The Top 5 Things to Know When Starting a Detox

It’s that time of year where everyone is trying to make changes for the better. The average persongains 5 to 10 pounds during the holiday season, so it’s no surprise that many people begin the new year by joining gyms, starting diets, or trying outintermittent fasting.

There are plenty ofways to stay active in the winter, but maintaining a proper diet is key to living a healthy lifestyle. 

There are plenty of ways to go about slimming down. Maybe your friend has a diet she swears gives her more energy, or you've decided to finally give the keto diet a try. 

However, before you jump headfirst into an entirely new way of eating, it's important to begin with a detox. 

How Does a Detox Work?

The body naturally removes impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are typically processed for elimination. However, the body also does this by way of the kidneys, lungs, intestines, lymphatic system, and even the skin.

If these systems become compromised due to an unhealthy lifestyle, impurities aren't filtered out of the body properly and you can suffer as a result. Starting a detox can help restore the body's natural cleansing process in a number of ways. 

Fasting can help rest the organs, and a detox stimulates the liver to properly eliminate toxins from the body. The influx of vital nutrients will "refuel" the body and improve blood circulation as well.

How do you know if you're in need of a detox? Unexplained fatigue, bloating, irritated skin, and sluggishness are some of the more common signs.

Things You Should Know When Starting a Detox

It may be tempting to dive right in and start your detox today, but there are a few things you should be aware of before you begin. Let’s take a look at five of the most important things to know before starting a detox:

1. Healthy Foods Aren’t Always Detoxifying

Many people don't know this, but there's a big difference between eating clean foods and eating foods that help detox the body. While it's true that all detoxifying foods benefit your health, not all healthy foods aid with a detox.

It's as simple as knowing whether a food is catabolic or anabolic. Anabolic foods tend to be rich in fats and protein. Nothing wrong with that, right? Well, when you're trying to detox, you should reduce your intake of these. Foods like chicken breasts, eggs, and fish are anabolic and are meant to "build" your body.

On the other hand, catabolic foods can help break down toxins in your body. These foods are vegetables, fruits, and other complex carbohydrates.

2. If You’re Sick, It’s Best to Wait

The winter can be tough on your immune system. If you're already sick, it's best to hold off on starting a detox until your body can handle it. When you start a detox, you unleash pent up toxins into an environment that is already sick. 

This could make your sickness worse than it already is. It might be tempting to get started on a detox right away, but it's best to just wait. Get your body feeling right again with a wellness drink and eat a balanced, clean diet.

3. You Won’t Feel Great Right Away

Speaking of being sick, you may not feel the best when you begin a detox. More often than not, a true detox diet with a calorie restriction will result in nausea, headaches, and cravings that can really challenge your resolve.

Stay strong and remember that a detox is ridding your body of unneeded toxins. In order for them to make their way out of your body, they need to get moving, which can cause these icky feelings. 

Make sure to get plenty of rest and hydrate with water and teas to get through the detox. Eventually, you'll start feeling better again and even fully energized! It's tough to get there, but it's worth it.

4. Weight Will Come Back

A good detox diet will naturally stimulate weight loss, which is why they are so appealing to many people. The longer you stick with a detox diet, the more weight you can lose. However, when you finish up your detox and begin to add other foods to your diet - hopefully healthy foods - you're going to put a little weight back on.

It might be alarming, but this is completely ok and even expected. The detox is meant to give your liver and other organs a rest as you flush impurities from your body. Some of the weight could stay off, however.

Now, if you power through a detox only to return to unhealthy eating habits, the weight loss and other detoxing benefits will quickly get erased.

A detox is similar to cleaning your home. It might take a while to make every room look spotless, but you'll be happy with the end results. Now, would you immediately dirty up your house after getting it all clean? 

No way! The same concept applies to detoxing. It doesn't make any sense to be unhealthy after going through all that work to detox your body.

5. Prepare By Kicking Bad Habits

If you're serious about starting a detox, then it's important to eat clean and rid yourself of any bad habits before you get started. A diet that's free of refined flours and sugar and only a moderate amount of alcohol and caffeine can help make your detox much easier.

Kicking bad habits is a lot easier said than done, and everyone has their own motivations. It’s important to assess your situation to determine what is causing your unhealthy habits. Understanding where these habits come from and what enables them can make them easier to control and eliminate.

Start With an Organic Juice Cleanse

If you’re all ready to begin a detox but aren’t sure how to get started, look no further than the organic juice cleanses from Smart Pressed Juice. These juice cleanses are the perfect way to refresh your body with a simple, proven system for you to follow. 

The combination of juices and clean meals combine perfectly to put you on the path to weight loss, higher energy levels, and a fresh start. We offer three great options to choose from:

• The Quick Fix: This 1-day cleanse contains over 50 certified organic fruits, vegetables, and superfoods. Flush toxins from your body and let the alkalizing superfoods energize and restore you all in one day.
• The Smart Restart:This 3-day cleanse is the perfect amount of time to kick your bad habits and jumpstart your metabolism.
• The Complete Reboot: This 7-day cleanse is perfect if your diet has been a hot mess. This week-long journey will help you get back on track with health goals and healthy habits.

For more SMART lifestyle tips like this, visithttp://www.smartpressedjuice.com and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or like us on Facebook. You can also visit our Amazon store to stock up on our delicious juices.

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