What exactly is a detox? Simply put, a detox is a process in which a person makes lifestyle changes to clear their body of toxins. These lifestyle changes typically involve abstaining from certain harmful things and optimizing body processes. Some changes are temporary, such as following a cleansing diet, others are permanent.
Term “toxins.”
Toxins are any substance that can be poisonous or cause negative health effects. “Toxin” refers to all the metals, chemicals, pollutants, artificial food ingredients, pesticides, and poisons that cause the body harm. “Toxin” is a very broad term and it’s even, unfortunately, become a bit of a buzzword to some. Artificially created chemicals can be toxins, but naturally occurring substances can be toxic, too. Arsenic is a natural toxin. Technically, so is cobra venom (though you’re less likely to find this contaminating your town’s water supply).
We are in constant contact with harmful organisms and pollutants. They’re in our water, in our food, and in the air we breathe; it’s very difficult to get away from them. The source of many health issues is the toxins that have built up in our bodies over the years.
There is no practical way to protect yourself from all the toxins in the environment. You would have to live the rest of your life in a hermetically sealed suit (and it would be a short life since you couldn’t eat or drink.) Fortunately, there are ways to counteract some toxins and pollutants. Your body’s natural detoxification processes exist to deal with the ones we can’t avoid. You can help your body perform these processes with the help of regular cleansing.
First, let’s understand the natural ability we have to cleanse ourselves.
The Body and Detoxification
The human body has a natural ability to detoxify itself. In fact, the body has several systems in place for removing waste. The excretory system plays the largest role in detoxification. The most obvious job of this system is defecation and urination. The main organs that compose the excretory system are the skin, liver, lungs, large intestine, and kidneys.
You may be surprised to learn that your skin is part of your excretory system, but it’s true—the skin aids in elimination through the sweat glands. The purpose of sweat is to regulate body temperature, but it’s a multifunctional system. When sweat passes through your sweat glands, it takes toxins with it.
The roles of the other organs are just as important. It’s the liver’s job to filter and excrete waste, hormones, drugs, and other foreign substances. The lungs help remove carbon dioxide (the waste gas resulting from breathing). The large intestine has several important jobs. It absorbs water and remaining nutrients from food. It also converts waste into stool to be expelled from the body through defecation. The kidneys filter the blood and help remove waste from the body through urination.
The entire body relies on this system to live a healthy life. Your body is detoxifying itself all the time, around the clock, 24/7. Even your brain flushes out toxins while you sleep. It’s essential to take care of these organs and allow them to do their job.