Summertime Detox Diets: Detoxing the Healthy Way
Summertime is upon us! With daily commitments and activities, you might find yourself wanting a quick fix to feel better and look better in your summer wardrobe. This time of year brings a sense of rebirth and newness and often leaves your body craving the same. Detoxing can be a great way to rebalance and energize your body for its peak performance. I recommend healthy detoxes to restore your body’s cells, but how do you know when your body needs a detox?
A Few Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Detox:
- Do you feel stressed and overwhelmed?
- Are you struggling with skin or digestion issues that aren’t typical for you?
- Acne, eczema, itching, psoriasis, hives
- Bloating, cramping, diarrhea, upset stomach, heartburn
- Are you having difficulties sleeping or are you waking up feeling fatigued?
- Do you feel off-balance, maybe unsettled, and not quite like yourself?
- Have you gained extra weight around your midsection or abdomen?
How to Begin a Healthy Detox:
There are many options when it comes to a detox plan. It is important to understand what is and is not healthy for your body. Detoxing is a great way to refresh your immune system, central nervous system, and your digestive system. Formerly, metabolic detoxes were recommended once a year in order to help your systems work together to the best of their abilities. However, in the environment that we currently live in, experts agree that our systems more likely need a metabolic detox more frequently. Most sources cite a detox with the change of seasons; that’s four times a year for a healthy tune-up!
A healthy detox plan will assist in alleviating stress, help your energy levels, and give you an overall sense of well-being. Detox plans are also used when beginning a new weight loss routine to rid your body of toxins so it can adjust to your new balanced diet.
Detoxing for weight loss can be a great option if you do it the right way. Ridding your body of toxins is an effective tool for speeding up your metabolism, but there are harmful risks associated with detoxing to lose weight if you are not following healthy guidelines. It is important to understand the difference between detoxing to help your body perform and detoxing plans that will hinder or harm your body’s performance.
How You Can Tell the Difference between a Healthy Detox Plan and an Unhealthy Detox plan:
A healthy detox works with your body and is specifically suited for what your body needs.
- You should keep an exercise routine while detoxing. If the detox program you’re looking at tells you in advance that you should not exercise or that you will not have the energy for exercise, you should run, run, run away from that “detox”.
- You should be sure that your body is receiving the right amount of nutrients—especially protein.
- You should be sure that you drink plenty of water as you detox to support the elimination of water-soluble toxins through your kidneys.
- You should be accommodating your body’s new needs with additional supplements that support phase II detoxification in the liver.
Exercising while on a detox may seem shocking at first. Many who have detoxed before found themselves to be more tired while going through the program; this should not be the case. You probably won’t feel an initial burst of energy, of course; however, you should still be able to move. You should take into consideration the length and intensity of your workouts and slow down a little. Instead of running, try walking at a higher speed to get your blood flowing. Yoga and light Pilates can also be beneficial to keep your body active while you detox.
When it comes to eating on a detox: you should! There are some detox diets out there that force initial weight loss to provide instant satisfaction. They also shortly follow with warnings that side effects and “a healing crisis. . .should feel natural.” If the detox program that you’re looking into warns about a “healing crisis”, drop it like a hot potato. Remember, detoxing is a way to rejuvenate your body and refresh your system. You should not feel an unhealthy shock to your body.
Talk to a Professional or Healthcare Provider to Ensure a Healthy Detox Plan
Your health is who you are. It supports you through your daily activities and successes. It is important to remember that detoxing is a medical process. If you aren’t completely sure what nutrients and supplements your body needs, talk with someone with knows how to design the right detox plan for you. Relieving stress can be one of the greatest benefits of detoxing. Often, stress is one of the most harmful toxins our bodies store.
I recommend a special Detox Bath that will help. First, be sure you plan a time that you can unplug from the world and truly disconnect. Yes, that means turning off and putting away all of your electronics. For just 10-15 minutes, turn off your email, your phone, and your social networks to unwind. We love being connected to our friends and family, but it is important to take time to connect with yourself and really pay attention to how your body feels.
At The Center for Ultra Health, we recommend this special bath recipe: just add 1 cup Epsom salt, 1 cup baking soda, and a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to a warm bath (we like lavender). Mix together in warm water and soak for just 10-15 minutes in the bath to assist in easing tension and providing an overall balance for your healthy detox. The Epsom salt helps promote magnesium intake, which will help elevate serotonin levels and feelings of relaxation. The baking soda helps balance pH and neutralize some toxins released from your skin. The essential oils will provide aromatherapy, melting away all of your worries and allowing you to focus on how you’re feeling from the inside out.
Here at The Center for Ultra Health, we offer personalized services to provide you with a healthy detox plan and a schedule specifically designed for your lifestyle. Your health and well-being should be a priority. Be sure when deciding to detox, whether for overall health or to kick-start your weight loss journey, you are detoxing in the healthiest way possible and that you are refreshing and resetting your body’s performance. Remember: detoxing should make you feel better, not worse!
You can contact us at The Center for Ultra Health for more information and recommendations on a personalized healthy detox at www.thecenterforultrahealth.com.
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