Overview
Proponents of toxin removal diets claim that there are substantial health benefits to undergoing periodic dietary cleanses. If you are considering adopting a toxin removal diet, choose a program that provides for adequate nutrition, as detox programs based on fasting could leave you malnourished. According to Northwestern Health Sciences University, a typical toxin removal diet lasts one to two weeks. Before making any major dietary changes, talk to a medical professional.
About Toxins
Even if you eat a primarily healthy diet, you are likely exposed to a number of toxins on a daily basis. Food additives such as colorings, flavorings and preservatives, combined with the growing number of toxins in our environment, create an internal state of pollution in which irritants become trapped inside the body, states Northwestern Health Sciences University. According to NWHSU, 25,000 new toxins are identified every year. You may also be exposed to toxins in herbicides, pesticides, cleaning products, prescription drugs, drinking water and the gas emissions of volatile organic compounds from household items such as paint, varnishes, carpet, insulation, plywood and particleboard.
How Toxins Affect Your Health
According to Dr. Alejandro Junger, author of "Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself," the accumulation of toxins can lead to a variety of health problems, such as general puffiness, constipation, allergies, depression and irritable bowel syndrome. Toxins may also cause headaches or back pain, joint pain or arthritis, weight gain, fatigue, memory problems, or skin conditions such as psoriasis. Dr. Junger states that many people fail to attribute these problems to toxin exposure and may even mistake them for the natural process of aging.
Elimination Diet
According to Dr. Junger, the human body was designed to be able to naturally eliminate toxins, but if the body is constantly trying to fight off irritants, it does not have the time or energy to enter into detoxification mode. He writes that to begin eliminating toxins from your body, you must first remove potential irritants or allergens from your diet. Dr. Junger states that people often have undiagnosed allergies or reactions to certain foods; this keeps their digestive systems in a constant state of inflammation.
Deeper Cleansing
For an even deeper cleanse, Dr. Junger recommends eating liquid meals twice a day for a period of three weeks, which allows your digestive system to rest so that your detoxification system can engage. His three-week cleansing program consists of eating light meals in the evening and leaving a 12-hour window between dinner and breakfast the next morning to allow the body to enter a period of deep cleansing.
Considerations
Do not participate in a deep cleansing diet if you are pregnant or nursing, have type 1 diabetes, or are losing weight rapidly due to advanced cancer. Talk to your doctor before making any major changes to your diet, especially if you are already eating a special diet to help control disease. Dr. Junger recommends supplementing any detox program with essential nutrients such as fiber to help the body remove toxins.
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