We all indulge in things that aren’t so good for us from time to time. Whether you’ve had a few extra slices of Christmas pudding or one too many champagnes on New Year’s. Waste can accumulate in the body over time. Many of us though, shy away from the dreaded ‘detox’ because it sounds like a terrible combination of kale salads and wheat-grass shots. Or, we simply don’t know where or how to begin. Either way, it is extremely important to give our body a break from time to time.
So, why should you commence a detox?
Think of your body like a house. You leave the housework for a few days and the dust, dirt and dishes pile up. Slowly but surely, unwashed piles of clothing and garbage take over the floor space leaving no room for you to move around and get cleaning. Similarly, when our bodies are overwhelmed with waste it will not function as well and becomes sluggish (not to mention feeling less than thrilled about working out!)
How do I know if my body needs to be detoxed?
If you are:
- Feeling tired on a constant basis - Are experiencing headaches or fogginess when it comes to thought processing - Breaking out in acne or pimples all over the place - Look washed out / worn out with dark circles around the eyes - Easy to become ill - Digestion and bowel movements have changed drastically - Constantly eating unhealthy foods - Consuming large volumes of caffeine, drugs (non-prescription), smoking and alcohol consumption - Excess body weight - Experiencing constant mood swings
Detoxing gives your body a much needed vacation and triggers natural healing processes, much like a clean up crew.
Benefits of swapping fries for vegies, working out instead of sitting down and getting enough sleep and water include:
- Reduced incidence of chronic, life long disease - A strengthened immune system - Ability to shift stubborn pounds of fat (predominantly around the abdomen) - naturally radiant and blemish free skin - increase in energy levels - improved mood - Ability to think clearly - Improved confidence
What Is A Detox?
Most of us tend to agree that detoxification or ‘detox’ diets are short-term interventions designed to eliminate toxins from the body, promote health and assist with weight loss.
But in essence, it is really just creating the perfect conditions to support our body in doing the job it was already made to do… “Detox”.
So what constitutes a detox?
- Staying adequately hydrated by drinking approximately 1-3L per day. - Replace coffee (dehydrating) with tea.
- Exercising regularly during the day. Do as much standing, walking and moving as possible. Aim for at least 30 minutes per day.
- Replace existing diet with as much fresh produce as possible. If you stick to shopping on the outside of the supermarket rather than in the aisles, you will see the greatest results.
- Sleep assists with cell turnover (allows for repair of the body) and recovery. Aim for 8 hours a day to get better results. The more you sleep, the faster your body will heal.
As you can see, a few simple changes to lifestyle habits can truly improve mindset as well as give us a new lease on life, a perfect way to start the new year on a positive.
If you have any questions regarding detox programs and advice, please see Fitness Forum staff for assistance.
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