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Detox Diet Survival: How to flush away those
irritating side effects
Have you tried a detox
diet yet? If you haven’t, you may be one of
the few. More and more people are detoxifying
in their quest to feel better and lead healthier
lives. While detox diets have their critics,
advocates claim it can help the body to eliminate
toxins introduced through the food we eat
and the air we breathe.
For some people, a detox can be as basic as
healthy changes to their diet. They may eliminate
certain foods like caffeine, sugar, dairy
and greasy foods, while increasing their water
consumption and intake of whole grains, nuts,
and raw fruits and veggies. Others go to extremes,
using diuretics or budget-busting detox formulas,
drinks and pills from herbal stores — or,
fasting.
Regardless of the method, detoxification can
have some nasty side effects that might prevent
some people from trying it. Some effects include
rashes, excruciating headaches, body aches
and odor, runny nose, diarrhea and mood swings.
But there’s some relief available, according
to Cathy Wong, a licensed naturopathic doctor
and certified nutrition specialist with the
American College of Nutrition. One of Wong’s
recommendations is to prep in advance for
a detox to reduce the severity of symptoms.
This includes weaning yourself slowly off
of caffeinated products — such as coffee,
tea and colas — a week or more before your
detox treatment. “Many headaches during detox
are due to a sudden withdrawal from caffeine,”
Wong warns. Eliminating it slowly from your
diet will help your body adjust more easily.
The same can be true for eliminating sugar,
which can result in headaches, light-headedness,
irritability, nausea and the jitters.
Some other remedies that may save you from
the side effects of a detox diet include:
Contrast showers. Try alternating
three minutes of hot water, followed by one
minute of cold water. This will support the
detoxification process and boost the immune
system, while relieving some of the aches
and pains you’re likely to feel. (However,
some people should not do contrast showers
such as those with diabetes, heart disease,
multiple sclerosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, and
pregnant women.)
A few days of rest. Many
people report that they feel generally fatigued
and listless during the first few days of
detox. Try scheduling the start of your detox
when you’re about to take a few days off work,
or on a long weekend to help your body adjust
to the process.
Relaxation exercises. Breathing
and meditation exercises can help ease discomfort
and fatigue symptoms.
Increasing your food intake.
During a detox, you don’t have to stop eating
altogether or reduce your food intake to mere
mouthfuls. In fact, that may worsen symptoms
associated with hunger such as headaches,
dizziness and irritability. You’ll likely
be cutting out some foods, such as meat and
dairy. Be sure to increase your intake of
the foods that are acceptable during your
detox, whether they are veggies, fruits, nuts,
whole grains and fluids like water, sugar-free
lemonade or green tea.
Stay hydrated. According
to Green People, drinking plenty of fluids
can help to ward off headaches and nausea
associated with dehydration.
Increase your vitamin C intake.
This also helps alleviate headaches and nausea.
Take a multivitamin. This
will help to limit irritability and fatigue
that are often the result of nutrient deficiencies
that can occur during a detox.
Finally, keep in mind that while the first
few days of a detox can be quite uncomfortable,
around day three or four, your body adjusts
and those pesky symptoms significantly subside.
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