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The Top Five Things You Need to Know Before Detoxing- Author: Cynthia Lea
1. It’s not a quick fix. We are always looking for things that will bring us instant gratification. As a society, we love anything that will give us instant results. If this is what you’re looking for in a detox program, you’re going to be sorely disappointed! Detoxing is about cleansing your body from all the impurities and toxins it has stored up over the years in a gentle, yet effective, way. If you detox in a healthy way you are not going to lose 20 pounds, be free from cellulite or have an abundance of energy overnight! You’ve spent years accumulating toxins in your body and it is simply unrealistic to think you’re going to be rid of them all and see amazing results so fast. Before you get discouraged, let me assure you that with a safe detox program you can lose weight, increase energy, and diminish cellulite. It just won’t happen overnight. Maybe you’re heard the saying, “Good things come to those who wait”? 2. Detoxing from the outside in is as important as detoxing from the inside out. Many people tend to forget that the body’s largest organ is your skin. While you’re busy working to detox from the inside out, it’s important that you do double duty and detox from the outside in. A wonderful way to do this is by brushing your body. It can take as little as five minutes and provide amazing results. Skin brushing gets rid of dead skin cells, which makes it easier for your body to release toxins. In addition it stimulates your lymphatic system, aids in circulation, and helps diminish the appearance of cellulite. You only need a soft bristle body brush, preferably all-natural, with a long handle for those hard to reach spots. Start at your feet and work your way up using small circular strokes. Remember to always brush toward the heart since this complements the natural flow of blood in the body. Brush in clockwise strokes over your stomach to help prevent any digestive imbalance and make sure you avoid any sensitive areas such as the face and breasts. Pretty easy, huh?
3. Not all detox programs are created equal. Even if you only spend a few minutes researching detox, you will no doubt come across many cleansing options. From fasting to drinking lemonade with a little cayenne pepper thrown in, the options are endless! Notice, I didn’t say all these methods were safe or effective – just endless. I personally do not believe in fasting; whether it’s using only water or a combination of fruit juices, because it’s too much of a shock to your system. Not only does your body receive insufficient nutrients, it is also trying to deal with an extreme overload of toxins that have just been released and are floating around in your body. Water fasting releases toxins at the quickest rate possible. Juice fasting is a bit slower but still too quickly for your body to eliminate them in a safe way. It’s never good to shock the body this way and as a result you will often experience unpleasant side effects such as headaches, nausea, tiredness, and bad breath. Wait - weren’t you trying to do something good for your body? The ideal way to detox your body is the same way you accumulated all of those toxins – gradually. Cut out the unhealthy food choices you make, eat whole foods and choose organic as much as you can. Drink plenty of fresh, filtered water, workout at least 30 minutes a day to help your body sweat out toxins, and choose natural herbs to supplement and support your body. There are many detox supplement options out there but I personally recommend SoCal CleanseÔ Detox Formula. It’s a wonderful option because it contains a unique blend of all-natural herbs to aid your body in eliminating toxins in a safe and gently, yet effective way. Also, it’s easy on your stomach because it’s in capsule form instead of tablet.
4. It’s not just another new fad diet. It’s actually not a diet at all. It’s a detox that just happens to have weight loss as a side effect. And it’s certainly not new. Even though it’s recently garnered more popularity, detoxing has been around for ages. Many civilizations have used natural herbs to cleanse and achieve a healthier body and mind. Cleansing your body is not about losing weight super fast or following a nutritionally unbalanced eating plan. It’s about making healthy choices for your body and your environment through healthy, chemical free meals, mental and physical fitness, and better life choices.
5. Your body can’t do it on it’s own. Your body should be able to detox on it’s own. We were born with wonderful organs including a liver that removes and helps eliminate toxins. We actually have a very impressive built-in filtering system that works quite well or we would already be extinct given today’s toxin and pollution levels. And therein lies the problem – the levels of toxins and pollution in our world today. From the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food we eat, we are bombarded every day with toxic chemicals and our bodies are simply overtaxed. The workload on our bodies has more than tripled for so many reasons including sugar and fat consumption, a lack of water consumption, a more sedentary lifestyle, increased stress, and increased consumption of meats and other animal products that contain hormones and antibiotics. Yet toxins aren’t just found in our air and food - they’re in cosmetics, cleaning products, our clothing that has been dry cleaned, new clothing, furniture made with particle board, carpets, shampoos, deodorants, and in many, many other everyday products. Our bodies can’t process and eliminate this extreme level of toxins so they end up being stored in body fats and tissues until we give the body a little help to release them. Detoxing your body can be a wonderful, life-enhancing experience if it’s done in a safe and effective way. Make healthy, informed choices when it comes to your body. It’s the only one you’re going to get!
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While the idea of detoxing is finally receiving the publicity it deserves, it’s also creating confusion and misguided perceptions. Although people are finally realizing they should cleanse their bodies to remove toxins that have built up over the years, they tend to have a lot of questions about the actual process and the health benefits. Here then are five things everyone should know before starting any detox program. Hopefully, this will clear up some of the confusion.
