We often think that we do everything we need to maintain good health, but anyway, it is difficult to lose weight or gain weight too easily. This may be due to toxins in the body that cause hormone imbalances.
Detox would help restore the stability of hormones, which will lead to successful weight loss. A detox full of vitamin and mineral-rich fruits and vegetables can help balance your body, along with improving your diet, by reducing or eliminating harmful carbohydrates from pizza or bread.
When is detox needed for weight loss and why?
Below are some conditions that can lead to weight gain. People with these health problems may need detox.
Hypothyroidism
There are many studies that show that thyroid problems are caused by environmental factors and our diet, so these problems can be easily overcome if we detoxify our thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that are vital to our metabolism, one of which is the conversion of food into energy. Two common thyroid problems are when it produces too little (hypothyroid) or too much (hyperthyroid) of these hormones, causing (in most cases) weight gain or weight loss.
Detoxification of the thyroid gland:
- Eliminate all chemicals from your home and diet.
- Drink plenty of clean or filtered water.
- Avoid gluten. There is a strong link between autoimmune hypothyroidism and gluten intolerance.
- Do your bowel cleansing.
- You can do detox to remove heavy metals from your body.
- Include sea vegetables / seaweed in your daily diet. They contain a wide variety of minerals and vitamins that support thyroid function.
It is generally believed that once you start taking thyroid medications, you should take them for life, but this is not the case. Your health is under your control. If you detox, you will feel the difference.
Liquids retention
Fluid retention can lead to weight gain, as some parts of the body swell with water. One common cause is standing on your feet for long hours, as swelling may occur in your ankles.
How to detoxify to get rid of retained liquids in the body:
- Include diuretic foods in your diet. Some of them are celery, cucumbers, apples, watermelon, parsley, fresh vegetables, dandelion leaves or root, papaya, pineapple, garlic and dill.
- Drink plenty of water and herbal teas.
- Avoid milk products, sugar, wheat and other cereals that contain gluten.
- Reduce salt.
Cushing’s disease
Cushing’s disease (affects only 10 to 15 people in a million, but 70 percent of those diagnosed are women) causes excess cortisol production and causes excessive weight gain, especially around the abdomen and back of the neck. The legs and arms usually remain unaffected.
The disease is characterized by very low energy and complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. If this sounds familiar to you and you experience all or more of the symptoms, it’s time for a detox.
How to detoxify in Cushing’s disease?
- Eat anti-inflammatory foods such as healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, foods high in B vitamins, foods high in calcium, potassium, magnesium and protein.
- Stop taking medicines that increase cortisol (such as steroids) or take a lower dose.
Processes during detox in order to lose weight
Although the body is constantly detoxified naturally, nowadays our bodies are exposed to a lot of pollution due to the commercial cultivation of food, pharmaceuticals, toxic cosmetics, detergents and all other contaminants in our home and outdoors. Over time, this toxic overload slows down the body’s ability to process and remove toxins and they accumulate in the body.
The liver is our main detoxifying organ, which has a dual role in proper digestion, so many people find weight loss a very difficult job. When the liver is overloaded, we tend to store more fat.
When we detoxify, our liver must convert fat-soluble nutrients into water-soluble substances (in the first and second phases of detoxification) before they can be eliminated from the body.
Phase II and III detoxification captures toxic waste in the body, makes it less reactive and then transfers it to the colon, after which it is expelled from the body.
Final phase
After your system goes through the process of eliminating toxins, it needs a break. The body has its own daily detox program, but once we intervene, the process becomes more intense, which is one of the reasons we feel bad during detox. That is why it is important to rest, eat well, drink enough water and do light exercises to promote good blood circulation and infuse oxygen into the cells.
Once the body is cleansed and restored, expect positive results soon – one of them is weight loss!
How is it conducted?
For starters, limit intestinal irritants (alcohol, coffee) and foods that cause inflammation, such as sugar and processed foods.
But even if you don’t eat well 24/7, you can do simple things to help the liver – the body’s filter – do its job. Enhancing liver function helps reduce the accumulation of toxic substances in the tissues.
Here are some steps you can take to begin the process of preparation for mediation.
- Hydration with lemon water – as we become dehydrated on the night of waking up, drink a glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon. This will hydrate the body and give you minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. Lemon juice also helps the liver produce more enzymes
- Tea – Dandelion or milk thistle tea can enhance liver function, helping to reduce accumulated toxins in the tissues. In a study of milk thistle by the National Center for Alternative Medicine, researchers found that the herb can help improve liver function by protecting against cell damage and stimulating liver tissue repair. In the Cancer studies you have found that milk thistle can strengthen cell walls by preventing the entry of toxins, blocking free radicals from attacking cells
- Chlorella is a green alga that eliminates heavy metals such as mercury. One study found that chlorella intake in pregnant and lactating women reduced levels of dioxin, a harmful toxin found in breast milk. Like spirulina, chlorella can also be found in powder form. Add them to fruit puree or juice.
How long does it take?
That depends on you.
You can stop your detox whenever you want. Detox programs usually last from a week to a month or a few years, as needed!
What’s next?
After you are done with the detox diet, what to eat is also a question to consider. Below are some things you should consume after detox.
- Green tea is an important drink for people who have just completed their detox diet because it provides the body with important flavonoids and antioxidants. Green tea is also very useful for maintaining a healthy weight
- Eat stewed vegetables – steamed vegetables are good for people who have just completed a detox diet, as they are easy to digest. The content of minerals and vitamins in vegetables keep the metabolism healthy
- Take a probiotic and eat fermented foods – it is important to know that a healthy intestines means a healthy body. Since about 70% of the immune system is located in the intestines, improper diet always creates problems. If you do not take care of your intestines, your body will not be able to eliminate toxins. When a strong probiotic is taken and fermented foods are eaten daily, the good bacteria in the gut increase, which helps maintain good health.
Additionally, probiotics are also essential for the liver, so eat more probiotic foods such as kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi for maximum effect.
By whom and for whom is it intended?
Many nutritionists and other experts recommend detox. According to them, if we experience the following symptoms, then our bodies need purification:
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Hormonal imbalance
- Increased irritability and bad mood
- Difficulty losing weight or unexplained weight gain
General tips
Never ignore your nutritional needs. Therefore, we recommend that you have a blood test before trying any detox diet – so you will be sure what exactly you need and know what supplements to take, even if your main goal is just weight loss – it is still associated with your general health.
You also need to take enough calories, fiber and protein. Don’t deprive yourself of nutrients just because you want to lose weight. If you do not eat enough and often, you may experience unpleasant bloating.
This means that when you are hungry or when it is time to eat, the parietal cells of your stomach produce acid in anticipation of the arrival of food. But if it does not appear, a dangerous amount of acid remains in the stomach without using it, which injures the inside of the stomach and leads to bloating, which in turn makes you look fuller.