The Deal with Detox

detox

informal

noun

ˈdiːtɒks/

1. 1.

   a process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances; detoxification.

   "he ended up in detox for three months"

verb

diːˈtɒks/

1. 1.

   abstain from or rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances.

   "he checked into a hospital to detox"

Have you ever been on a fad diet? Whether your diet choice was either the Zone, the Atkins, Paleo, Macrobiotic or even Weight Watchers; did they work for you? Were they easy to follow and most importantly easy to stick to? And was it a lifestyle choice? Something that you could integrate into your everyday life? I was always led to believe that to say that you were 'on' a diet, ultimately meant that at some stage that you would need to come 'off' it; so realistically it is a quick-fix for the short-term; not a long-term option.

Don't get me wrong, there are undoubtedly some quick-fix diets which deliver fast results; ever heard of the Cayenne Pepper diet?! A nutritionist's nightmare! But if you want to keep your health in-check and meet your body's unique nutritional needs, in the long-term, these simply don't work and can be incredibly detrimental to your overall health.

Cutting out whole food groups for example is not a good as idea; as each one has vital nutrients that your body needs. Most eliminated 'Enemy No 1' - the carbohydrate; banished from many women's diets to achieve fast weight loss, acts as our body's fuel - our brains only function on glucose and carbs break down into glucose. The most sensible option would be to switch from refined carbohydrates to unrefined carbohydrates as the latter contains more natural nutrients; as opposed to the former, which are mainly processed which in turn removes many essential vitamins and minerals. Choose natural foods such as wholegrains (brown rice, multi-grains), legumes (soybeans, lentils, peas and peanuts) - they sell a great 'sprouted' legume range in Sainsburys which are delicious sprinkled over salads! - fruits and uncooked vegetables instead of food made with white flour such as bread, cakes and pizza. The thought process behind healthy eating is based on pure common sense!

Don't get me wrong; healthy eating shouldn't be about depriving yourself and cutting out the foods that you enjoy - a little bit of what you like will not do you any harm in the long-run - although you want to eat healthily the majority of the time - roughly about 85% - you should leave room for the indulgences like cake, pizza and crisps - the key is to opt for moderation and be aware of portion control.

Without me looking too much into healthy eating hints and tips which have worked for me; (I'll focus on these in other posts) I wanted to concentrate on the benefits of detoxification.  

So why choose detoxing over dieting?

The biggest thing that detoxing helps with is to allow the body to rid itself of any excess waste it has been storing. It provides that boost. Detox programmmes are designed to purge itself and to cleanse the liver, kidneys and colon. Cleansing the colon is an important part of the detoxing process, because those toxins need to exit the body and an uncleansed colon can cause those toxins to be reintroduced into the body. 

It is easy to see how a detox diet would help you to lose weight in the short term but a healthier way to look at it would be to establish long-term eating habits, and rid yourself of unhealthy habits. When you detox your organs begin to function the way that they should and because your immune system is boosted and you'll absorb nutrients better; strengthening in the process. The condition of your skin will improve - clearer and smoother skin - who doesn't want that?!

Embarking on a detox isn't about 'dieting'; it should be looked as more of a way of life. It is hard to change a long-standing habit but a detox programme - regardless of length - is a sure fire way to put a wedge between your old ways and your new ones. We all have addictions in our diets - such as sugar, caffine, fried foods, alcohol - and a detox can be used to kill these cravings. When you stop filtering these go-to options into your diet on a daily basis and replace them with healthy alternatives, it encourages good habits. When you have cleansed your body and realised how amazing you feel, you can retrain your thought process and in turn be more likely to stick to your new habits. 

In line with my way of thinking; 'a healthier body = a healthier mind'; a detox contributes to a sense of clearer thinking; it makes sense seeing as many of the sugar-filled and fat-filled foods that surround us each day will cause us to feel lethargic and can factor heavily in the quality of our thinking. The basis of a detox is an improved sense of well-being - when we look good; we feel good and when we feel good; good things happen. Detox is often strategically used by many as a way to kick-start weight loss but really there's no better reason than just to feel better. When you set the stage for well being you are going to undoubtedly improve all areas of your life - better relationships, increased productivity and a new found or renewed zest for life. 

So what's stopping you? See the C9 detox programme