Detox: Just a myth or really worth it?

What is the point of detoxing?

"Detox" means getting rid of toxins that have accumulated in our bodies. The idea of cleaning the body from the inside has become quite popular recently, just think about fruit juices and activated charcoal and self-made detox water bottles containing fruit and veggies and detox patches for your feet, just to name a few.

Detox programs are not only being advertised for detoxing purposes, but more often as a very promising tool for weight loss.

The crux of common detox programs

Many of you have already considered trying a detox program or some may have already completed one. The problem is that such programs are time limited and not at all sustainable. I mean, what do you do after your 7 days of detox are over? Just go back to your old routine? You better don't...

And that is exactly where I see the problem. Let me explain this with an example:

When you're not working out ever but think "in one week stuffed with a super intensive fitness and cardio program I'm gonna get a sixpack and I will be able to run a marathon and I can keep this body the whole year until my next training week", well, then I'm sorry, this does not work and I think you agree with me here.

Similarly, when you stuff your body every day with shitty food, one week of juice cleansing won't really make a big difference. Especially when you're going back to your bad diet again afterwards. 

You're body is not able to get rid of all the crap that has accumulated over years in just 7 days! The "lifestyle" you're living over this one week period is usually not the one you're living over the other 51 weeks of the year. This makes the changes you achieved during these 7 days not sustainable. 

Sometimes, people also report feeling horrible when trying to detox their bodies. This might actually bee a sign that your detox program is working! Here, I have to go a bit far afield.

Where do the toxins come from?

Today, like never before, we are surrounded by a huge amount of chemicals. You might instantly think about industry and trafic emissions. But don't forget your food that has been sprayed with pesticides and is stored in plastic containers, your personal care products that do contain many harmful substances and even your clothes! We are exposed to a lot of shitty stuff nowadays, and our body has to somehow deal with that.

When your body is processing the food you eat, metabolic waste products are being created. They go to the liver where the liver to initiate the excretion. Also, during general metabolic processes such as cell renewal or managing inflammation, (toxic) waste products are being formed. 

Fortunately, your body has a plan for cases when it is exposed to toxins. But constant stress, eating several meals a day and not giving your gut a break, toxic overexposure, not enough micronutrients or water and so on hinder the body in executing this plan.

But what about weight loss? Why do some people lose weight on a 7 day juice program? And why is this weight regained so easily?

Well, by only consuming juices or premade powders you are likely consuming fewer calories than you were before. This deficit induces some weight loss. Also, you are probably consuming less carbs, which depletes your glycogen stores. (Carbs are stored in muscle and liver tissue as glycogen.) Your body uses them for energy and when you don't refill these stores with food you eat, they empty out. In addition, for every gram of carb there is some water being bound. By emptying the stores, a lot of water is being "lost" too. This results in perceived weight loss because the number on the scale goes down. But it is actually just water.

When you go back to normal eating, you refill these stores and you gain all the "weight" back! The key here is you are not losing FAT, but water. Losing fat and losing weight is not the same thing. This is very important.

Please do not believe that 7 days of detoxing really changes something. Please do not fall for these short detox programs that don't give you any possibility to continue afterwards or that don't convey any lifestyle changes that make your 7-day success stable.

Detox programs are not really suitable for fat loss. They are for detoxing your body. IF you wanna do a detox program for the purpose of detoxing, then do it the right way!

But what is the right way?

Like with sports, consistency and knowing what you do is key.

Do something every day that helps your body detox. Detoxing 365 days a year, sounds good right? ;) Or does it sound more like time consuming and limiting and expensive?

Well, it doesn't need to be expensive or time-consuming or limit you in any way.

Include a food on a daily basis that assists in binding and flushing out toxins! Eating such a food with a meal prevents some of the toxins in that meal from enetering your body because it is bound before it is being absorbed! This is way easier than trying to get rid of a toxin that is already stored in your body's tissues.

First of all, nature is not stupid. It has provided you with its own detox system, the liver. So doing something to support your liver definitely is a step in the right direction.

How to best support your liver? Get hydrated! Water helps transporting and flushing out toxins and aids the liver in doing its job, namely detoxing. Switch sodas, alcohol, and sugared drinks with water, add lemon juice, have some unsweetened tea or coffee :) Avoid fruit juices as they contain a lot of fruit sugar which is heavy on the liver.

Another very important concept, actually the biggest take away:

Choose foods that don't add additional toxic load and that are minimally processed!

Jsut eat a different vegetable every day, switch to whole grain as they provide more fiber which binds toxins and metabolic waste, switch the cereal in the morning to a greek yogurt fruit bowl with some nuts.

Here is some practical advice that assist very well in detoxing/ you can include into your daily routine:

• First of all: Read the biggest take away again and follow it!
• Chlorella and Spirulina Algae: packed with a lot of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, very absorbable, complete proteins and omega-3 fatty acids! It helps binding toxins and provides your body with substances it needs in order to deal with metabolic waste.
• Wheat bran and nuts: full of fiber, protein, essential fats and B-vitamins! Makes a great Granola substitute too ;)
• Eat some veggies and fruits every day!! They are full of phytonutrients and fiber, they keep you full, don't have a lot of calories and most importantly: It's one of the most unprocessed, clean food out there.
• Get hydrated! Water helps flushing out toxins and aids the liver in detoxing. Switch sodas, alcohol, and sugared drinks for water, add lemon juice, have some unsweetened tea or coffee :) Avoid fruit juices as they contain a lot of sugar. Mostly, they are also heated for preservative purposes. This destroys nutrients like vitamin C.
• This one is as easy as taking a sip of your soda ;P Just that it's not soda, of course. It's 100% natural and it is being consumed since thousands of years! Even Cleopatra ascribed her beauty to it.I'm talking about Aloe Vera juice. Just one sip provides over 300 nutrients! With so many building blocks your body is able to function optimally! Just google Aloe Vera benefits and you will be fascinated with what this plant can do! (You can get Aloe Vera juice here, it's pure, no additives)
• Go organic! (Referring to the biggest take away.) Organic food guidelines prohibit most pesticides, which makes your veggies even ore clean ;P

It all begins in the morning...

Right at the beginning of every day give your body what it needs! Start energized and optimally supplied into your day! That's much more effective than just one week of detox a year. Think long-term, not short-term ;)

It's also better for your bank account.

You will be surprised how your mysterious cravings will go away when the body has everything it needs! It will be easier to lose fat, to get up in the morning, to sleep well and you will have WAY more energy!

You don't need an expensive detox program. You need clean, real food.