Life is full of ups and downs and we all have good days, bad days and days which we wish we could just fast-forward! That’s normal enough, but if you’ve noticed that you’re experiencing several unpleasant days frequently, maybe it’s something more.
Headaches that just won’t go away, constant stress, poor sleep and unhealthy skin - all these may be signs that your body is desperately in need of a good ol’ detox session.
What is Detoxification?
Detoxification, also referred to as simply ‘detox’, is basically the removal of toxic substances, although that can be too simplistic a definition. You’ve probably heard of alcohol and drug detoxification, wherein people who are addicted to such substances go through a period of abstaining on the way to freeing themselves from the addiction.
In recent days, however, ‘detox’ has become quite a buzzword, with even people who don’t know the meaning using it in every other sentence! In case you’re wondering how detoxification is relevant to you when you’re not a user of intoxicants, here’s news - it is.
How Does Detoxification Work?
While alcohol and drugs are the more obvious toxic substances that directly enter the human body, there are many other less conspicuous yet subtly toxins that may be entering our bodies on a daily basis. The problem with these is that we may not be aware of them harming our health, often making their presence known when some damage is already done.
Our liver, kidneys and skin perform our bodies’ natural detoxification processes and they do a pretty good job of it!
However, modern life has added a whole array of toxins to our bodies, from the pollution you see everywhere to the chemicals in your toiletries. These can end up overburdening your liver, and the excess toxins start building up in your body, causing long term damage.
If you’re wondering whether your body is indeed suffering from these toxins, here is a look at the top signs that your body needs an urgent detox.
1. You are constantly tired
Being tired all the time can be due to multiple reasons, but one that is becoming increasingly common is adrenal fatigue. Your adrenal glands produce some important hormones for various crucial functions. When your body is overwhelmed, the glands can keep up with the supply, leading to fatigue.
One common sign of a toxin buildup is that you feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, especially when you wake up.
2. You get sick all the time!
Do you find yourself sneezing or with painful sinuses all the time? Or maybe you seem to catch whatever latest bug is in fashion. Whatever the case, a weakened immunity is a good sign that your body is crying for a detox. It is estimated that a good percentage of your immune function depends upon what’s in your gut, so if that’s not healthy, neither are you.
3. Your digestion is all messed up
Bad digestion is a very strong indicator of a body overloaded with toxins, and a sign that you need to take action immediately! Poor digestion can appear in many forms - abdominal bloating, constipation, diarrhea and gassiness. Another downside to a sluggish digestion is slow metabolism, and a resistance to losing weight.
4. You are irritable and ready to snap!
Are your folks afraid to be around you during one of your ‘moods’? Blame the toxins in your body! Our body produces many chemicals that affect our mood and are responsible for how we react under stress. However, a toxin buildup slows down this process, leading to irritability, moodiness and even depression.
5. You have poor memory and concentration
Yes, it’s easy to blame age for misplacing your keys or forgetting people’s names, but it’s often more than that. When your liver can’t catch up with the toxic overload in your body, it starts to buildup in the blood and affects your brain’s neurotransmission.
6. Your body has unexplained aches and pains
If you find yourself groaning every time you move a muscle, you are quite likely in need of a full-on detoxification. Inflammation is a major symptom of toxin buildup, and the main body parts to be hit are muscles and joints, causing stiffness and soreness.
7. You suffer from all kinds of skin problems
Along with the liver and kidneys, the skin is also part of your body’s natural detox team. And when your skin has too much to handle, it begins to show - literally. Being the largest organ of your body, the problems can be many - dark circles, acne, blotchiness, liver spots, itchiness and even eczema.
8. You are having trouble with sleep
When your body is crying out for a detox, it can show through poor sleep. Toxin buildup affects our natural circadian rhythms, which means that you can find it hard to fall asleep, to sleep deeply or for a long stretch of time. And insufficient sleep can lead to several other problems from premature ageing, weight gain, poor cognition as well as increasing vulnerability to lifestyle diseases.
9. You crave certain foods.
You may have noticed that when you crave sugar-laden, processed foods and you give in to those cravings, the ‘feel-good’ sensation you get is only momentary. The cravings soon return, and this is because of the artificial stimulation of dopamine - a strong sign your body and your diet need a good detoxification.
10. You smell!
There really is no nicer way to say this! Our bodies are always on the clock, working to get rid of whatever it doesn’t need, and that can cause some stinks. However, when your body is exhausted with all that cleaning, it can lead to excessive sweating, coated tongue and smelly stools. That’s when you know that you have too many toxins for your own good.
Haven’t you noticed that when something doesn’t work and you don’t know why, a simple ‘switch off and switch on’ technique fixes it? Well, that works not just for gadgets, but for your body too! When you notice any combination of these signs, it’s your body’s way of asking for a re-start, and a detox plan is your get well ‘switch’!
(Pratibha Pal spent her childhood in idyllic places only fauji kids would have heard of. She grew up reading a variety of books that let her imagination wander and still hopes to come across the Magic Faraway Tree. When she's not rooting for eco-living or whipping up some DIY recipes to share with her readers, Pratibha is creating magic with social media. You can view her blog at www.pratsmusings.com or reach to her on Twitter at @myepica.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)