Detox, in the simplest terms, is the process of purifying our body of toxic substances. There are many detox methods such as juices, herbal teas, fasting, consuming certain foods or emptying the intestines with an enema. With detox, it is tried to strengthen the immune and digestive system. However, there are two different detox methods; One of them is the medical detox, which is done in hospital conditions to remove alcohol or toxic substances from the body. The other is a healthy life detox with more beneficial vegetables, fruits and teas recommended by dietitians. Detox methods, which are very popular today, aim to lose weight and stay healthy. However, since there is not enough scientific research on the health effects and benefits of detox, this issue is still controversial in the medical world.
What is detox?
Detox (detoxification) is a short-term intervention applied to get rid of toxic and harmful substances in our body. Detox means; means creating the necessary infrastructure to put the body in a healthy order. As much as external beauty; There is a need for detoxification programs that start from within. Normally, our vital organs such as the liver, lungs and kidneys already expel the toxins accumulated in our body through sweat, feces and urine. However, detox methods can be applied to support this natural mechanism of our body in case of heavy toxin intake due to environmental factors or unhealthy diet.
However, the toxins caused by years will of course not disappear in a short period of 3-5 days. It is necessary to accept detox as a routine that is necessary for a healthy life and should be applied for 3-5 days every month.
Today, many cures are recommended for detox, which sometimes contradict each other. Unconsciously applied detox methods can cause serious health problems. For this reason, it is necessary to consult a physician before deciding on any detox method.
Why is detox done?
Detox is done to get rid of harmful substances accumulated in the body due to environmental factors, wrong diet, harmful habits such as smoking-alcohol, unconscious drug use and intense stress. Our body neutralizes poisons and removes them naturally, but with the increase of toxins, too much load can be placed on our vital organs.
Therefore, with detox, vital organs of the body such as kidneys can be rested and healed, liver functions are supported, and toxins are excreted through sweat-stool-urine.
How to detox?
There are many detox methods applied within a program. The main ones are:
- Consuming only liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices or herbal teas for a few days
- Special diets high in antioxidants
- fasting
- Cleaning the large intestine with an enema or laxative
- Using a sauna or hammam to remove toxins through sweat
- Consuming only certain liquids, such as salt water or lemon juice
- Not consuming foods rich in heavy metals, harmful substances and allergens
- Preparing cures with medicinal herbs
- Cutting out alcohol, coffee, cigarettes and refined sugar completely
10 important health benefits of detox
1. Detox increases energy.
Many people who apply a detox program state that their energy increases. This is actually very logical, because you have given up your bad eating habits that will absorb your body’s energy and you are starting to get beneficial nutrients. By getting rid of sugar, caffeine, trans and saturated fats and eating fresh fruits and vegetables, you will already have a natural energy.
2. Detox purifies toxins.
One of the most important benefits of detox is the removal of harmful toxins stored in the body. Many detox programs are based on self-purification of the body. With this purification, the liver, kidneys and intestines work at the most beneficial level and are purified of toxins. Cleaning the intestines is perhaps the most important benefit of detox. Because a healthy life cannot begin without removing toxins from the body. In terms of weight loss, it is primarily important to remove these wastes.
3. Weight Loss
Detox, which will help you lose weight in the short term, will help you put healthy eating habits in your life in the long term. After what you have experienced in the detox program and how they made you feel, you will never look for your old habits anyway. Losing weight will be much easier but healthier with detox. This will motivate you.
4. Detox Strengthens the Immune System.
With the detox program, your organs will start to work as they should in your body. They will not need to be overworked due to toxins. This will give you energy. All these help strengthen your immune system, because your body can easily absorb the nutritional values. Chief among these is vitamin C.
The herbs consumed in detox programs ensure the proper functioning of the lymphatic system, which protects the health of the body. During the detox, light exercises are preferred, because the body’s energy obtained from the detox is maximized within itself and strengthens the body.
5. With Detox, the Skin Gets a Bright and Healthy Appearance.
Your skin is your most important organ and the shield of your entire body. You will notice the first positive effects visibly on your skin. Do not forget to include the sauna in your detox program. Your skin will sweat, pores will open and toxins will come out. You will also get rid of problems such as black spots, acne due to oiling. Remember that with the detox program, when toxins are first expelled, the skin is forced first. After a while, the recovery is clearly noticeable.
6. You Breathe Healthy with Detox
With the removal of toxins from the body, the whole body, especially the intestines, begins to use oxygen much more beneficially. More oxygen begins to enter the body. During the detox program, pay attention to your breathing as the body tries to remove toxins. After the program is completed, you will not even believe how your breath opens.
7. Detox is mind-opening.
The purification of the body is not only in the systems, but also the brain functions begin to work with relaxation and maximum benefit. With meditation during the detox program, you can relax your mind and create a calmer thinking space. As a result of getting rid of toxins with detox, you will have a clearer mind and a clearer thinking ability. All sugary, fatty, salty foods slow you down. You will notice this very clearly.
8. Detox Strengthens Your Hair.
There is actually something interesting about the hair. From the moment it grows, that is, from the moment it grows out of the roots on your head, the hair is considered dead. But in fact, it continues to grow by taking all the power from the hair roots. However, things to do outside for hair are limited now. The important thing is that the hairs that will come out again come in healthy and continue on their way without breaking. Hair will also be positively affected by the improvement from the inside with the detox. Its brilliance and vitality will be visible and will not break.
9. Detox Makes You Feel Lighter.
The health of what you eat makes you feel light even during detox. If you have also had bowel cleansing as part of the detox program, then things will go faster. You will understand more clearly why you waste so much time with foods that slow you down, aggravate and poison you.
10. Experience Anti-Aging Benefits with Detox.
Here is the most important issue that fights anti-aging. The main thing that ages you is toxins. When you start to remove them from the body, your body systems will not work as fast as they are and will return to their normal speed. You will also get the best nutritional values and increase your energy. Sticking to the detox program planned in this way will provide incredible benefits for your health in the long run.
Before applying a detox diet for health or weight loss, you should definitely consult your doctor or a dietitian to avoid harmful consequences.
Who Should Detox?
- People who have trouble waking up in the morning
- Those who constantly feel tired and weak
- Those who complain of fatigue, inadequacy, weakness
- Highly stressed employees
- frequent travelers
- Those who lead a sedentary life
- Those with edema, gas, bloating complaints
- Those who do not drink enough water
- Those who consume alcohol and caffeine
- Those who do not consume 5 servings of vegetables and fruits every day; May need detox.
Who Shouldn't Detox?
- Pregnant and lactating mothers
- Those with systemic, severe and long-term disease (diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease)
- Those with immune deficiency
- For those under the age of 18 or over the age of 80, detox can be harmful.
What should we pay attention to during the detox diet?
Fluid consumption is very important in detox. Plenty of water should be consumed. In addition, black tea and dark green tea should not be consumed. It is a diet formula with a detox diet effect. But more importantly, it gives the opportunity to lose weight by removing toxins and being healthy.
However, if you say you want to lose weight fast, our first recommendation will not be a detox diet. Detox diets are mostly preferred for those who have skin blemishes, acne, skin wear and aging problems, for bodily regeneration and some weight loss. Detox diet cannot be continued for a long time because it is a difficult and disciplined diet to implement. detox; By easing digestion, it is to channel the energy spent digesting heavy foods to excretion of toxins, self-repair and rejuvenation of cells. Before applying the detox diet, it is necessary to consult a dietitian.
Detox and nutrition advice
- Increase the number of meals: Take care to eat 3 hours apart. This will minimize your digestive problems. We should consume vegetables in 1 meal, boiled, grilled chicken, meat or fish in the other meal at regular times and at intervals not exceeding 3 hours.
- Drink plenty of water: Drinking water is very important for eliminating edema that may occur due to fatigue and hormonal changes in the body. Daily water consumption should be between 10-12 glasses.
- Avoid or reduce drinks containing caffeine and alcohol: These drinks also increase edema in the body. Instead of these, the sodium content is low; for soda, milk or buttermilk.
- Try to sleep comfortably: Drink teas that help digestion (fennel, green tea) before going to bed.
- Avoid eating too salty: Excess salt in the body causes fatigue.
- Take a walk: For your health, you can burn 100-150 calories with a 30-minute walk at a light pace daily. A short walk regulates the hormonal balance and speeds up the metabolism.
- Take B vitamins: We should turn to B group vitamins to reduce stress. You can get plenty of B vitamins in multigrain breads, meat, milk and green leafy foods.
- Choose foods high in vitamin C: Parsley, pepper, citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, celery.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruit: Consume fresh fruit in 3 servings a day.
- Try to consume seasonal vegetables: Consume 2 servings of fresh seasonal vegetables.
- Consume at least 2 glasses of milk, yogurt or kefir.
Detox water recipes
Parsley Juice
- To drink hot; Wash 1 pinch of parsley, add it to the water-filled coffee pot and cook for 10 minutes. boil it. Then 5 min. Wait for it to brew and consume it lukewarm.
- To drink cold; Pass 4/1 of 1 bunch of parsley through the blender and add 1 glass of cold water and run the blender again until the water is green and foamy.
- Usage: Drink it regularly for 4-5 days in the morning on an empty stomach and take a 3-day break. If it is drunk continuously, it can cause excessive fluid loss.
- Benefits: Helps to lose weight by eliminating edema-gas, is good for digestion and urinary tract infection, strengthens the immune system, beautifies the skin, removes free radicals from the body, protects kidney, cardiovascular and eye health, helps prevent iron deficiency anemia, is a menstrual remover.
Cinnamon lemon detox water
- Boil a glass of water, put 1 cinnamon stick in it and cook for 15 minutes. brew it. Then add 5-6 tablespoons of lemon juice. If you want, you can sweeten with 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Usage: It should be drunk every morning on an empty stomach. It can be consumed regularly as no side effects have been detected. 20-30 minutes from meals to lose weight. must be drunk first.
- Benefits: Strengthens the immune system, fights colds and flu, reduces inflammation in the body, strengthens bone health, is diuretic, helps to detoxify the body and helps to lose weight.
Grapefruit detox juice
- Squeeze a grapefruit and lemon and pour into a glass, add a teaspoon each of powdered ginger and cinnamon and mix well. If you wish, you can also add 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Usage: For weight loss, 30 minutes after breakfast. You should drink it before and 1 hour before going to bed in the evening. It should be consumed regularly for 1 month every day. To increase its effect, at least 8-10 glasses of water should be drunk throughout the day.
- Benefits: It accelerates the metabolism, strengthens the immune system, gives vitality, gives a feeling of satiety, excretes the excess toxins in the intestines through the stool, cleans the kidneys from inflammation and toxins, and purifies the liver from excess toxins.
This cure has no known side effects, but those who have stomach problems or who have a stomachache when using the cure should not drink it. In addition, those who use hypertension, depression, epilepsy, sleep, cholesterol and heart medications should not apply this cure without consulting their doctor.
Apple cinnamon water
- Put 1 lemon and 1-2 pieces of cinnamon bark in five glasses of drinking water. Add 2 sour apples that have been thoroughly washed and not peeled, cut into 4-6 slices and leave in the refrigerator for 1 night. You can also prepare this mixture by boiling the ingredients. You should only add lemon juice after the boiling mixture has cooled.
- Usage: Drink 1-2 glasses daily on an empty stomach and 1 hour before going to bed. It can be consumed regularly as it has no side effects.
- Benefits: It protects against the damage of free radicals, is good for bone health, helps the thyroid gland to work properly, increases the metabolic rate and oxygen level in the blood, gives energy, gives vitality, beautifies the skin and protects the liver.
You can also prepare many more detox waters with ingredients such as cucumber-mint, lemon-red pepper, watermelon-mint, grapefruit-rosemary, orange-lemon.
How many days should detox water be drunk?
If detox waters are used especially for weight loss, every morning on an empty stomach and 20-30 minutes after meals. It should be drunk first and applied for 1 week-10 days. Plenty of water should also be consumed to balance fluid loss.
Their use for health purposes also lasts at least 1 week. You can intermittently turn some detox waters into a part of your daily diet.
Detox teas
Detox teas are made with herbs. The ideal is to prepare these teas at home with herbs from a reliable herbalist. The benefits of ready-made detox teas are one of the topics discussed in the medical world and are generally not recommended; Detox teas, especially for weight loss, can cause serious health problems with unconscious consumption.
Only 1 type and 2-3 cups of detox tea should be drunk every day. Because medicinal plants can harm the body by interacting with each other. They are usually prepared by brewing.
Commonly used detox teas include:
- Green tea
- Ginger tea
- dandelion tea
- Fennel tea
- thyme tea
Detox diets
Extreme caution should be exercised when following a detox diet. Because, Detox can be done for an average of 3 days, a maximum of 7 days. Then, by continuing your balanced and healthy diet, you can ensure the continuity of the rapid results you get from detox. Also, be careful not to do it more than once a month.
3 day detox diet list
- Breakfast
1 glass of detox water when you first wake up
Green detox drink consisting of spinach, broccoli, parsley, green apple and 7-8 raw almonds
- snack
1 handful of raw almonds or 3-4 walnuts
- Lunch
1 bowl of non-fat vegetable soup
- Dinner
1 bowl of grilled vegetables and greens with low olive oil quinoa salad
- Breakfast
1 glass of detox water when you first wake up
1 bowl of yoghurt, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed, 1 portion of fruit (make sure it is from low-sugar fruit) and 1 glass of parsley juice (1 bunch of parsley, lemon and water in a blender)
- snack
1 handful of raw almonds or 3-4 walnuts
- Lunch
1 bowl of non-fat vegetable soup
- Dinner
1 bowl of grilled vegetables and greens with low olive oil salad and 1 medium-sized grilled salmon
- Breakfast
1 glass of detox water when you first wake up
Detox drink consisting of 1 slice of pineapple, 1/2 banana, spinach, flaxseed, 3-4 strawberries and almond milk
- snack
1 handful of raw almonds or 3-4 walnuts
- Lunch
1 large bowl of grilled vegetables with low olive oil salad
Dinner
1 bowl of lean vegetable soup and 1 medium grilled salmon
