Body Detox- A Necessity or a Buzzword?
Words like’ organic,’ ‘detox,’ and ‘keto’ are widely abused by commercials to make a living out of them.
There is a lot of ‘health’ content on the internet that feeds the minds of health-conscious people. However, words like’ organic,’ ‘detox,’ and ‘keto’ are widely abused by commercials to make a living out of it.
We hear influencers and other marketers promoting and talking about body detox. But, does our body really need body detox? Or is it just another marketing tactic of savvy marketers? Let’s find out the science behind body detox so that you can figure out if you need it or not.
Body detox! Body Detox! What is a body detox?
Body detox or detoxification refers to following a diet or particular products that claim to remove toxins from the body to promote good health and weight loss. But, here is the news! Your body is capable of detoxifying and eliminating toxins from the body. So, do you really need to spend your pennies on expensive supplements or special products for it? Can products really cleanse your body just like surfactants? Do these products really do what they claim to do?
That said, there are several misconceptions and myths of body detox circulated without research and science-backed evidence.
Misconceptions about detox diet that you need to stop believing.
“ There are two types of detox: one is respectful( to remove addictions), and the other is not”
Let’s be very honest here; We all love influencers and their pictures with cucumbers splashed in water — how aesthetic! But, the theory behind filtering out the toxins is near to scam! Do you believe you would survive if your body did not flush out toxins? We all would have be dead by now.
A detox diet usually comprises juices and laxatives that are believed to flush out toxins from our bodies. To do this, the products or diet might have properties that can identify our body toxins to flush them out. However, a study revealed that diet and food rarely have such properties to identify and eliminate the toxins. Besides, another claim that a detox diet helps in weight loss was also considered inappropriate by a study that proved detox diet does not have weight loss properties in the first place.
The research revealed that our body organs(liver, kidney, etc.) have a detoxification system that can flush out their toxins independently. So, why complex and fret over a thing that our body is designed to do?
Worried about your body detoxification slowing down? Here are few things you can consider to enhance your body detox system-
Limit alcohol consumption.
90% of our body's detox occurs in the liver- another way to say it is, the liver is a significant detox organ in our body. But, unfortunately, our liver converts alcohol into a harmful chemical called acetaldehyde which is known to cause cancer. In addition, excessive consumption of alcohol can cause fat build-up in the liver, which slows down the detoxification process. So, it would be best if you cut down your alcohol intake to slow the detoxification process.
Drink plenty of water.
I understand you feel like rolling your eyes every time someone asks you to drink water. But, nothing can beat water and its magical properties. It quenches your thirst and many other functions, such as regulating your body temperature, enhancing digestion, and flushing toxins from the body. The daily intake of water should be at least 3.7 liters and might vary depending on your lifestyle and the place where you live.
Avoid fried and processed food.
Sugar and processed food are some of the leading causes of fatty liver and obesity. A high intake of sugar and fried foods increases heart disease and obesity And affects liver functioning. So, replace the junk food with healthy fruits and almonds when you tend to munch on chips and fries.
Exercise.
Regular exercise is the key to a healthy and fit life. It reduces the risk of infections and diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. It enhances the body's functions, which include detoxification and proper functioning of the organs. At least 150–300 minutes of moderate exercise is recommended in a week to keep yourself fit and healthy.
Eat antioxidant-rich food.
Our body produces free radicals, which cause oxidative stress in the body. But, excessive consumption of tobacco and alcohol increases the free radical production harmful to our body. A diet rich in antioxidants can reduce the production of oxidative stress in our bodies and decrease the risk of disease. Antioxidant food such as Vitamin A, lycopene, etc., found in fruits and vegetables can prevent your body from slowing down.
The Final Word
Detox diet claims to flush out toxins from your body- but our body is designed in a way that it can remove the toxins naturally. Having said that, if you want to improve your detoxification process, drink plenty of water, eat fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water. Detox diet and supplements can be seductive and expensive — I would say your body does not need it.
