How to avoid detox side effects

Detoxing purifying, also called “detoxing” in modern parlance, are three terms we encounter everywhere in everyday life today. But this trend is not a new phenomenon but rather an ancient ritual that we humans have been practicing for thousands of years utilizing therapeutic fasting. In all religions, this practice is deeply rooted.

The quintessence of the activities associated with it boils down to the fact that the body must be freed from the negative consequences of our modern lifestyle (unhealthy diet & negative environmental influences) at as regular intervals as possible. Without regular detoxification, the function of our metabolism would be permanently damaged, with the consequence that our performance decreases more and more and our immune system is chronically weakened.

Folklore and pseudoscience or is there something more to detoxing?

Many dietary supplements are advertised with the term “Detox.” “Detox” is the abbreviation for detoxification and means detoxification. Corresponding capsules or powders are supposed to cleanse the body from the inside and break down or eliminate supposed or actual toxin accumulations. The ingredients of such products are diverse and range from healing clay, nettle, or mint to fruit or vegetable extracts and so-called superfoods such as goji or açai berries. According to the manufacturers, cleansing the liver, kidneys, and intestines leads to more energy, strengthens the immune system, reduces weight, and generally increases well-being.

But such statements are not scientifically proven. As a rule, neither the dietary supplements nor their respective compositions have been examined in serious studies for a possible detoxification effect nor the individual ingredients. An accumulation of toxins (often also called “slags”) or other health problematic accumulations of metabolic products cannot even be detected in the body of healthy people. The liver and kidney are the primary detoxification organs of the body. They work so reliably in healthy people that hardly any harmful substances remain. However, many “detox” products contain ingredients that have a dehydrating – but not detoxifying – effect (such as juniper berries, nettle, horsetail, green oats, dandelion, etc.). Constant use of such agents in high doses can lead to increased excretion of certain minerals and weaken the effect of medications.

The negative

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 critical 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 dealt with various assaults, from environmental toxins, a poor diet, stress, and lack of rest. The process added layers of protection to prevent severe 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:

• Increased irritability
• Insomnia
• Sore muscles
• Headaches
• Cold or flu-like symptoms
• Feeling physically weak
• Dizziness

Mentally prepare for these possible detox side effects, and you’ll be much better off when they rear their ugly heads!

The positive detox side effects

But don’t be alarmed—it’s not all bad news! 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:

• Weight loss
• Sharper intellect
• Clearer complexion
• Improved emotional stability
• Healthier digestive system
• Fewer headaches
• Lower frequency of illness due to a more robust immune system
• Elimination of allergies
• A fully-functional nervous system whose neurons can communicate with each other freely
• Clearer circulatory system
• Healthier lymphatic system

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 ten days, depending on the diet. In solid foods, you consume only liquids, ranging from fruit juices to the “secret” drink widespread 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. So 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.

Related: Top reasons you should consider full body and environmental detoxification

There are many variations on the fasting detox, but here are three of the most popular options:

• The Red Smoothie Detox Factor: Perhaps one of the most popular detox diets around, the Red Smoothie (also known as the Green Smoothie Diet, the South American Cleanse, and the 10 Day Detox) involves ten days of fasting during which dieters consume many glasses of the red smoothie drink, made of organic lemons, filtered water, “secret ingredients,” and Avocados. Dieters are also encouraged to take a laxative tea and a saltwater flush to further boost the effects of the detox. The red smoothie drink is said to satiate most feelings of hunger, although there are cravings and other side effects that participants must cope with.
• Green Juice fasting: Many people opt for juice fast for weight loss and cleansing purposes. This fast consists of a liquid diet, or juices, instead of solid foods. The juices are generally made of raw vegetables and fruits and filtered water, blended to make nutritious beverages full of fiber. Most dieters go on a juice fast for between one and three days, depending on the requirements and goals.
• Fast Track 4 Cycle Fat Loss Solution: Developed by Shaun Hadsall, a bestselling author, and nutritionist, the Fast Track Carb Cycling Detox Diet has helped many people kick-start their weight-loss program while ridding the body of toxins and boosting metabolism. The plan begins with seven days of preparation that includes a diet of organic foods to improve liver, kidney, and digestive health. On the eighth day, participants do a one-day fast during which they drink a “miracle juice” composed of lemon juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, stevia (a sweetener), ginger, and nutmeg. Participants also take psyllium husks or ground flaxseeds to add additional fiber. This is finally followed by three more days of the same special diet imposed in the initial seven days plus some extra “liver-loving” and “colon-loving” foods.

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.

Added value – Detox or fasting

Detoxify, cleanse and slim down the body to get through life with more energy. What are the differences between detox and fasting?

A key feature of fasting is the conscious and voluntary abstention from food or certain foods for a limited time. The form and duration of this process can vary depending on the structure of fasting – from a two- to four-week therapeutic fast with the requirement to consume only liquids, to alkaline fasting, which involves abstaining from acid-forming foods, to intermittent fasting, in which, for example, food should only be eaten during eight hours each day.

Detox or fasting: What is the goal?

Which form is the right choice for each individual depends on the goal of the fasting cure? For example, if long-term weight loss is the goal, interval fasting, in particular, has proven to be a suitable method. On the other hand, alkaline fasting is recommended for people who frequently suffer from headaches, fatigue, and poor concentration. Also, with Arthrose, rheumatism, and gout, this form of conscious food selection often shows very positive effects.

Therapeutic fasting has also already proven its beneficial effects on health in various underlying diseases: e.g., chronic inflammation and pain conditions, psychosomatic diseases, and metabolic disorders.

Caution with fasting. However, there are also groups of people who are advised against fasting: Pregnant and lactating women and people with anorexia and liver or kidney insufficiency.

In any form of fasting, care should be taken not to become nutrient deficient by abstaining from food. This can occur through consuming fruit juices, soups, and broths and includes the intended use of nutritional supplements where appropriate.

Intermittent fasting, enjoys great popularity among diet trends. However, this is not a typical form of diet that propagates certain food groups. Intermittent fasting means as much as “interrupted fasting.” A time window of food intake alternates with a fasting period. This involves completely abstaining from food intake during the hours of fasting, although non-caloric beverages, such as water, unsweetened tea, or even coffee, are allowed at all times. The duration of fasting and eating can be determined individually. The most commonly propagated principle is 14-16 hours of fasting and 8-10 hours of eating.

Lose weight fasting. The reasons for interval fasting vary. Since the dietary form has a positive effect on health, fasting mainly many to lose weight. But fasting to lose weight- is it that effective?

A calorie deficit is the key. If you want to lose weight, you must maintain a daily calorie deficit. This means that you eat fewer calories than you consume during the day. We recommend not to exceed a maximum calorie deficit of 500 cal. If you don’t know your daily calorie balance, you can calculate your individual calorie needs for free.

Intermittent fasting means eating nothing for several hours and then eating whatever you want for a few hours. Whereby a healthy and balanced diet should always be in the foreground. Due to the long period of not eating, your total calorie intake may be reduced, and you will take in fewer calories per day than before the fast. The resulting calorie deficit will, in turn, cause you to lose bodyweight.

Detoxification cure for the body. Now to the term detox: it translates as detoxification. Since almost every fasting cure claims to detoxify the body, the term detox is already included here anyway. Special Detox chamfering cures, as they are gladly advertised for some time and thus entirely in the trend line, frequently correspond in the substantial one, which is summarized already for a long time under the term basis or the welfare chamfering. In addition, however, in many cases still on accompanying applications such as Yoga, Massage and Sauna one sets.

In summary, the term detox describes a form of fasting in which the main focus of the procedure is on the aspect of detoxification.

Conclusion on fasting & detox:

In general, it remains to be said that there is now a confusing variety of different fasting plans as a common denominator can be crystallized that it depends on it to renounce consciously the components of the food, which have adverse effects on the own health. 

Accordingly, the goal should be to permanently adjust one’s diet to one’s needs to feel healthy and fit constantly.

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.