Looking for the best way to cleanse the entire body? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the internet and compiled all there is to know about detox.
Below we outline the history of cleanses, the pros and cons of each, and what effective detoxification looks like now: The Ultimate Body Detox.
What is Detoxing?
You may have heard the word ‘detoxification’ or ‘detox’ in the context of alternative health. Simply put, detoxification is the process of removing a toxic substance or substances from the body.
In healthy individuals, the digestive system and urinary system function optimally to process and eliminate most harmful metabolites and environmental toxins. However, these systems can become overwhelmed if the exposure to toxic substances goes beyond the body’s natural capacity to remove toxins.
Some symptoms of toxicity include:
- Low energy
- Decreased in physical performance
- Forgetfulness or confusion
- Compromised immune system
- Unhealthy weight gain
- Poor nutrient absorption
- Poor gut health
- Skin problems
- Premature aging
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time to consider detoxing! Before diving in, it is important to understand the history of detox.
The History of Detox
Time, culture, spirituality, and science have all played a role in the evolution of cleansing and detoxification systems and regimens. Over the centuries, people have utilized varying types of detoxification to remove toxins, support their body’s natural processes, and achieve optimal health.
In ancient times, detoxification of the body was connected to spiritual purification; a mind-body cleanse that served as a sort of reset button for the moral center.
Fasting, which was part of the detoxification process in cultures all over the world, is still used as a means of spiritual purification in many traditions.
Some ancient cultures used dry-brushing or the process of brushing the skin with a dry brush to unclog skin pores. Other ancient methods include: saunas or heated tents, herbal anti-infectives, laxatives, diuretics, water, exercise, and meditation as part of the detoxification process.
Several of the most ancient methods of detoxification are still in use today, including colonic irrigation, foot pads, bodywork, laxatives, detoxifying foods, and other home remedies. More recently, modern medicine and nutrition have led to detoxification processes that are safer and more effective than ancient methods of detoxification.
Which Detox is Best?
There are many forms of detoxification, most of which are either outdated, focused mostly on weight loss rather than detoxification, or insufficient to truly rid the entire body of toxins. Below, we explore these methods of detox, exposing the pros and cons of each one.
Juice and Smoothie Cleanses
One of the most popular cleanse trends is the juice/smoothie diet. The premise is that for a certain amount of time, the detoxer’s only source of food will be whichever smoothie or juice drink is regimented.
Some of the popular ingredients we see in these drinks are: water, apples, celery, ginger, spinach, pineapple, lemon, beets, strawberries, and cayenne pepper. Many of these ingredients are high in antioxidants and essential vitamins. Flooding your system with nutrients is sure to make you feel good, and help with bloating.
The downside is that these diets can be restricting, and tend to be more focused on weight loss rather than detoxification. Be sure to contact your doctor before participating in a diet like this. Doing this for a significant amount of time is not advisable.
If flooding the system with nutrients and quick weight loss are your goals, then this can be an effective method! Just know that most if not all weight lost on this diet is water weight, or muscle loss. The weight loss results from a detox like this don’t usually last very long.
If removing toxins from the body is your goal, this method may not be your best option. While the antioxidants in your juice or smoothie will certainly help boost the body’s natural detoxification processes, the difference won’t be significant.
Detoxifying Foods
Relying only on detoxifying foods, however, can be arduous and even dangerous. Detox diets that require sticking only to these foods should be given a reasonable time limit, and monitored by a health professional. As a means to lose weight and introduce vital nutrients, a case may be made for this method. As a method of removing toxins from the body, however, it falls short.
Liver Detox
Many liver detox programs involve taking pills or dietary supplements. Most liver detoxes are not as effective as they claim, and depending on the ingredients, they can be more harmful than helpful.
Liver detoxes are designed to remove toxins from the liver, which is the organ that deals with toxins in the body normally. This can be helpful in unburdening the liver so that it can perform more optimally, and on paper that makes sense.
Focusing solely on the liver can be problematic when it comes to detoxification. Purging only the liver of toxins then creates another problem. Often, liver cleanses end up being more of a dispersal of toxins rather than a removal. Those toxins that were removed from your liver are then relocated elsewhere inside the body where they can wreak different kinds of havoc.
Keep in mind that liver detoxes cannot reverse the effects of liver disease or alcoholism, and in some cases, can actually make symptoms worse. Be sure to contact a doctor or health expert before participating in a regimented liver detox.
Water Fasts
The most significant benefits of a water fast that are supported by science are: weight loss and the promotion of autophagy. Autophagy is a process in which the body breaks down and recycles old and potentially unhealthy parts of your cells. This can be extremely beneficial.
While weightloss will most likely occur during a water fast, be advised that most weight lost will come from water weight and muscle loss.
Doing this type of fast can be dangerous, and should not be done for more than 72 hours without doctor supervision. During the fast, participants may feel weak or dizzy, and should avoid operating heavy machinery.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting can be done in a variety of ways, but the three most popular are:
- Eat-Stop-Eat: This method involves fasting for a full 24 hours once or twice a week. These days should not be consecutive.
- The 5:2 diet: This involves consuming only 500–600 calories on two non-consecutive days of the week, but eating normally the other 5 days.
- The 16/8 method: This regimen involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating to an 8 hour period. You then fast for another 16 hours before eating again. This can be done for long periods of time, and is the most popular form of intermittent fasting.
Because intermittent fasting is essentially a form of calorie restriction, it tends to be effective in weight loss. In terms of actually ridding the body of toxins? There is no research available to suggest that this method is capable of removing toxins from the body.
Saunas
Spas have long claimed that sweating is a viable means for detoxification. When looking at the research, we discover that this is simply not true. The amount of toxins that are released through sweat are so minute that they are simply not worth the effort.
A typical person doing 45 minutes of high-intensity exercise produces roughly 2 liters of sweat. That sweat would contain less than one-tenth of a nanogram of toxic pollutants.
In the end, the main benefits of a sauna are: increased circulation, potential weight loss, and improved mood.
Laxatives
For those with constipation, herbal laxatives are a quick and easy option. The danger here is that laxatives can be overused and create new health problems. It is possible to become chemically dependent on laxatives to the point that it becomes difficult to make the smooth muscle of the colon work well without them. Herbal laxatives should be used with caution and with advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Bulking laxatives such as psyllium fiber are a viable option for everyday detoxification of the digestive tract; just be sure to drink a tall glass of water with any bulking laxative.
Laxatives, however, can only help with toxins that reside in the digestive tract, and do nothing for the rest of the body. In removing toxins from the entire body, this method doesn’t get the job done.
Colon Cleanse
Colon cleanses are often a more aggressive version of a laxative. These 3, 7, and 14 day cleanse kits promise to leave your body feeling well-irrigated. This kind of a cleanse is difficult to integrate into a busy lifestyle, as you will be making many, many trips to the bathroom. While this is a great way to deal with constipation, bloating, and water weight, it does little to detoxify the rest of your body.
Colonic Irrigation
However, an enema runs the risk of upsetting the delicate balance of the healthy microbiome of the gut. The gut contains bacteria that help regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and help us digest our food. If an enema strips the inside of the colon of the useful bacteria that help us digest our food and guard our gut, poor digestion can occur.
Today, there are hydrotherapy clinics where you can have this done in a safe, controlled, and relatively soothing environment.
While there may be toxins in the digestive tract, this method does nothing for the toxins that reside throughout the rest of the body.
Detoxifying Foot Pads
Wrapping the feet in a detoxifying paste of herbs, salts, and/or clays is another technique with a long history. Unfortunately, commercial foot pads are not always reliable, and some on the market today are a scam.
The idea is that you attach pads to your feet that contain a patented blend designed to pull out toxins while you sleep. Herbs that are circulatory stimulants, such as garlic and ginger, could be of benefit here.
However, many of these products simply contain a chemical that reacts with oxygen over time to eventually discolor, such as iron filings. The same discoloration would have occurred if the pad were spritzed with pure water and left sitting on the counter. Therefore, it is very important to investigate these products and read ingredient lists carefully.
The Movement Towards Detoxification Packages
More and more, supplement manufacturers are creating detoxification ‘systems’. Many of these attempts fall short of the goal, and are made with questionable quality and safety. When looking for a detoxification system, be sure to find a method that is safe, well-researched, and effective in removing toxins from the entire body.
Detoxing the Entire Body
Most detoxes focus solely on a specific organ or area of the body, often resulting in a recycling of these toxins versus their actual removal from the body. The Ultimate Body Detox system is unique in its ability to remove toxins throughout the entire body, ensuring that toxins are bound and eliminated from the body rather than pushed to other regions. If the problem is toxicity, then by definition the solution is detoxification.
The Ultimate Body Detox System
Recommended by doctors worldwide, ACS 200 Silver, ACZ Nano, and ACG Glutathione work together synergistically to provide a comprehensive full-body detox that works to eliminate toxins throughout the entire body. Each ingredient is chosen specifically for its vital role in this process.
Advanced Cellular Technology
Our unique patented Advanced Cellular technology delivers the power of each ingredient in the most effective manner possible; achieving maximum results without stomach discomfort or side effects.
No capsules or pills, Results RNA Extra Strength Intra-oral sprays are rapidly absorbed, simple to take, and have a pleasant taste. Just spray, swish, and swallow.
A Detox for the Entire Body
The concept of a cleanse for the entire body has evolved over time, with limited effectiveness, until now. When looking for the right detox for you, make sure to choose a system with documented safety, efficacy, and one trusted and used by doctors worldwide. Find a detox that works within all the systems of the body, ensuring that the entire body is detoxified and allowed to thrive. Choose the Ultimate Body Detox.