Detox is an English term that means detoxifying, that is, freeing your body from substances with a toxic effect .
Detox is a 360 ° term and refers to detoxification from food, but also from alcohol, drugs, drugs and so on. In reality, however, in common use, it has become a way of referring above all to those diets and those foods that can make the body's normal purification and detoxification mechanisms work better.
There are many methods and many different diets related to the term detox, some of which have been in vogue for decades.
Let's take a look at it, purely for informative purposes, without going too far into specifics and without pretending to be exhaustive, given the vastness of the subject.
Detox diets
Detox diets are dietary regimes designed to purify the body of toxins accumulated through the consumption of junk food and nerve drinks, environmental pollution, the use of drugs and even psychological stress.
The aim is therefore to improve the general state of health of the organism rather than weight loss, even if, given the nature of detoxifying diets, weight loss occurs.
Many detox diets can be followed for a period ranging from 1 to 7 days, as they are too limiting to guarantee the body all the necessary nutrition. We exhibit some of the most famous ones.
- Grape detox diet: consists of eating only this fruit for 3-5 days.
- Citrus based detox diet : consists of eating only citrus fruits or citrus fruits mixed with other fruits for up to 7 days.
- Detox diet based on fruits and vegetables : it consists of eating only fruit and vegetables for up to 7 days, trying to vary a lot. The famous minestrone diet, for example, falls into this category.
- Liquid-based detox diet : consists of consuming only liquids for 1/3 days. Water, tea, herbal teas, fruit juices, smoothies and fruit and / or vegetable juices, protein shakes are permitted.
Find out how to make centrifuges to purify and get back in shape for the summer
Detox methods and detox lifestyle
Then there are some "maintenance" practices that fall within the longer term detox methods:
- Drink plenty of water, especially water with a particularly low fixed residue.
- Drink a drink of water and lemon juice in the morning as soon as you get up, prepared by squeezing a lemon or half a lemon into a glass of warm water, sweetening with a teaspoon of maple syrup or honey.
- Not smoking.
- Consume a lot of fruit and lots of vegetables, especially the richest types of water and fiber, considered detoxifying foods.
- Avoid all products considered "intoxicating" : ready meals, fast food, additives, animal fats, coffee, spirits, refined flours and white sugar, table salt, heavy metals ...
- Avoid exposure to environmental pollution as much as possible.
- Limit the use of drugs.
- Begin mental stabilization pathways that help fight stress, such as meditation and yoga.
- Do a lot of physical activity.
Detox or not detox?
Under the concept of detox there is also a whole series of parallel practices, which we can define at least bizarre, we mention a few: enemas, chelating therapies, removal of dental fillings, thermal coveralls, urine therapy ... which are not based on any scientific evidence.
Diets and detox methods are very controversial. If some of the listed practices are actually useful for the general well-being of the organism, others can seriously damage it.
The body, in fact, has autonomous detoxification systems; to make them work well you need to eat healthy and follow a correct lifestyle.
Too restrictive diets and other bizarre practices can severely damage these systems and be dangerous to your health.
We therefore urge you to evaluate all the "detox" diets and methods in a very critical manner, taking what is good and avoiding what may prove to be harmful.
