The importance of healthy habits is often understated because so many people place importance on eating right and working out. However, these are only two small components of a healthy lifestyle. Healthy habits need to include healthy nutrition and regular exercise to be effective, which is not as simple as watching what we eat and staying active, it requires effort.
Good eating and regular exercise habits are important to overall health and wellness. Eating well is likely to positively affect the ability to work out, but again it is important to realize that they are two different endeavors. They all affect different physical, mental, and emotional functions in several ways. While the importance of good eating and exercise habits has increased over the last several years, most people have yet to truly understand how they affect the mind and body.
What is a Detox?
A Detox is defined as a nutritional regime in which the removal of toxins from the human body is the focus. Experts agree that healthy living with a well-balanced approach to healthy food, exercise, and adequate rest and activity supports natural detoxification. Many times, detox diets, like the famous lemonade diet, are highly restrictive, food-fearing diets.1
Natural detoxification is essential because most Western diets do not provide an optimal environment for detoxification and elimination of toxins.2 Many of today’s popular “quick fix” weight-loss diets do not work. They are too easy to fall off and too hard to stick with. There are very few diets that truly work for long-term detoxification and elimination of harmful toxins.
Natural detoxing is necessary in order to fully cleanse the body and eliminate toxins, but this must be done in a manner that does not encourage harmful behavior. For fasting to work as a detoxification and cleansing regime it should only be used in addition to a healthier diet and exercise routine. Fasting for detoxing should only be practiced under the supervision of an experienced professional. Natural detoxing and cleansing by drinking freshly extracted aloe vera juice is a safe and effective way to fast for detoxifying the body.3
What Are the Benefits of a Detox?
If you’re wondering what the benefits of a detox for you are, here’s some information you should know. There are a number of health benefits to detoxifying your body. It may be just the ticket to a new and healthier you. Here are the top three benefits of a detox:
- Stress Relief is a large benefit of detoxing the body. When you are stressed, your body produces more cortisol, which is a stress hormone. A high cortisol level can increase the likelihood of heart attack, stroke, and a host of other serious health problems.
- When your body is thoroughly cleansed of toxins, it releases these toxins in the form of sweat, urine, and bowel movements. This process flushes out toxins that have built up over time. These toxins can cause everything from colds to weight gain. Therefore, the benefits of a detox make it easier to lose weight and feel better all the time.
- As your body begins the process of being rid of accumulated toxins, you will notice that you have fewer aches and pains. Aches and pains are commonly a result of a flushing system, where too much bacteria and toxins are found in the body. By performing a process that cleanses the body, you are removing many of these harmful elements. Therefore, you will feel more energized and able to work productively because your body is functioning at its optimal efficiency.
These benefits sound wonderful, but there are even more benefits. In addition to feeling better, you will also find yourself gaining more energy. As toxins are flushed from the body, your body’s natural energy production rate increases, which leads to a noticeable increase in your stamina.
It is important to remember what the benefits of detoxing are so that you can be sure that you are choosing one that will benefit your body in the long run. If you are suffering from something, be sure to look at how you can make the situation better for your body. Many cleanses can help you lose weight and fight off various illnesses. If you are ready for a cleanse, find a plan that fits your lifestyle. The benefits of a detox are simply too great to pass up.
What Is A Cleanse?
A cleanse is basically a plan of healthy eating and exercise that will help the body get rid of all the harmful material and chemicals that get into the digestive system and throughout the rest of the body, leading to unhealthiness and an overall lack of energy.
Generally speaking, a cleanse is used as a strategic health strategy to rid the body of harmful toxins so as to restore the digestive system’s innate ability to heal itself from within. In this way, a cleanse can help the body get rid of the weight, feel better and look better than ever before.4
There are many healthy cleansing programs to choose from that range from simple to complex, so no matter what your current state of health or what you think your body needs to cleanse from, there is a cleanse out there that will meet your needs and goals. The best ways to cleanse are through diet and exercise because these are the most natural means to cleansing the body and getting rid of excess toxins.
A cleanse should be done every six months to a year (in case you don’t have any digestive problems already), depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing. It’s important to make sure the program you choose includes cleansing diets and enough water intake so that the new digestive system gets adjusted to the fact that there are toxins in the system. This way, your new healthy habits won’t backfire later on!
What Are The Benefits Of A Cleanse?
A body cleanse can have some amazing benefits. Cleansing your colon can improve your overall health. There are many benefits of a cleanse and they all have something to do with clearing out the old toxic buildup inside your body. When you use a colon cleanse product, you will be removing the build-up of dried feces and toxins in your intestines. This is very beneficial, as over time the build-up can cause you to become sick and tired.5
As you cleanse your colon, you will also be able to increase the amount of energy that you have. The toxins that are being cleared out by the cleanse can also help to restore your liver’s health. This can add years to your life as you will no longer have to take harsh drugs to be able to function. These benefits of a cleanse can really pay off if you can find a product that has them all.6
Other benefits of a cleanse include weight loss. Many products that can be used as a cleanse help to detoxify your body and burn off excess fats. This can help you lose weight naturally and with ease. Many people have stated that this is one of the reasons why they want to get rid of all the fat from their bodies naturally.
Another one of the main benefits of a cleanse is the clearing out of kidney stones. Kidney stones occur when there is an excess build-up of material in the kidneys. This can also cause health problems for those who drink too much alcohol. If you can clear out your body with a cleanse, it will be much easier for you to avoid getting one of these problems.7
These benefits of a cleanse are great for many. If you suffer from anything that could be a symptom of an illness or disease, or even just a simple lack of energy, a cleanse can help you get back on track and start feeling great. It will take some time and it may require that you eat a certain way for a period of time. However, in the end, you will wonder how you lived without it!
The Main Differences Between a Detox and a Cleanse?
Although most people think that a detox and a cleansing are exactly the same thing and hence use the words interchangeably, they aren’t. In fact, they’re quite different from one another in the sense that a detox is a process of eliminating toxins and other harmful substances from your body while cleansing is the removal of the same toxins and other harmful substances from your system. 8
One major difference between a detox and a cleansing is the kind of diet you follow. If you’re planning on going on a long-term detoxing or cleansing diet, you would want to start by eliminating all kinds of processed foods from your diet like white flour products, chips, sugar, fast food, etc. Instead, you should focus on eating fresh produce and high-fiber foods such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, beans, seeds, nuts, and vegetables.
Another one of the differences between these two processes is in the duration of the program. Most detoxes or cleanses usually take between two to eight weeks before they provide any kind of benefits. With a detox or a cleanse, the results usually start showing up within the first few days and you start to experience improvements in your energy levels, overall appearance, and clarity of thought within just a week or two. Most cleanses or detoxes still require a change of lifestyle for many people. You would have to stop eating processed foods and start drinking organic and natural beverages such as water and herbal tea in order to successfully complete a cleanse or detox.
Fasting is another key difference between the two. For detoxification, different types of fasting can be done for up to 14 days but for cleansing, it can be done for up to three days.9 With fasting, most people experience weight loss and detoxification but with cleansing, the side effects are constipation and detoxification symptoms which are actually similar to gas formation. Fasters also experience increased metabolism, which can lead to more weight loss.10
Both detox and cleanses require you to eliminate a lot of unhealthy and fatty foods so that you can flush them out of your body. In detoxification, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and fiber are the main source of nutrients. However, on a diet, carbohydrates and sugar are also required since it improves digestion and removes toxins. Most of the time cleanses require that you also cut back on calories and fats.11
There are some common foods that are recommended on both of these diets. Although it is important to note that detoxes are more effective if they are performed along with a healthy diet, it’s not mandatory to follow a strict healthy diet while going through a cleanse or detox. Generally, you won’t have to do any extreme changes in your diet. It’s more about how much junk you’re getting in your digestive system and how much fiber you’re getting from the cleansing process.12 As long as you stay away from processed foods and sugar, you should be able to have the best of both worlds – a cleanse that gets rid of toxins and a healthy diet that leaves you healthier and fuller.
Image Credits
SHA Wellness Center / Google Stock Images
Health By Principal / Google Stock Images
Ultimate Rejuvenation Cleanse / Google Stock Images
Dr. Kellyann / Google Stock Images
Great Learning / Google Stock Images
1 “Full Body Detox: 9 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Body – Healthline.” 10 Mar. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-detox-your-body Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
2 “Do Detox Diets and Cleanses Really Work? – Healthline.” 10 Jan. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/detox-diets-101 Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
3 “Are You Planning a Cleanse or Detox? Read This First – Cleveland ….” 3 Jan. 2020, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-you-planning-a-cleanse-or-detox-read-this-first/ Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
4 “5 ways to cleanse your body in 1 day – The Today Show.” 8 Feb. 2021, https://www.today.com/health/5-ways-cleanse-your-body-one-day-t106536 Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
5 “How to Do a Natural Colon Cleanse at Home – Healthline.” 16 Apr. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-colon-cleanse Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
6 “Colon cleansing: Is it helpful or harmful? – Mayo Clinic.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/colon-cleansing/faq-20058435 Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
7 “Kidney Stones Health Center – WebMD.” https://www.webmd.com/kidney-stones/default.htm Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
8 “What’s the Difference Between a Detox and a Cleanse?.” 12 May. 2017, https://blumhealthmd.com/2017/05/12/whats-the-difference-between-a-detox-and-a-cleanse/ Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
9 “6 Popular Ways to Do Intermittent Fasting – Healthline.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-ways-to-do-intermittent-fasting Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
10 “Intermittent Fasting 101 — The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide – Healthline.” 20 Apr. 2020, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/intermittent-fasting-guide Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
11 “Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet – Mayo Clinic.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983 Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
12 “Cleanse vs. Detox: What’s the Difference? – CorePower Yoga.” 13 Apr. 2019, https://www.corepoweryoga.com/blog/cleanse-vs-detox-whats-difference Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
