toll on our body and can actually interfere with the normal functions of the body. As a result, we are often left feeling tired and heavy.

One of the best detox methods is taking herbal detox teas. Detox Tea is a gentle way of combating this condition as it helps the body to clean itself out by helping the two main filtering mechanisms, the liver and the kidneys.

Green tea especially the Japanese or Chinese green tea is beneficial as a detox tea. (amazon link). Other methods include the use of herbal teas and supplements. Again, as earlier mentioned, be in contact with your doctor for proper scheduling.

11. Detox Supplements

The rise in the amount of toxins in the body results in stress in the immune system which eventually breaks down due to overwork. In order to eliminate the toxins promptly, you may want to engage in detox program that will yield faster results. For fast, optimum results from your detox, you should consider taking some supplements. Taking supplements is a good way for keeping track of detox intervals. Ensure you contact your health practitioner for advice and planning.

Home Detox Programs

Home detox programs are focused in helping you lose weight, enhance circulation, increase body toxin elimination capability, colon cleansing, detox diet, and provide nutrients for the liver.

There are home body-detox programs that can be easily followed, for a period of two weeks or more.

Home body-detox programs teach you what foods are right for the body. Fresh vegetables and fruits are great for almost any weight loss program, most especially with a home detox. You can eat broccoli, onions, and sprouts, green and red veggies. Virgin oils, lemon water, rice milk, wheat products, and non-caffeinated drinks (like tea) are also good for a home detox program. Drinking at least eight glasses of water every day is also advisable.

The liver is the main organ of the body that is in charge of the detoxification process. It is important that you make the necessary effort to protect and support this body organ.

A well planned body-detox program will help you restore your body’s balance, and efficiently remove toxin build ups.

Note that relapsing into an unhealthy lifestyle will again build up toxins in your body. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential in managing toxin built up in the body. Ensure that you detoxify your body at predetermined intervals.