Detoxification is the act of removing toxins from the body through a special diet that can be done every once in a while. Simply put, detoxification is like a physical cleansing of your internal organs – specifically your liver – to stay healthy and keep your blood circulation flow healthy. A regular detox can make your internal organs clean and healthy and this emanates through your overall wellbeing.
Toxins from outside
The process of detox removes the unwanted toxins from your body. Toxins are, in a way, a form of poison. They are not exactly the types of poison that can lead to immediate disablement or death but even if they have small effects, when put together they can have the potential of an actual poison and injure the body.
Toxins can be found anywhere. Ingesting toxins in your body from outside forces can be in the form of eating, breathing and exposure to materials that have toxins that can attack the body.
Toxins generated from within
Toxins are not only consumed from the outside. Apparently, your body has the ability to produce toxins that can be harmful to you also. An example of this are Ama Ayurveda, or mild body toxins, that happens as a result of poor digestion. There are also toxic body toxins that forms and runs in your blood when you live unhealthily.
When is the best time to detox?
- Why is Summer a Good Time to Detox?
A big factor of detox is attributed to how stomach digests the food you eat. During summer months, digestion and metabolism are a lot easier and this is mostly because of the warm weather.
- Why is Autumn a Good Time To Detox?
Detox also depends on the types of food you eat. Fruits are commonly used for detox. It is during autumn that the best detox fruits are in season. Therefore, autumn is a good time for cleansing.
- Why is Spring a Good Time to Detox?
Spring is like a rebirth of the seasons and a wakeup call from the winter. When during winter months, your body is in a form of hibernation to keep you warm, cleansing all those extra warmth out would be a good first step into spring. According to Chinese belief, the best time to cleanse and replenish the liver’s strength is during spring.
- Why winter is NOT the best season to detox
During winter or the cold months, our bodies pack up on nutrients that can help keep us warm. It’s a natural process that some would consider hibernation. In a way, it is a form of hibernation. Thus, cleansing will not be a good idea during this season, and you would do well to allow your body to pack up on the heat. Wait for the next season, instead.
Truth is that anytime is a good time to detox – except for winter seasons, that is. Internal cleansing is a good practice to stay healthy. Some even call this action as gut support and it is exactly that. You support your gut by making sure it is clean and you remove anything that could affect it negatively. Detoxification may be commonly done as a weight loss program, but its main purpose really is to keep your health intact.
Hi Joseph and Sandy,
Informative post indeed 🙂
Yes, one’s learnt a lot about detox from Sandy’s blog and your post too tells us why we should refrain from it, especially during the winter months. However, I guess if you take precautions and perhaps warm your liquids and intake of food etc, even winters are alright – anytime is a good time, just as you mentioned, isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week and a new month ahead, both of you 🙂
Hi Harleena,
You are right. Taking warm foods and drinks that help support liver detox can be done in the winter if necessary. So many people think that because they have eaten such heavy and rich food and perhaps drunk more alcohol than usual during December and packed on some pounds that it’s a good idea to start detoxing in January with cold juices and salads and meagre amounts of food. That’s completely wrong. Much better to eat warming, clean, nourishing wholefood food and wait until Spring when the new season’s fruits and vegetables are plentiful.
Enjoy your week too.
Good health,
Sandy
Hey Sandy and Joseph,
Great information. It makes sense not to detox in the winter. Personally I believe winter is the time to ease off a little and rest a bit more. So that in Spring you get to stretch out and start a Spring detox. What a wonderful idea. I have committed this to memory. And am going to make a conscious effort to do a Spring Detox. I do have plans to detox in the new year.
I used to be so put off by the word detox because I related it to fast paced methods of losing weight (which I think is nonsense) – I think I got this idea from all the advertising. After spending time at Sandy’s blog I have a much more healthier response to detoxing. Thanks for the wonderful information it will come in handy.
Rachel.
Hi Rachel,
Yes, we need warm, nourishing but healthy food in winter to keep our immune system strong. You can gently detox in winter but cold juices, cold salads and restrictive diets in January is not the way to do it. That’s asking for trouble. Anthia Koullouros, an Australian Naturopath, said in her article on my blog “The Winter Cleanse Program specifically focuses on nutrition, warmth, sunlight, rest, weeding bad bugs & strengthening the immune” You can read the entire article here.
Good to hear that my information has changed your mind about detox!
Good health,
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
This is my second ever comment on your great blog.
Talking about detoxiing our body, many times some symptoms that reads like the normal human condition are indications that our body is crying for a detox.
But how often do these symptoms happens? Symptoms like frequently feeling fatigued, frequently getting constipated or experiencing indigestion, etc. could be signs that our body needs detox; however, It is the frequency of these symptoms that matters.
Therefore, if you’ve noticed any of the above occurring on a regular basis, you’re likely overdue for a detox.