The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors exposure to environmental toxins present in the air, water supply and on food. It is nearly impossible to avoid these toxins completely. Some alternative medicine practitioners recommend detoxification as a way to rid your body of the buildup of any toxins.
Benefits
Advocates of body-detox programs claim they will help you lose weight, have clearer skin and more energy. Eating a healthier diet or fasting will help you lose weight, at least temporarily. Drinking significant amounts of water, as called for in most detoxification programs, can have a positive effect on your skin tone. Simply losing excess weight will help you feel more energetic.
Diet
Most body-detoxification programs call for an all-natural, organic diet. By avoiding processed foods and purchasing certified organic produce and other products, you eliminate pesticides, which are one common source of toxins. Some programs call for a raw or living diet, which consists strictly of foods that can be eaten raw. Fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone of the raw diet. It calls for the elimination of all meats, dairy and grains. Most people follow a 50 percent to 75 percent raw diet, as it can be difficult to get all the nutrition you need from a 100 percent raw diet. Vitamin supplements can help ensure you get enough nutrients.
Laxatives
Most detoxification programs call for a colon cleanse. This process requires you to take herbal laxatives to stimulate bowel movements and eliminate any solid waste from your digestive system. Senna is a common herbal laxative. Some detoxification programs recommend using aloe as a laxative, but in 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required manufacturers to remove aloe from laxative products due to safety concerns.
Skin Detoxification
Your skin is the largest elimination organ in your body. When you sweat, your body releases toxins. Herbal body wraps and herbal baths are a common element to body-detoxification programs. Mix green clay with cleansing herbs such as chamomile, basil or rose leaf powder for an herbal body wrap. Epsom salts mixed with cleansing herbs is a bath additive for skin detoxification.
Warning
Consult your doctor before beginning any detoxification program. There is little scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of detoxification, and some programs can cause side effects such as dehydration, diarrhea, nausea and fatigue. Overuse of laxatives can deplete your body's potassium reserves.
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