A Beginners Guide to Detoxing

A Beginners Guide to Detoxing

People detox for many reasons, whether it's to lose weight, rid their bodies of toxins, feel healthier or start on a journey to living a healthier lifestyle. If you have thought about detoxing but you are unsure what to do, here are some tips to get you started.

What Is A Detox?

Detoxing means clearing out the body of unwanted substances and starting again, almost with a blank canvas. There is a lot of hype around detoxing as it does lead to short-term weight loss. However, this does not mean that you should use a detox as a kind of fad diet to fit into that dress you want to wear on Saturday night. Instead, you should see it as the beginning of a journey to a healthier you.

How Do You Detox?

There are several things you should do if you want to try a detox and get rid of all the unhealthy things in your body.

Drink More Water

First, drinking more water is the most important thing you can do. Everyone should drink at least eight glasses of water per day, but to detox successfully, you should aim to drink this as a minimum. This does mean water rather than caffeine, soda, or even milk as these can put toxins in your body rather than take them away.

Avoid Additives

This can be easier said than done as so much of the food in the grocery stores is laden with additives these days. However, introducing as much fruit and vegetables into your diet as possible while adding whole grains and lean meat will fill you up and help you limit your intake of additives.

Eat More Fiber

Fiber adds bulk to food and makes it easier to digest. This helps you to clean out your bowel naturally and eliminate toxins from your body. Nuts, green beans, and potatoes are a great source of fiber, and you should eat them regularly. Men need to eat at least 38 grams of fiber every day, and women should eat at least 25 grams. Try to take in most of this at breakfast as this will allow the whole day for it to work its way through your system. A supplement such as Daily Fiber can be useful if you struggle to get enough fiber in your diet.

Eat More Complex Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap in recent years as diets such as Atkins have grown in popularity and led people to think that carbohydrates are bad. However, it's important to understand there are two types of carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates break down quickly in the body and will leave you feeling tired and sluggish afterward, so it can be better to limit these. They are found in food such as syrup and white flour.

Complex carbohydrates, however, are found in food such as vegetables and whole grains. They do not usually contain as much sugar, so they release their energy slowly and make you feel full for longer. You should have a good variety of these to have a balanced diet and stay healthy.

Take Supplements Where Necessary

If you are concerned about a lack of vitamins and minerals in your diet, you could consider taking supplements. However, you should always consult your doctor before you take anything new to make sure that you are not at risk of overdosing and that the supplements will not cause an adverse reaction to any prescribed medication you are already taking.

You should not use supplements to replace the vitamins and minerals you should get from food. Supplements should only be taken to enhance wellness. Many people believe that detoxing is a type of fasting. However, cutting out food completely and limiting the healthy food in your diet is not good for you and will not make you feel healthy in the long term. Fasting can often lead to binge eating as your restricted body craves high-calorie and high-sugar food, which can be a vicious cycle.

Get Enough Sleep

If you are trying to detox, you should make sure you get a full eight hours of sleep every night. Burning the candle at both ends will make your body crave a high-sugar, high-energy fix, which is not healthy. It has been suggested that having an hour of sleep before midnight is the equivalent of having two hours of sleep after midnight, so make sure you go to bed early. If you are going through a period of sleeplessness, a supplement such as Sleep Tight may be beneficial.

Stick to these guidelines for detoxing, and you will likely find that your body is healthier and you have a lot more energy.