By Sarah Barnes
There has been a lot of talk about how to detox using detox programs lately and we’re pretty sure that there are just as many opinions out there as there are types of detox programs. It also seems that doctors, nutritionists, trainers, yogis and health enthusiasts alike are on different sides of the table on the best way to detox. So while you detox-ers are out there are feeling hungry, tired and downright drained, we are asking the big question.
How to detox your body safely?
Break It Down: Why the Hype?
First, let’s face it, we are a society of instant gratification. The internet and our smartphones allow us to be instantly connected to people, information, services and anything our heart desires, so the marketability of programs like The Master Cleanse, juice cleanses, carb fasts etc. is logically through the roof. They promise everything from weight loss and radiant skin to a completely new you in three, seven and thirty days.
Take it from Caroline Kennedy, “change isn’t easy, it takes time.” It may have taken you one weekend of binging on alcohol and junk food or a week long holiday, but allowing your body to heal takes time and effort on your part to change your unhealthy habits. There are zero magic cures to most of life’s self-inflected ailments.
It’s Science: Our Body Naturally Detoxes
Organs in our body are already hard at work 24/7 breaking down and removing waste and toxins that we eat and/or create. According to spokesperson Rick Miller from the British Dietetic Association (BDA), ‘it’s a complete fallacy that the body needs to detox. Removal of waste products and toxins is a continuous process and we don’t need to periodically flush them out. The body does a perfectly good job of eliminating any substances on its own.’
Below are the 6 ways your body naturally rids itself of toxins:
- Liver
Filters the blood and produces enzymes that destroy toxins that come from our food, water and air. Prepares toxins to be expelled through urine or bile. - Intestines
Balances good and bad bacteria which helps the body digest better and produces natural antibiotics to break down toxins. - Kidneys
Natural filter of the blood and remove waste that is sent to the urinary bladder. The kidneys excrete waste such as urea and ammonium. - Lungs
We breathe toxins in the air through our lungs, but they are able to expel them through our exhales which release the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. - Skin
Releases toxins through the process of sweating. - Lymphatic System
The lymph contains white blood cells that pick up bacteria and other toxins from cells. They carry these to the lymph nodes to be destroyed. As we breath and contract our muscles the lymph moves around the body.
Opinions, Everyone’s Got One:
PRO DETOX:
Shape magazine recently did an article about the top 10 Cleanses of 2014 back in December. They include the likes of the Colon Cleanse, Liver Cleanse, Master Cleanse (YIKES, we’ll leave this one to Beyoncé), 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse, Juice Cleanse, Detox Cleanse, Slendera Garcinia and Natural Cleanse, Dherbs Full Body Cleanse, Blueprint Cleanse and Isagenix Cleanse for Life.
Then you have Doctor Scott Health writing about The Master Cleanse. He mentions that the program is fast, but also a detox. “It is in fact a FAST. A juice fast. Its purpose is to detoxify the body. Weight loss will naturally follow from both restricted caloric intake as well as from the detoxification process itself but the detoxification and elimination of built up toxins in our body is what this cleanse or detox diet is all about.”
Finally, wildly popular Dr. Oz. seems to be on the Pro Detox bandwagon as well. With a hit TV show, multitudes of books and endorsements who could blame him. Upon searching his site I found countless articles on the Souping Cleanse and What is Your Detox Type? Interestingly enough though, what viewers need to remember and clearly stated on his website, the website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
ANTI- DETOX PROGRAMS:
Edzard Ernst
Emeritus professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University.
“Let’s be clear, there are two types of detox: one is respectable and the other isn’t.” The respectable one, he says, is the medical treatment of people with life-threatening drug addictions. “The other is the word being hijacked by entrepreneurs, quacks and charlatans to sell a bogus treatment that allegedly detoxifies your body of toxins you’re supposed to have accumulated.”
If toxins did build up in a way your body couldn’t excrete, he says, you’d likely be dead or in need of serious medical intervention. “The healthy body has kidneys, a liver, skin, even lungs that are detoxifying as we speak,” he says. “There is no known way – certainly not through detox treatments – to make something that works perfectly well in a healthy body work better.”
WebMD
WebMD is a popular site that provides health news, advice, and expertise.
When we searched “how to detox,” the article The Truth About Detox Diets was the first article to pop up. They go through what most detox diets look like and the effects that they may or may not have. They actually go on to say that these types of programs could be harmful for particular conditions such as diabetes and poor cardiovascular health. The doctors close out by concluding, “We’ve heard a great deal about detox diets in recent years. But it’s all hype with no health benefits. There are many ways to get your body clean and healthy. This isn’t one of them.” Which leaves no room for argument on how they feel about these programs.
Blue Osa: Encouraging Health from the Start
Blue Osa offers its guests a range of healthy smoothies to indulge in while they are here. One of them that is super yummy is our Blue Osa Green Detox smoothie. Don’t be confused, although our smoothie is named Blue Osa Green Detox, this light and beneficial smoothie encourages your body’s natural detox processes which are already in place, not further promoting the quick and easy “how to detox” process. We believe in fueling your body with the right nutrition from the start.
Here is a step by step guide on how to detox at home by enjoying the Blue Osa Green Detox smoothie!
Blue Osa Detox
From the Kitchen of Blue Osa
Sugar free, gluten free, fat fee and very healthy!
What you need:
- Apple
- Basil
- Spinach
- Lemon
- Ginger
- Ice
Easy Steps:
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- Cut up apple & Squeeze in lemon.
- Cut up apple & Squeeze in lemon.
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- Blend ingredients (do not include the ice on the initial blend.)
- Blend ingredients (do not include the ice on the initial blend.)
- Blend in ice to cool down
Enjoy!
So whether you’re pro-detox or anti-detox, everyone can enjoy this refreshing and healthy smoothie that is full of vitamins, minerals and all the good things your body craves.
Pin it to your health and wellness board on Pinterest here!
Did this article help you learn how to detox safely? What other tips do you have for how to detox? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author
Sarah Barnes is a level 200 Registered Yoga Teacher, photographer, writer/blogger, communications professional and owner of Modern Warrior Yoga. Sarah is an alumni of Texas Tech University where she graduated with International Business and a Photo Communications degrees. She recently left her job as the lead spokesperson for Sherwin Alumina Company to explore the world and is currently volunteering at Blue Osa as a blogger, photographer and yoga instructor.
Follow Sarah her journey and adventures in Costa Rica!
Read her stories on her Blog.
