Is it time to detox?

It’s that time of year again – when people start talking about “detoxing” their body after a long winter of being cooped up indoors and taking in heavier foods. But what is detoxification? Is it a fad, or is it something that you can benefit from?

Detox your body: The basics

When you detox your body, you’re eliminating toxic matter from your body by changing your eating habits. This creates a more alkaline environment so that you can live a longer, healthier life that is full of energy.

The elimination channels in the body consists of the skin, lungs, bowels and kidneys. These organs are essential in helping the body maintain the correct alkaline and acidic balance. If for some reason they are bogged down by too much toxic matter, it could result in acidosis (acid buildup), which can cause major health problems.

Your body is a machine. And like any machine, you need to take care of it in order for it to function properly. What happens when you don’t service a car? One issue turns into another, and it eventually breaks down. The same goes for your body. You get out of it what you put into it, and disease and sickness are the manifestation of poor eating choices.

“Dead” food (meat, eggs and other dairy products) or processed food (soda, candy, packaged goods) create a toxic, acidic environment inside of your body which, in turn, slows it down and causes health problems that you pay for in the form of fatigue, constipation, disease and much more. The nutrients you would get from any healthy food that you do eat won’t get absorbed and your energy will be depleted because your system is overwhelmed with toxic materials.

On the other hand, if you eat live, healthy foods you create a happy, alkaline environment for your body and it functions at its optimal capacity. Foods such as leafy greens, fruit, wheatgrass juice and chlorophyll-rich foods all contribute to a sound body and mind.

How long does it take to detox your body?

When it comes time to detox your body, there’s no set timeline regarding how long it will take. Ask yourself what your goals are and consider the level of intensity you want to make your detox. You may want to jump right in with juice cleanses or go straight into dropping caffeine or sugar cold turkey, but how long have you been having your daily latte or sweet pick-me-up snack? Have you juice cleansed before, and what nutrients may you be missing out on?

You’ll want to pay close attention to how your body responds to different foods to gauge how often you want to detox. Some people will experience side effects like headaches, fatigue or nausea, which may slow down their timeline. But when you track your progress and engage with the mind-body connection by pushing through any initial discomfort, the detoxification process will lead to lifelong benefits.

How to detox your body

There’s a few essential things to keep in mind when it comes to detoxing. You might choose to detox your body by going on a complete water fast where you do not consume any food for several days. This helps your body reset and re-calibrate since it does not have to digest anything. Others decide to cut out certain types of food to reduce inflammation and help their body repair. No matter what you choose, here are a few detoxing essentials.

1. Cut out alcohol:

Excessive amounts of drinking can lead to a host of health issues, but even a small amount of alcohol makes your liver work harder and can inhibit its function. One of the best ways to help your body cleanse is to completely abstain from alcohol so your liver can focus on metabolizing toxins so they’re expelled from the body.

2. Get quality sleep:

While you focus on what you eat and drink, it can be easy to ignore sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best ways to detox your body and allow it to repair and heal. While you sleep, your brain starts to recharge and gets rid of any waste that accumulated across the day. Aim to sleep seven to nine hours each night to support your body.

Your quality of sleep is just as important as the amount of time you spend sleeping, so invest in blackout curtains or a sleep mask to foster a completely dark environment. Stay away from using electronics for at least an hour before bed so you can quickly relax and fall asleep.

3. Drink more water:

Consuming large amounts of water is critical when you are working to detox your body. Water serves as a natural detoxification tool by helping expel waste and pollutants, and also serves a vital role in fostering digestion. Aim to consume anywhere from 90 to 125 ounces of water per day, especially during a detoxification period to reap the most benefits.

4. Cut down on salt:

Salt’s found in a wide range of foods, but eliminating or drastically reducing your salt intake will help you rapidly shed water weight and feel better. When you take in too much salt and not enough water, your body releases hormones that stop you from urinating, which means it will be harder to detox your body. The more you’re able to urinate, the more waste and excess products can be expelled from your body.

Tony Robbins’ detox strategies

Ever wonder how Tony Robbins gets so much energy? Here are some key foods that he takes in on a regular basis:

Water with lemon

Lemon is an alkalizer, and when added to water, it’s an easy way to rid the body of excess acid.

Green juice

Greens are the number-one source of alkalinity; when you juice them, you get a higher concentration of nutrients.

Wheatgrass juice

Wheatgrass juice packs a lot of power in a small amount. It is 70% chlorophyll, which is the blood of plants. It helps to keep the blood clean and healthy and is also one of the greatest concentrations of minerals you can get.

When you take control of your health, you take control of your life. Please consult your physician before partaking in any diet to alkalinize your body.