Disclosure: This is a collaborative post about what happens to your body when you detox.
Detoxing is a big buzzword at the moment and everyone seems to be using it. The idea is that we can adopt certain lifestyle practices that purge the system of toxic compounds and return us to a state of health.
But what actually happens during a real detox? And do our bodies really become less toxic? Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
You Will Lose Water
During the first phases of a detox, most people lose so-called “water weight.” They notice they look less puffy and find themselves peeing all the time! (Don’t worry, it’s normal).
The reason for this has to do with fewer calories and carbohydrates in your system. The body requires water to process these molecules, so when you eat less of them, it requires less water intake.
Don’t get too excited, though, when looking at the scales. Most of the weight loss in the first week is water weight, which can be seriously annoying. But the weight loss you get after that (if you continue with your detox diet) is real.
You Will Feel A Shift In Energy
Once you’ve been detoxing on a low-calorie diet for a few days, you will start experiencing an energy shift. Instead of relying on carbohydrates (the normal metabolism), your body switches to burning ketones and fat.
This change isn’t pleasant and you will feel hungry. But once it happens, you may feel more alert and energetic.
Interestingly, burning fat can also help with detoxing. As your body gets rid of its stores, it releases accumulated toxins into the bloodstream. The liver then processes these and eliminates them in the urine.
Again, it’s not always a pleasant process. You may get night sweats. But once it happens, the unwanted substances are gone forever and you never have to think about them again (unless you start eating mountains of tuna fish!)
Your Muscles Might Break Down
Unfortunately, if you go on a prolonged detox, you may start to notice muscle weakness and breakdown. Your body may no longer have the protein it requires to maintain your muscle mass (which can be dangerous).
Therefore, only stick to a detox protocol for a few weeks, maybe a month. Then, after that, transition to a diet with sufficient calories for your body size. You don’t have to go back to your old eating habits, but getting enough calories is essential.
Your Skin May Get Better
After a detox, you may also notice your skin getting better. Most people notice a reduction in blemishes, spots, and dark patches.
This effect usually occurs because of changes in your metabolism. Less sugar and inflammation can improve skin quality tremendously. However, it can also occur because of hormonal changes. Many people eating unhealthy foods have hormonal imbalances that affect the skin and make them feel sluggish. Correcting these leads to a smoother, more glass-like complexion.
Don’t worry if you see some initial breakouts after detoxing. Usually, this is a sign that the immune system is kicking into gear and trying to get rid of toxins in the skin by physically pushing them out.
You May Experience Headaches
Sometimes, you will experience withdrawal symptoms when on a detox, depending on what you were eating before. And these can, unfortunately, be unpleasant.
For example, recovery clinic AddictionsUK often sees people coming off alcohol experiencing various symptoms including sweating, chills, stomach upsets, and rapid heart rate. Dizziness and lightheadedness can also be problematic.
However, the good news is that these symptoms are usually transitory. Things can be unpleasant for a few days. But after that, it’s a new dawn.
You Can Detox Better
Interestingly, the process of detoxing can make your body detox better. That’s because a healthier diet and lifestyle improves the liver’s ability to rid the system of unwanted chemicals and compounds. In fact, you can make the liver so good at its job that you only wind up with trace quantities of common toxins in your system, and sometimes none at all.
Better detoxing can happen pretty quickly, too. The liver can recover from severe fat engorgement and damage within a few weeks, allowing you to process the toxins in your environment better.
It can also boost its activity further by consuming plenty of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. These contain a compound called sulforaphane that increases the activity of detoxifying enzymes in the liver, potentially enhancing lifespan.
When the liver processes these toxins, it takes harmful substances and then reacts with them to produce less harmful byproducts. These, then get sent to the kidneys for processing before being excreted from the body.
Some researchers claim that there is no evidence that detox diets improve liver function. However, this mainstream view is becoming outdated. Plenty of evidence supports the idea that plant-based diets that include cruciferous vegetables enhance liver function over time.
You Can Experience Blood Sugar Changes
Of course, you have to be careful at the start of a detox program if your body isn’t used to the new food you’re eating. Many individuals go through wild blood sugar fluctuations, leading to hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose levels.
This condition is potentially dangerous and can cause fainting or even coma in extreme circumstances. It happens when the liver isn’t able to release enough sugar into the bloodstream to keep the brain going, causing shakiness, dizziness, irritability and headaches. In severe cases, you may need to lie down.
If this happens, eat something sugary that can get into your system quickly and then restart the detox after that. Consider consuming more food to prevent fainting episodes in the future.
You Will See Improved Insulin Sensitivity
While blood sugar crashes aren’t nice, detoxing can improve your insulin sensitivity markedly. Therefore, people with pre-diabetes can benefit significantly by simply eating more organic fruits and vegetables. These foods actively lower inflammation in cells, allowing them to respond more robustly to new insulin in the system. Consequently, the pancreas doesn’t have to work as hard, and the liver becomes less engorged with fat, further reducing the risk of diabetes developing in the future.
You May Experience Worsening Of Symptoms
Unfortunately, some people experience a “healing crisis” or Herzheimer reaction when detoxing in which their symptoms get worse for a time. These are more likely when using colonics or supplements, but they can happen even if you switch to a better diet.
The reason for this, usually, is weight loss. As fat cells give up their content, all sorts of nasty toxins enter the bloodstream, requiring the body to eliminate them. These can result in flu-like symptoms, rashes and, most commonly, a general sense of fatigue.
There isn’t always much you can do about this initial inflammatory response. While it’s unpleasant, it usually passes within a few weeks, allowing you to continue with your life unabated.
Your Gut Could Change
Another common side effect of detoxing is profound improvements in gut health. Many people report better experiences in the bathroom.
This occurs because of the increased fibre in the diet. Going to the toilet becomes easier and other problems, like piles, start to abate.
Part of the benefit also comes down to the change in gut bacteria. People eating healthy meals often experience massive reductions in their levels of inflammation, allowing their bodies to extract more nutrients from food. This process, in turn, can help improve hair and nails, providing substances that make them look more nourished.
So there you have it: some of the things that happen when you detox your body. Which are you looking forward to experiencing?