With the new year just around the corner, it is always a good time to start thinking about healthy changes you want to make. A lot of times, the new year brings hopes of a healthier you. One of the best ways to get healthy is to detox your body. Detox can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Some people consider a detox abstaining from alcohol or sugar, some think a detox is going on a juice cleanse. Dr. Frank Lipman, founder and director of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City, explains that “Detoxification is what your body does naturally to neutralize, transform or get rid of unwanted materials or toxins.” When done correctly, detoxing your body can bring many health benefits for a healthier you. From removing toxins from your body to slowing premature aging to losing weight, here are a few benefits to detoxing your body to start 2017 right.
Losing Weight
Always at the top of everyone’s list for their new year’s resolutions, losing weight is a great benefit to detox. The environmental and dietary toxins we ingest can affect the body’s ability to burn fat which then leads to weight gain. Detoxing rids your body of these toxins and increases your natural fat burning ability (a.k.a. “metabolism”). When starting a detox, make sure you consult your physician as you want to detox in a healthy way and not starve yourself.
Prevents Disease
Air quality (or lack thereof) and other environmental toxins are responsible for many diseases and have even been linked to certain cancers. Detoxing improves our body’s ability of getting rid of these disease causing toxins.
Increases Energy
After detoxing, many people have reported having more energy. Results after a detox can include better mental clarity and physical energy. Also, many people have stated that they tend to sleep better after a detox too.
Slows Aging
It may not be the fountain of youth, but detoxing does help slow the aging process to an extent. Detoxing rids the body of certain substances responsible for aging. Detoxing helps increase what nutrients we absorb that help fight off stress, which can lead to aging. A recent study also found that eating 7 servings of fruit and/or vegetables a day can increase your lifespan.
Improves Skin And Hair
Diet and environmental toxins have a huge effect on our skin and hair. Recovering addicts find with the help of a supervised detoxification program that skin and hair quality is restored after years of drug or alcohol abuse. Detoxing has been shown to improve acne, giving skin a healthy glow. Detoxing also can help with the strength of hair and nails and promote hair growth.
If you are debating about whether or not to start 2017 off with a detox, the answer should be pretty clear after reading just a few of the benefits of detoxing your body. Make sure to do it in a healthy way with cleansing foods and consult your doctor if you have any questions.
