How to Detox Your Body to Lose Weight

I’m sure you’ve heard of the latest trend in the health and fitness industry, “detoxing”?

I thought so, but the real question is which camp are you in?

Let me explain.

Like all trends, there are people who are wholeheartedly behind the idea of detoxing to lose weight, and to aid various other aspects of health. You’ve then also go the people who think it’s complete nonsense and a waste of time and money.

Those who are solidly behind the processes of detoxing understand that functionality of the liver is paramount to successful weight loss. This is because the liver is responsible for metabolizing fat. It does this by producing bile which breaks down the fat in our body, whilst flushing out any toxins in our blood. Think of it as a filtering mechanism in our body that helps us deal with the crap we put in it throughout our lives.

So the theory behind all this is that detoxing aids improvement in the liver’s function. This in turn therefore improves the fat metabolism in the body, leading to greater weight loss.

Clever eh?

Whereas I think it’s a worthwhile endeavor, there are some people who don’t. And this particular school of thought is predicated on the idea that our livers already function well enough to detox our bodies, meaning any premeditated efforts of detoxing the body are pointless.

Now, as with all of our content, we like you to be fully informed about the subjects we talk about. And if you’re serious about how to detox your body to lose weight, then you need to have all the facts on it. That way, you can then make a well informed decision of your own.

Always remember, the vast majority of subjects in health and fitness are wholly subjective, because, well, that’s science for you. Everything can be interpreted in different ways.

So in this post you’re going to discover the theories behind detoxing for weight loss, the ingredients you’re going to need, and the processes of doing it effectively if you choose to give it a try.

Lets get stuck in, shall we?

What Exactly is “Detoxing?

Detoxification, in it’s longer definition, is defined as the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism. This includes the human body, which is mainly carried out by the liver.

Now with this being the case, our “medicine” is all natural, so we’re not relying on big pharma to get things done. No, I’m talking about aiding an already natural process in the body.

Incredibly, our liver filters over 1.4 liters of blood every minute![efn_note]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279393/[/efn_note]

Our body is constantly detoxifying, and the liver is always filtering through the toxins and metabolizing fat.

This is completed in two phases. The first phase is to neutralize the bad substances in the body, i.e. the ciggies, alcohol and pollution. This is then followed by the second phase of making the compounds soluble so the body is able to secrete it.

Pro Tip:

Consuming foods high in glutamine and glycine, which can be found in fish and meat, will aid in the process. Cabbage and garlic are also particularly useful to aid in phase two as well.

So if The Liver is Always Working, Why is Detoxing Necessary?

So you already understand by now that the body is in permanent detox, right? So why do we need to aid the whole process? Aren’t we built to withstand all that abuse?

Well, yes, and no.

This is why so many people believe detoxing is absolute rubbish. But if you stop to consider the stresses our bodies go through, the requirement for filtering is ever increasing.

Pollution is getting worse. Chemicals in our foods like pesticides are on the increase. The stress of daily life is at times, insufferable, so I’m not so sure our livers’ natural abilities are going to be enough.

If we already rely on our liver to do all the heavy lifting as far as clearing all the toxins away, what about metabolizing fat? Surely the greater the stress on the liver, the less effective it will be at metabolizing fat in the body?

This is the big question asked by so many experts, and no one is truly sure that they are right or wrong. So with that said, I’d rather be in the camp of possibility, than the camp of denial, wouldn’t you?

With that said, I think those who have a pop at the detox crew, right about January time are the one’s missing a trick.

By giving up the coffee, wine, pastries, and all manner of other crap that you may or may not consume, you’re effectively supporting your body in the daily battle with the toxins that enter our body. This will allow the liver to function at its optimal level, so to speak.

In addition to helping you lose weight, doing a “detox” plan has the following benefits:

• More energy
• Better sleep
• Less mood swings
• Clearer thoughts
• Less infections
• Less bloating and stomach ache issues
• Clearer, healthier skin
• Decrease in allergy symptoms
• Less inflammation

Sometimes though it’s just good to “reset” your body, and get things working optimally once more. But if you were unsure about starting out on a detox, just look at all the reasons to give it a go, other than losing a few pounds.

Cutting out the crap is only the tip of the iceberg though. That is because a real detox requires an INTAKE of detoxifying foods, liquids and supplements, rather than just cutting out the stuff that’s putting extra stress on the liver. So let’s take a look at the ins and outs of detoxing.

What Does Detoxing Involve?

So, you understand now how detoxing works, now you’re going to discover what you need to do in order to complete a successful detoxification.

The thing is though, there are various paths to the achieve the same goal (as is true for most things health and fitness related). So I’m going to share some key components of detoxing, plus a complete weight loss detox plan that you can try. The idea is you understand how it all works, so you can decide for yourself the right course of action. Remember, there’s more than one way to skin a cat, you’ve got to choose the easiest way for you… poor kitty.

Components of Detoxing For Weight Loss

1. Liquid fasting for 3 days

This one’s quite popular because of the simplicity of the whole process, not to mention all the attention it’s had in the news over the last few years.

This process refers to only consuming liquid over a 2-3 day period, with the idea being the body’s digestive organs are given a decent rest, as they’re given some time off their usual role of digesting food.

The end result is the liver is once again able to resume metabolizing stored fat at its optimal rate, instead of being overtaxed with filtering toxins consumed through food.

For obvious reasons, this type of detox is not recommended too often. However, once every month is a good idea if you want to maximize your body’s ability to metabolize stored fat. This allows the liver a much needed “time off”.

2. Cutting out gluten

This one may be another “cut out” instead of an “add in”, but it’s extremely important if you want to detox effectively.

Gluten is like the narcoterrorist of the gut, it really doesn’t play well with others.

Studies have shown that gluten can cause a condition called “leaky gut”. This means that the integrity of the small intestine has become compromised and toxins and pathogenic organisms that should stay in your gut, and be excreted by the digestive tract, now get into the bloodstream[efn_note]https://rootcausemedicalclinic.com/blog/is-gluten-damaging-your-liver/[/efn_note].

This then results in vital nutrients and minerals not being absorbed by the body, nutrients that aid in the body’s metabolic processes. In other words, your body can’t burn off stored fat anywhere near as effectively as it should.

So in a nutshell, cutting out gluten is an effective way of detoxing the liver, and boosting your body’s weight loss capabilities.

3. Eat more garlic

Although this might mean you’re not as fresh for a kiss, eating more garlic has been shown to activate the liver’s detox enzymes. These are the enzymes that aid in breaking down and eliminating toxins in the body.

So the if these enzymes don’t get the support they need through consumption of high nutrient density foods like garlic, your chances of shedding excess stored body fat are slim to none.

So try slipping in an extra clove or two in your evening dinner dishes, your significant other might not appreciate it, but your liver will!

4. Consume fermented foods

If you’re someone who suffers from bloating or an upset stomach on a regular basis, it could be a sign you’re in need of more fermented foods in your diet.

These come in the form of Kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi—all of these tangy foods introduce gut-friendly bacteria into the intestines and promote healthy elimination of toxins.

By all means these aren’t the only fermented foods you can opt for. If you’ve got some spare time, you can brew a tasty drink called Kombucha, which is basically green tea, a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacterial yeast), and sugar for the yeast to feast on…

…yeah, I rhyme like Eminem.

5. Eat more walnuts

Most people understand that walnuts are pretty good in the health food department, but little is known amongst the general population about their digestion aiding properties.

Walnuts aid in increasing circulation and blood flow so toxins are more efficiently transported from different areas of your body to your liver[efn_note]https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4906/rr/762268[/efn_note].

So if you’re out on the razz at the weekend, getting some walnuts in you post boozing will help reduce the aftermath of the alcohol on your liver. This is because the whole process will be significantly sped up.

Detox Plan #1 – The Three Day Detox

So now you’ve got some key ideas to work with on your next detox, I want to put it all together into a plan of sorts. That way, you can carry out your weight loss detox effectively, but most importantly, in a safe manner.

As a bit of a disclaimer: Please speak to your doctor before trying any elements of detoxing. Whereas some elements will hardly make you ill, things like liquid fasting may not be right for some people medically. And especially if you’ve got any pre-existing health issues, it’s better to get the green light from the doc before you get started.

With that said, here’s an example detox plan for you to follow to get maximum results:

The night before your detox:

• Eat a small light meal around 6pm, containing at least one fermented food, along with garlic and a drink of water.
• After this do NOT eat anything else.
• Also ensure that you’re not eating any carbohydrates in this meal, otherwise this will spike insulin levels, and the liver will be working overtime when you’re looking to rest it

Days 1-3, Water only:

• The first few days are water consumption only. As explained above, this is to give your liver time off from digesting, allowing it to reset and get ready to perform at an optimal level.
• This phase will also help in reducing insulin resistance, which means you don’t store as much body fat as a result of “fuel” (calories from food) not being used for energy[efn_note]https://blog.bulletproof.com/insulin-resistance/[/efn_note].

Days 4-7:

• For breakfast and lunch, consume a glass of fresh vegetable juice.
• If you’re looking for some great examples of fresh veggie juice, you can try the following:

 Green Detox Juice Recipe #1
- 2 cups packed spinach (4 ounces) 
- 1 cucumber 
- 1 celery stalk 

 Green Detox Juice Recipe #2
- 4 large cucumbers 
- 5 large tomatoes 
- 1/2 bunch of Kale 
- 1 bunch of basil 
- 1 garlic clove

• For dinner, pick one fermented food, a selection of vegetables and a palm sized piece of white meat/fish.
• Also include a handful of walnuts post meal to aid in enzyme activation.

Note – during the entire detox, avoid consuming ANY gluten and dairy because of the detrimental effects they have on the digestive process.

Some Final Thoughts

So that’s about it from me, I hope you’ve found this simple weight loss detox easy to implement and follow.

There are so many ways you can play detoxification, but understanding these simple processes goes a long way towards learning how to detox your body to lose weight.

Just remember though, get the professional advice beforehand from your doctor. If it’s all good to go, detox yourself for a week to start with, then you can do it every week out of a month, or you can simply do a mini-detox for a few days out of the month.

In either case, you’ll maximize your body’s weight loss capabilities and live a far healthier life because of it.