Detox 101
In recent years the terms detoxifying, cleansing, purging, organic and exfoliation have been commonly used and heard as part of modern society’s health-conscious lifestyle.
Certain approaches in alternative medicine claim to remove toxins from the body through herbal, dietary and electromagnetic treatments.
Stress, the overuse of artificial substances, and a sedentary lifestyle can take its toll on our appearance, making us look fatigued, pale and lacking in energy.
A complete detox beauty regimen combining alternative “detox” diets, routines and products are being touted as excellent options to beauty, compared to traditional products and ingredients. Here’s how:
Diet
A detox diet involves changing eating habits in an attempt to detoxify the body by removing artificial contaminants. Alternative medicine experts claim it improves health, energy, resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, as well as aiding in weight loss.
Specific detox diets include the Master Cleanse diet commonly known as the “Lemonade Diet” created by Stanley Burroughs in 1941. Other than the obvious effect of weight loss the cleanse helps aid in the removal of contaminants such as pesticides, hormones, prescription drugs, chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, and other toxic substances in our diet and environment. It also claims to have positive benefits effects such as the fading of acne, better eyesight, improved energy and the disappearance of dark circles around eyes.
Another controversial detox diet is the Gerson therapy, which is a holistic, nutrition-based therapy developed by German physician Max Gerson. A Gerson diet consists of the consumption of 13 eight-ounce glasses of fresh, organic juices daily, supplemented by three large, organic, vegan meals, and numerous fruit and vegetable snacks throughout the day. Gerson also developed the famed “Coffee Enema” which is said to increase bile production in the liver and aid in flushing out harmful toxins from the body.
Excellent detox foods include green leafy vegetables because chlorophyll helps sweep away toxins and protects the liver. Lemons, which contain the ultimate detox vitamin — vitamin C — help convert harmful toxins into a water-soluble form that is easily flushed out of the body. Garlic activates liver enzymes to help flush out junk. Green tea is a rich antioxidant brew containing catechins, which speeds up liver activity and flushes out free radicals that cause wrinkles. Excellent dietary supplements include antioxidants, selenium, chlorella and, of course, vitamin C.
Beauty Regimen
When we speak of detox, we always relate it to diets for detoxing the liver or colon. Most often we are most likely to neglect the detoxification of the largest organ of our body — the skin. Alternative medicine fanatics use a technique called Skin Brushing, the practice of lightly brushing the skin with a soft, natural-bristle dry brush to help skin renew itself. It’s thought to improve detoxification by exfoliating dead skin cells and boosting the circulation of blood and lymph. It also tightens the skin because it improves the flow of blood helping lessen the appearance of cellulite, improve muscle tone and evenly distributes fat deposits on the body. All you need is a natural-bristle long brush that does not scratch the surface of the skin. The skin should be dry. Begin brushing the feet and brush in the direction of your chest, because it is important to follow the flow of lymphatic fluid. Proceed to the fingertips and brush up the shoulders and toward the chest. Use small strokes and light pressure. Don’t brush over irritated or infected skin. Avoid the face. Skin brushing should be done daily before you shower.
When showering try a detox technique called the contrast shower which alternates between hot and cold water. To try it, start with three minutes of comfortably warm water in the shower, followed by less than one minute of cool water. It is also used as a method for recovery after strenuous exercise. Or you can try a detox bath by combining 1/2 cup of 35 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup of sea salt, 1/2 cup of Epson salts to a tub of hot water and soak for at least half an hour. The whole procedure of skin brushing, hot shower and Detox Bath should take no more than 30 minutes.
After bathing, cleanse hands and face, then do tiny gentle pinches all over the face, including your eyebrows, nose and lips. This brings oxygen to the face and makes it rosy and glowing. Have a mud mask facial at home or at the spa as mud draws out toxins quickly and effectively.
Many spas offer lymphatic drainage, such as the ones that are described as detoxifying. Hydrotherapy baths stimulate lymphatic drainage through the use of pressured water jets. An example of this is Ace Water Spa in
In this day and age of instant beauty with plastic surgery and expensive “miracle” creams and lotions, an all-natural, detoxifying regimen could just be the solution for those who are not just on a budget but are also looking for alternatives to their contemporary routine. So for the next season why not practice unconventional detox methods to beauty instead of reaching for that bottle of cellulite gel. It’s organic, effective and best of all it won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
