The trend toward detoxification and cleansing

The premise of body cleansing is based on the ancient Egyptian and Greek idea of auto-intoxication, in which foods consumed can putrefy and produce toxins that harm the body. Biochemistry and microbiology appeared to support auto-intoxication theory in the 19th century.

In the early 20th century, detoxification-based approaches fell out of favor. In recent years, notions of body cleansing have undergone resurgence, along with other alternative medical approaches.

Detoxification, sometimes called body cleansing, consists of an approach that aims to rid the body of toxins — accumulated harmful substances that allegedly exert undesirable effects on individual

health.

Some health care practitioners do differentiate between the two, designating a detox as being more targeted to removing an unwanted waste product or substance from the body. In such cases, a detox may be advised after exposure to chemicals such as pesticides, overindulgence in alcohol, and use of certain medications. A cleanse provides more general support for the organs of detoxification including the colon, liver and kidneys.

On the other side of the issue are those who contend that body cleansing is unnecessary as the human body is naturally capable of maintaining itself with several organs dedicated to cleansing the blood and the gut.

So if you want to cleanse or detox, it helps to get educated and learn the basics.

Three main systems play a crucial role in the elimination of wastes. The circulatory system; that pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen to and carrying waste products away from cells.

The digestive system; that processes the food we eat, separating nutrients from waste and eliminating anything the body does not need. And the lymphatic system that collects intracellular fluid from throughout the body and transports it to the lymph nodes where anything harmful (such as bacteria or other contaminants) can be removed before the lymphatic fluid is returned to the bloodstream. The purpose of detoxifying- or cleansing- the body is cleaning (or helping clean) out the body from toxins (toxins are any- thing that can potentially harm the body tissue) that are inhaled in the air or absorbed via water or food. It is said that they help with washing out pesticides and chemicals the body is not naturally set up to deal with.

People give a variety of reasons for “going on a cleanse” Among the benefits, people say it gives the immune system a break. The immune system works nonstop whenever we ingest foods that contain or carry harmful chemicals, pesticides or toxins.

They also say it gives the body essential nutrients without chemical additives, large quantities of sugar or sodium or preservatives. Some people say their cleansing program increased both their quality of life and their productivity at work. They listed attributes such as increased energy, feeling better physically, more mental clarity, relieving chronic fatigue, relieving food intolerance, and potential to reduce weight

There are numerous types of cleanses and for the most part, they usually involve a combination of different dietary recommendations, herbal products and lifestyle changes.

A change in diet focuses on removing foods that are considered problematic for the health of the particular individual. This can include suspected food allergies or intolerances, processed foods and products with artificial colors, flavors or other additives. In some cases this included a period of fasting or the consumption of liquids only.

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