It’s that time of year again. Post-Christmas indulgence, we all create the same resolutions, “Time to get healthy, no more alcohol, no more junk food, clean living. This time I mean it!”
In a desperate attempt to fix the body from the weeks of abuse prior, many will turn to the latest “cleanse” trends, often inspired by celebrities promising radical and life-changing benefits. Before you pull out your wallet and invest in what can be an expensive pursuit, let’s take 5 minutes to look into detoxing, and whether it will be of actual benefit to you.
What is a detox?
A detox is a process to rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances. Typically, people will detox following a period of time spent abusing the body with self-imposed toxins, such as alcohol or unhealthy foods. But here’s the issue with detoxing: you don’t need to go on a detox program to rid your body of toxins! Your body is constantly ridding itself of toxins, naturally. If you drink a lot of alcohol, for example, your body instantly starts processing and eliminating it from your system. Unfortunately, in the world of health and fitness, a lot of scaremongering occurs in an attempt to sell a product, and the use of the word detox is a perfect example.
Forms of Detox
Let’s take a quick look at a few popular styles of detox, and why people follow them:
1. Fasting/Liquid-Only Diets
This form of detox requires the participant to greatly reduce or halt their food intake and rely on liquids only (such as water, lemon water, green tea, etc.) in an attempt to “reset” the digestive system, eliminate toxins, and trigger fast weight loss. Fasting is usually over a short period of time (around 1-3 days), which is relatively harmless to the body. However, when people begin to fast for longer periods of time, their metabolism will slow down. When they eventually come off the cleanse and return to their normal diet, they will rapidly put the weight back on – potentially even more than they lost due to change in metabolic rate.
2. Eating “Superfoods”
You’ve likely seen the articles online or on tv – a newly discovered superfood which will detox your body and make you feel and look 20 years younger! The truth is, large companies will take advantage of people’s trust in order to sell a product and make money. There is no one magical food, herb, or supplement that can cleanse your body and halt the aging process.
3. Sweating Out Toxins
Another popular myth is that toxins can be sweated out the body. If something is truly toxic for your body, such as alcohol or drugs, the liver will process and deal with it. Further dehydrating yourself will have a detrimental effect on your body, not cleanse it.
What can I do to help my body?
While detoxing is often a marketing tool to sell products, there are things you can do to help yourself feel healthier, and help your body reset after a period of unhealthy living.
1.Eat Healthy
Sounds obvious, and it is! Prevention is much better than a cure, so reduce the number of toxins your body needs to deal with, and increase the number of vitamins and minerals for that health kick!
2. Follow an Exercise Plan
If you’re not exercising regularly already, there is no time like the present! To name just a few benefits, regular exercise will boost your immune system, increasing your heart rate will help to flush blood around your body (keeping the toxins on the move and on the way out), and increased breathing will help clear bad bacteria from the lungs and airways.
3. Rest and Recover
Make sure you give your body the break it deserves! Try to get into a good sleeping routine (7-9 hours per night is the recommended amount) and stay fully hydrated. January is a good excuse to get reacquainted with your water bottle, and your bed!
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Jay Andrews
Professional Training Coach
Innovative Fitness Kitsilano
