Going through a detox—whether you choose hyperthermia, colonics, chelation, fasting detox, or a detox diet—is a fantastic way to boost your energy, strengthen your immune system, reduce your chances of contracting diseases, and losing weight. But there are both positive and negative side effects of any detox, and you should really know what you’re getting into so that you’re not surprised during the detox process.
Let’s get the bad news over with first, why don’t we? Depending on your level of health and the type of detox you choose, you could experience any number of less-than-pleasant side effects during your detox. The important thing to remember is that this is a natural part of the experience—you often get worse before you get better. Think of it this way—going through a detox is like removing the layers of an onion one at a time as you deal with each successive physical problem. Over the years, your body has had to deal with various assaults, from environmental toxins, a poor diet, stress, and lack of rest. In the process, it added layers of protection in order to prevent serious illness or diseases. As your body processes toxins, eliminates them from the body, and works to bring healing and rejuvenation to your entire being, you may experience some alarming and sometimes uncomfortable sensations.
Here are some of the more common experiences of people going through a detox or cleanse experience:
Mentally prepare for these possible detox side effects and you’ll be much better off when they rear their ugly heads!
But don’t be alarmed—it’s not all bad news! In fact, going through a cleanse is one of the most healing things you can do for your body, and the potential gains far outweigh the temporary discomfort you may feel while going through a detox or a cleanse. Here are some of the potential benefits:
This is just a sample of the benefits detoxers’ have experienced after coming out of a cleanse or detox. You, too, can enjoy these detox “side effects” by trying out one of the many full body cleansing experiences available! An extreme form of body cleansing is the fasting detox. This type of detoxification involves abstaining from food for between one and 10 days, depending on the diet. In the place of solid foods, you consume only liquids, which can range anywhere from fruit juices to the “secret” drink popular in the Red Smoothie Detox Factor Cleanse.
Fasting is a highly effective method for ridding your body of toxins that have been stored in tissues and your digestive tract over time. You see, when your body encounters a toxin that it can’t process, it’ll find a way to store it in your body—most often in fat. When you do a fast, your body is forced to begin burning fat, and as it does so, these stored toxins are released into the body so that they can be flushed from your system.
There are many variations on the fasting detox, but here are three of the most popular options:
Regardless of which fasting detox diet you choose, be sure to consult your physician or natural health practitioner before beginning in order to ensure you do the diet safely and with no risks to your health. Certain medical conditions (pregnancy, diabetes, etc) can put you at risk if you don’t go through a fasting detox with mindfulness and control.
The red tea detox is guaranteed to curb your hunger while leaving you full of energy and burning fat like crazy. Many of our readers have reported losing upwards of 15-25 pounds with this powerful red tea recipe. Read more about the red tea detox here.