The world "detox" carries somewhat of a stigma in the health world. Most people don't completely understand what a detox even entails. The first thing that would come to mind is usually a fad diet with unhealthy ideas and restrictions. Going on any sort of restrictive diet where you are denying your body the most important nutrients is unhealthy. Period. Never in my life will I advocate for anything that fits those standards. As a former morbidly obese individual, I have tried every single fad out there, and guess what? They didn't work. Not only did they not work, but they made me feel like crap. It wasn't until I made a lifestyle change and realized that eating clean, natural foods was the answer that I started to look and feel much better.
With that being said, there are many healthy, natural ways that you can detox your body. With summer right around the corner, many of us are scrambling to get our bodies "beach ready." The hot weather and outdoor activities light a fire under us to make sure that we are not worrying about how we look, so we can enjoy ourselves. A good detox is meant to rid your body of any toxins, while promoting gut health.
Drinking plenty of water is the best natural (and cheap) way to detox your body. Water helps our kidneys flush toxins and waste out of our system. If we were to become dehydrated, our kidneys would not be able to function properly, which could be detrimental to our health. There is a reason why you are always hearing people preach about how we need to make sure we are drinking enough water. Water does so much for our bodies, and acting as a detoxing agent is one of them. There are many ways to do it- you can drink water straight, or you can infuse fruits to make a detox water that has a little flavor to it.
You may have heard of the many "skinny teas" out there that promise to cut your bloat and make you regular. The problem with these is that many of them contain laxatives. Before buying anything, please look at the ingredients. Your Instagram inspiration may swear up and down that it's ok, but just remember that they are selling it to you for a commission. Some people will say anything for a buck. There are healthy teas that can help you detox, however. Green and Matcha teas are credited with working as great detoxifiers, among many other things. The list of benefits is a mile long, and some people swear by using tea to detox.
I know that the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a detox is a liquid-only diet. This isn't true. Sure, there are great beverages you can whip up to enjoy for its detoxifying effect, but that's not your only option. There are many foods that have vitamins and nutrients that can help your body get rid of toxins, and they do it well. The list goes on and on- from berries, to nuts, all the way to seaweed.
No matter how you decide to help your body detox, make sure you are doing it the right way, for the right reasons. Keep your health a priority always, no matter how much weight you are trying to lose. A detox can either be very healthy, or unhealthy, depending on how you do it. Don't fall for false claims or quick fixes; you will only end up harming your body more in the long run. As long as you stick to healthy, natural ingredients in moderation, you should be ok. As always, do your research, and make your choice. Only you know what your body can and can't handle, so choose wisely.