Body Cleanses and Weight Loss: Is There a Connection?
Do you want to lose weight? Although exercise and a healthy diet are the best approaches to take, many are starting to turn to body cleanses, also known as body detoxification.
Considering the various toxins which impact on our bodies, for example the polluted air we breath, water which is not clean, even if just used for taking a shower, food which manipulated at the genetic level or any kind of processed food, all these give our organs a hard time. Then, the lack of minerals and vitamins, as well as lack of oxygen in the blood and body cells, no wonder, our metabolism goes on strike and we face fatigue and sickness. The body overloaded with toxins also tends to transmute into a body with overweight.
Toxic substances overwhelming the internal organs are store by body usually in the connecting tissues. After some time the body is expanding, its natural self-regulating mechanisms of detoxification are stalled. Often the first signs sickness are going by unnoticed, whilst in fact our focus should go to relief the internal organs as fast as possible from the toxic substances to ensure the well functioning of our body and its processess including self-regulation respectively self-healing.
Internal organs important for detoxification are:
The liver, the kidneys and the intestines, as well as the lymphs. The liver for example is the number one when it comes to cleansing the body from toxins. It removes toxic substances, such as toxic medications, excess hormones, food additives and likewise. The kidneys are responsible for purifying the blood from harmful substances and excreting them in the form of urine. For a sufficient filtration of the blood through the kidneys, the blood pressure should not be too low nor too high, nor should the volume of the blood which passes through the kidneys in a given time, be too low. Therefore, hydration is important to thin the blood and lymph.
The intestines, basically from the intake of food and substances until their exit from the body, are in charge of digesting the food as well as eliminating toxins. The digestion of our food begins in the mouth and continues in the stomach, and in the intestines. As soon as the different phases of digestion are completed, the nutrients, such as the amino acids, sugars, fats, minerals, vitamins, etc., penetrate through the intestinal mucous membranes into the venous capillaries which transport them to the liver. After detoxification, the liver redistributes the nutrients into the blood stream. Last, but not least, the lymph system plays a crucial part in detoxification and defense. About two liters of lymph fluid circulate in our lymphatic vessels which cover the body from tip to toe. These two liters are formed continually from the interstitial fluid that is the extra cellular fluid surrounding each one of our body cells.
If infectious agents intrude into the body, the production of white blood cells increases rapidly and proportionally to the intensity of the aggression. The lymph nodes that are closest to the site react first: they swell, get warm and hurt. If the production of lymphocytes is insufficient, the filtering, the degradation, and the transport of the waste products will be impeded and the bodily environment will be more and more overwhelmed with toxic metabolites and toxins.
For all of these reasons, every effort has to be made to support the lymph system.
Planning for a detoxification programme is the first step to restore health. Weight loss is a benefit coming along when the well functioning of the metabolism is restored. In recent years, multiple celebrities have brought weight loss and cleansing attention. As nice as it is to hear from a celebrity that you can lose weight with a body cleanse or detox, you may be wondering if this is true.
You may ask the question: Is there is a connection between detox and weight loss? Yes and no. It all depends on a number of important factors.
These factors include:
The detox diet used. You may be surprised to hear how many ways there are to detox your body. Before you start a body detox plan, it is important to know your options. These options, for example can include water fasting, juice fasting, the use of detox patches, massages and body wraps, bathing in the sea or enriching the water in your bathtub at homw with sea salt, the consumption of all-natural foods, and, exercises like for example yoga asanas supporting weight loss.
Water fasting, juice fasting, staying on raw foods are some of the popular detox diet method. Though imagining it is to lose the most weight, fasting is not right for everyone. Those who are overweight, those who have become dependent on foods, and those with certain medical conditions may not only find it difficult to fast, but dangerous.
Organic only foods are an easy way to detox your body, as you are still able to eat, unlike with fasting. The detoxification process will be slower, but when you stop putting unnatural foods and chemicals into your body, it can begin to repair itself. If on an organic only detox diet, you may notice a slight weight loss. This is because all-natural foods are healthier.
Consider the removing of toxins from your cells and body as a project on its own: making your body and thus yourself healthier! As a next step, or “project”, you may see the weight loss, which follows as a natural step once you have removed the toxic food items and unhealthy habits from your daily routine. As toxic foods there the ones with too much sugar, too much gluten, to many artificial flavours and likewise components, all those ones which trigger you to eat more because the taste is manipulated, and, certainly such food items which turn out to cause hidden or open food allergies to your body, which you can identify precisely with the assistance of your doctor and the right laboratory tests. This is an individual analysis of what your body can process without problems and which food items could harm your body system. Removing those from your eating habits may will lead to a double benefit: 1) your body is able to truly de-tox, and, 2) once the toxins won’t be taken in any more, your body can heal and weight regulation can begin. How long you detox for will impact your results, including weight loss. Generally speaking, the longer you detox, the more weight you will lose. However, before you start a month long detox plan, it is important to know the risks.
When consuming organic only foods, your body still receives needed nutrients, for that reason cleanses can last much longer. This is why detox lengths vary. Most recommend a week to two weeks, but always listen to your body and its warning signs. Foods causing allergies might be necessary to kick out from your eating habits forever. The benefit consequently is a body which is less or ideally not at all toxicated through wrong food intake, and, which then doesn’t require painstaking diets for weight loss as a healthy body supported by exercising may regulate itself in terms of the weight issue naturally under control. Detoxifying your body on a fast track and loosing weight in record time, however, is not the intension of body detox. The aim is rather to keep your body free from toxins on the long run as to maintain a healthy body and healthy living, and, by this regulating the weight. As for water fasting, extreme caution is advised. Your body will receive no nutrients at all. Too long, such as five days or more, and the risk of health complications arise.
Your weight. Your current weight will also impact your weight loss success on a detox diet. The more you weigh, the easier it will be for you to lose weight. For example, if you are 20 pounds overweight, you may lose weight on a detox diet. However, if you are at a healthy weight, you may not lose any weight at all.
Your lifestyle changes. As you can see, it is possible to lose weight with a body detox or cleanse. With that said, your weight can return just as easily as you lost it. When you start adding solid foods into your diet, you will automatically start to gain weight. You can, however, make healthy choices. By eliminating foods high in sugar, fats, and calories, or by making the switch to organic, you can maintain a healthy weight for years to come.
You can lose weight on a detox diet, but your results will vary. The main goal of a detox diet should be to improve your overall health and wellbeing. If you are solely interested in losing weight, this approach may not satisfy your expectations. Remember, your weight loss may be significant, but it will only be temporary. Instead, rely on a combination of healthy eating and exercise. On www.anlivedayoga.com you find the courses: “Yoga for Detoxification”, “Yoga Supporting Weight Loss” as well aweights many other courses with Asanas helping to regulate weight. This combined with healthy food intake according to your individual body requirements will be your best friends in maintaining appropriate weight. Definetly, there is a connection between the de-toxed body, the recommended weight, and, the healthy and happy life on the long run.