What is Detox?

Detox, which has been mentioned frequently in recent years, is briefly a diet process used to cleanse the body and purify it from toxins. Harmful substances called toxins can accumulate in the body for many reasons such as air pollution, stress, wrong eating habits, and exposure to various chemicals. Various detoxes performed under expert supervision can help remove toxins accumulated in the body. “What is detox?”, “What are the types of detox?”, “Who can detox?” Answers to questions such as these and questions about detox are detailed in the following sections of the article.

What is Detox?

Some harmful substances, which are not normally produced in the human body, can enter the body in various ways and disrupt the structure and genetics of cells or damage the normal function of organs. In short, detox is a practice that helps remove these harmful substances from the body. Environmental factors such as air pollution, metals mixed into food from kitchen utensils such as scratched pots, and unhealthy eating habits can cause toxins to enter the human body. These substances entering the human body can damage various tissues and organs over time and cause various health problems. However, substances that are harmful to the body are not only caused by external factors. In some cases, substances that damage cells, such as free radicals, may be released as a result of various metabolic activities such as respiration.

Under normal conditions, toxins are rendered harmless by the liver with the help of various enzymatic events and are ready to be eliminated from the body. At the end of this process, called the detoxification process, the substances that become harmless are removed from the body by means such as sweat, urine and feces. However, in some cases, toxins may accumulate to the point that they cannot be removed from the body. In this case, the process of removing toxins from the body may need to be supported by methods such as detox. In other words, although the human body has the ability to clean itself, in some cases it may be beneficial to support the detoxification process from outside. Detox diets are generally short-term diets that aim to remove toxins from the body.

What are the Types of Detox?

Detox programs can range from diets based on intense calorie restriction, such as the water diet, to simple changes in eating habits. Accordingly, the main types of detox commonly used today are as follows:

• Fasting based on hunger for periods ranging from 1 to 3 days,
• Consuming only water, fruit and vegetable juice, tea, etc., like a water diet,
• Be careful to consume certain drinks such as lemon water,
• Diets that exclude foods containing substances such as gluten from the diet,
• exercising regularly,
• Eating only specified foods and beverages for the recommended period,
• Choosing foods that relax the digestive system, such as foods with high fiber content,
• Avoiding processed products
• Going to the sauna to sweat.

The ones listed above are among the detox methods commonly used today. However, experts emphasize that the detox method should be prepared in accordance with the person’s general health condition and needs. Considering the human body’s ability to remove toxins naturally, detox diets applied unconsciously without expert control may cause deterioration in a person’s health.

Why is Detox Done?

Detox is a set of methods that aim to improve general health by cleansing the body of toxins. Nowadays, the human body may be constantly exposed to harmful substances due to various factors such as air pollution, unhealthy eating habits, and packaged products. These harmful substances can accumulate in the body over time and cause various health problems. Under normal conditions, the liver plays an active role in removing harmful substances from the body, that is, in cleaning the body. However, if there is excessive accumulation of harmful substances, the liver may have difficulty removing these substances. The main purpose of detox is to remove toxins from the body by supporting the body’s natural detoxification process. In other words, detox aims to cleanse the body from the outside to the inside by supporting the functioning of organs such as the liver.

Additionally, one of the main goals of people who apply to detox programs is to lose weight. Detoxes, especially those based on calorie restriction, can help the weight loss process by supporting the functioning of the digestive system.

How to Detox?

The most important thing when applying detox, which helps purify the body from toxins, is to acquire healthy living habits. For this reason, detox programs do not include sugary foods and drinks and processed foods. Some methods that those who want to detox can apply are as follows:

• One of the most effective methods of removing toxins from the body is to drink plenty of water. Therefore, increasing daily water consumption can help cleanse the body of toxins.
• Consuming vegetables and fruits with high antioxidant content can support the detox process.
• Consuming probiotic foods such as yoghurt and kefir during the detox process can help protect the intestinal flora and help remove toxins from the body in a shorter time.
• Various studies show that foods high in sulfur, such as onions and garlic, can help remove heavy metals from the body.
• Sleep helps the body renew itself. For this reason, it is recommended to take care to sleep for 7-9 hours, especially during the detox process.
• Some scientific research shows that sugary and processed foods disrupt the body’s natural detoxification process by negatively affecting the normal function of organs such as the liver and kidneys. Therefore, it is important for those who want to detox to stay away from sugary and processed foods.
• Another important point to consider when detoxing is to limit salt consumption. Excessive salt consumption can cause the body to retain water, that is, edema. As a result, the person may feel the need to urinate less. Therefore, limiting salt consumption and increasing water consumption during detox can help remove toxins from the body.
• Toxins in the body are often eliminated from the body through body fluids such as sweat and urine. Exercising regularly can help sweat and thus cleanse the body of toxins.

Detox Benefits and Harms

When applied under the supervision of a physician specialized in detox, it helps purify the body from harmful substances. However, in some cases, detox diets can also cause various health problems. The main benefits of detox are as follows:

• Detox can support the normal functioning of organs such as the liver and kidneys, which are involved in the natural detoxification process.
• It may help you feel more energetic.
• Detoxes based on calorie restriction can accelerate the weight loss process.
• Detoxes that focus on the consumption of vegetables and fruits can help provide the body with the vitamins and minerals it needs.
• It can contribute to the more effective functioning of the digestive system.

In addition to the above, detox programs, especially if applied unconsciously, may also have some harms. Accordingly, the main harms of detox are as follows:

• Detoxes that significantly restrict calorie intake can prevent the body from receiving the nutrients it needs. As a result, vitamin and mineral deficiencies may occur.
• Detoxes, especially those based on calorie restriction, can cause the metabolic rate to slow down.
• Practices that cause excessive fluid removal from the body during detox may cause disruption of fluid-electrolyte balance.
• Excessive calorie restriction may cause psychological problems in some people.

Who is Detox Not Suitable for?

Detox programs are generally practices that allow the consumption of certain foods and limit other nutrients. It is especially recommended for those with any chronic health problems such as hypertension and diabetes to stay away from practices such as detox. In addition, it is recommended that pregnant or breastfeeding women avoid nutritional programs that limit food intake, such as detox.

The majority of detox programs are diets that focus on a single type of nutrition or long-term fasting. For this reason, it is important for anyone who wants to detox, whether they have any health problems or not, to consult a specialist physician and have the necessary check-ups. If you are considering detox, do not forget to make an appointment with a specialist doctor and have your check-ups.