Our environment contains a huge volume of toxins that affect how our bodies function. The water we drink contains fluoride and other chemicals. The air we breathe is polluted by chemical trails. And, the food we eat contains pesticides, preservatives, and genetically modified ingredients. Not to forget the drugs we take from time to time to stay healthy and fit.

Detoxification is essential if you want to improve your health and manage your weight. It simply involves following a specific routine or using specific products to get rid of toxins that accumulate in the body. While your body is well-equipped to get rid of toxins, you can enhance this natural process.

Today, we are going to share with you seven easy ways to detox your body. But first, let’s look at the common misconceptions about detox.

Misconceptions about detox

Researchers report that detox diets eliminate toxins from the body thus improving health and boosting weight loss. They usually comprise of laxatives, vitamins, teas, diuretics, and minerals.

In the context of detox diets, the term “toxin” is not clearly defined. They include synthetic materials, pollutants, processed foods, and heavy metals. All these affect your health negatively.

Also, there is no concrete evidence to support that using these diets will eliminate toxins or promote weight loss.

According to paper writing service, the body has a natural system of eliminating toxins. Some of the organs involved in this process include the kidneys, liver, skin, and lungs. It’s only when these organs are healthy that they can eliminate toxic substances effectively.

Your body can do everything that detox diets do. Therefore, you can optimize the natural detoxification system of your body through these seven steps.

Seven easy steps

1.      Limit alcohol consumption

Research shows that 90% of alcohol is metabolized in the liver. Liver enzymes metabolize alcohol to acetaldehyde which is a cancer-causing substance.

The body recognizes acetaldehyde as a toxin and the liver converts it to acetate – a harmless substance. This substance is then eliminated from the body.

While studies show that low to moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial for your heart, excessive drinking leads to a host of health problems. Excessive drinking can damage your liver by causing inflammation, fat buildup, and scarring.

When your liver is damaged, it cannot perform its tasks effectively which includes filtering waste and toxins from the body.

Therefore, limiting or abstaining from alcohol is one of the best ways to keep your detoxification system strong. According to health authorities, women should limit their alcohol intake to one drink per day and two for men. If you don’t drink, don’t start because of the health benefits associated with light drinking.

2.      Get quality sleep

Adequate and quality sleep is critical to supporting your health and detoxification system. When you sleep, your brain reorganizes and recharges itself as the body eliminates toxic wastes that accumulated during the day.

Among these waste products is beta-amyloid which has been reported to be a major contributor to Alzheimer’s disease. When you deprive yourself of sleep, your body does not have time to perform these functions. This leads to toxins build up which will affect your health negatively.

According to essay shark, poor sleep has been linked to anxiety, stress, heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. You should sleep for seven to nine hours every night to promote good health. If you have difficulties falling asleep at night, you should consider sticking to a sleep routine and avoiding blue light emitted by devices before going to bed.

3.      Drink water

Water not only quenches your thirst but also regulates the body temperature, aids in digestion and absorption processes, lubricates joints and detoxifies the body by removing toxic substances.

All active cells in the body must be repaired continuously to break down nutrients and function optimally. During this process, waste in the form of carbon dioxide and urea is released. And they can cause harm if they build up in your blood.

Water transports these toxic substances and removes them efficiently through breathing, urination or sweating. Staying hydrated all the time is critical for the detoxification process. The ideal daily water intake for men is 3.7 liters while for women is 2.7 liters. You may need more depending on your diet, environment and physical activities.

4.      Reduce the intake of processed foods and sugar

Medical researchers report that the root of public health crises is the excessive consumption of sugar and processed foods. Regular consumption of sugar and processed foods has been linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

These diseases prevent your body from naturally detoxifying itself thus harming organs that play a critical role in the detoxification process. High consumption of sugary drinks causes fatty liver – a condition that negatively affects the liver functions.

By consuming less or avoiding junk food, you’ll keep your detoxification system healthy in the long run. You can limit the intake of junk food by replacing them with healthier choices such as vegetables and fruits.

5.      Consume foods rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants protect body cells against damage caused by free radicals. The excessive production of free radicals leads to a condition known as oxidative stress. The body produces these molecules naturally for cellular processes. However, tobacco, alcohol and poor diet can lead to the excessive production of free radicals.

This leads to body cell damage and conditions such as heart disease, dementia, asthma, liver disease, and cancer.

Eating an antioxidant-rich diet will help in fighting oxidative stress caused by free radicals and other toxins that increase the risk of diseases. Some of the best antioxidants include vitamin A, Vitamin C, Lutein, lycopene, and selenium. Berries, vegetables, nuts, fruits and beverages like green tea and coffee have a high amount of antioxidants.

6.      Decrease salt intake

Detoxing also involves eliminating excess water. When you consume too much salt, your body tends to retain excess fluid especially if you have a kidney or liver condition.

Excess fluid buildup causes bloating and makes clothing uncomfortable. If you consume too much salt, you can detox the extra water weight. Increasing water intake is among the best ways to eliminate excess water weight caused by consuming too much salt.

Consuming too much salt and not enough water stimulates the release of antidiuretic hormone which prevents you from urinating and detoxifying.

By increasing your water intake level, your body reduces the level of antidiuretic hormone thus increasing urination and elimination of waste products. Also, consuming foods rich in potassium counterbalances these effects. They include potatoes, bananas, spinach, and squash.

7.      Exercise regularly

Regular exercise has been associated with a longer life and reduced risk of many diseases and conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure.

Living an active life also reduces inflammation. While inflammation is important in the recovery and healing process, too much of it weakens the body’s system and promotes disease.

Studies show that you should exercise for at least 150 to 300 minutes every week. These exercises vary from brisk walking to high-intensity activities such as running.

Conclusion

Detox diets eliminate toxins and improve health. However, your body doesn’t need them because it has an efficient detoxification process in place. You can enhance this natural process by staying hydrated, reducing alcohol intake, getting active and consuming less salt.

Michael Gorman is a highly skilled freelance writer and proofreader from the UK who currently works at best essay writing, assignment writing and essay writing service. Being interested in every day development, he writes various blog posts and discovers new aspects of human existence every day. You can contact him on Facebook or Twitter.