In today’s busy lifestyles, we indulge in convenient foods, unhealthy habits and often forget to fit that gym session in. These types of habits can leave you feeling lethargic, groggy, hungry and with a general feeling that you may need to detox to get out of this never-ending rut. When you form unhealthy routines, you may end up with larger issues than feeling sluggish and unmotivated. Your skin may be prone to breakouts, you may have issues with your bowels or develop larger concerns related to overall health. A great way to reduce these health problems is by detoxing both body and mind. Detox has become somewhat of a dirty word but it doesn’t have to mean mixing an awful concoction of juices and shakes to feel the benefits.
Clean eating and exercise are some of the biggest elements of a good detox, so take a look at why you might need to refresh your outlook on food, exercise and general health issues to get back your spark.
You feel better and more confident
It’s no surprise that when you start to make changes in your life, you begin to feel better about yourself and more confident in your choices. On a basic level, clean eating and upping your exercise levels is beneficial for you on many levels. You’ll start seeing improvements in your skin, hair, and weight, plus you’ll get rid of problems such as brain fog, digestive issues and fatigue. The changes you make to diet and lifestyle don’t have to be severe either, as this, in turn, will make you less likely to stick to it. Small changes such as getting more vegetables and fruit into your meals, walking more and getting sufficient sleep are all contributors to an achievable detox, which helps to clear both body and mind.
Start losing weight
Choosing to detox and lead a healthier lifestyle starts in your mind. You may have good intentions of getting fitter and losing weight, but unless you are in the right place mentally, it’s a non-starter. Analyzing your relationship with food and why you eat certain things is one of the first steps in losing weight well. Realizing those thoughts and feelings will help you to cope in the long run and decrease the chances of falling back into bad habits. There will be times where you want a cookie over an apple, but reasoning with yourself about why you really want to eat it is the first step in effective weight loss. After this process, getting into a healthy lifestyle is easier. You’ve started to leave the baggage that associate with bad food behind and choosing healthier alternatives is an easier choice. Detoxing and establishing your relationship with food is one of the building blocks of losing and maintaining a healthy weight, which will reap the rewards for other health benefits along the way.
It cuts the cravings
As discussed above, analyzing your relationship with food is the first steps to a successful detox. Cravings are one of the worst things about unhealthy lifestyles, and there are many foods that are highly addictive. Much like a Detox to Rehab program, these cravings need to be unhooked from your mind and body. Due to the choice and easy access to so-called tasty treats, the food industry has actually hijacked the way we think and feel about food. Many people struggle to get out of the mindset that junk food is food heaven and with the amount of advertising and promotion at every corner, it’s hard to get away from it. Hyper processed foods are some of the worst for addiction, and that includes sugar and flour. It is said that sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine, so it’s no wonder it’s a vicious circle to break. Gradual detoxing is a great way to curb these cravings and training your brain to accept that not all food is good for your body or mind. Cutting these cravings and releasing yourself from the grips of unhealthy habits won’t be an easy path but you’ll certainly feel the benefits such as reduced fatigue, better skin condition, weight loss and improved sleep patterns.
Highlights food sensitivities
Many people don’t even realize that they have intolerances or sensitivities to food. Some of the most common factors of these sensitivities include bloating, nausea, fatigue and bowel irregularities. These issues aren’t as obvious as other ailments such as allergic reactions to nuts or shellfish and you are more likely to brush them off as eating too much. They can, in fact, mean your body has slight sensitivities to certain foods or elements in the food, with the most common problems highlighted as gluten and dairy. It’s always best to get checked out by a professional if you feel you may have any of these food sensitivities, as they may actually be larger food intolerances which could affect health in the long term. Most of the time, when food intolerances have been identified, they are easily manageable in everyday diets. For smaller sensitivity issues, eliminating foods that are the cause of the issue and seeing what works best for you is the best way to manage this problem. For wider intolerance issues, a practitioner will give you advice on dietary needs and alternatives to ensure your get sufficient nutrients in other foods.
Effective detoxing helps to get to the root cause of issues, not only in the body but also in the mind. Overcoming personal obstacles and discussing your relationship with food is one of the first steps to a healthy detox and can help lead to a long-term health change. There are tons of benefits from doing a body and mind detox successfully. It also helps to realize your own motivations and life choices and gives you the power back to ensure you are getting the most of your diet and lifestyle to realize your potential in other aspects of your life.