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Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. The treatment generally involves the use of drugs and other therapies in a combination that depends on the type and severity of the toxicity.

The detox programs now being promoted to the health-conscious public are a different matter. These are largely do-it-yourself procedures aimed at eliminating alleged toxins that are held responsible for a variety of symptoms, including headache, bloating, joint pain, fatigue, and depression.

Detox products are not available by prescription; they are sold in retail stores, at spas, over the Internet, and by direct mail. Many are advertised as useful for detoxifying specific organs or systems; others are portrayed as "whole body" cleansers.

Here is a review of some of the most widely promoted procedures and products. Also known as Jala Neti or nasal lavage, this yoga-derived technique involves the use of a small pitcher neti pot or syringe to stream a saline solution into first one nostril, then the other.

The solution passes through the nasal passage and out the other nostril or the mouth. Clinicians sometimes recommend nasal irrigation to rid the nose of environmental irritants, alleviate post-nasal drip, and reduce congestion from colds and allergies by flushing mucus, foreign particles, bacteria, and viruses out of the sinuses.

Daily nasal irrigation is promoted for preventing sinus infections and headaches. Evidence of effectiveness. In a handful of studies, nasal lavage has been shown to lower bacterial concentrations in nasal passages.

One small study found that it eased symptoms in sinus sufferers. Some research suggests it can reduce the risk of sinus infections. A seemingly infinite array of products and diets is available for detoxifying the entire body.

One of the most popular is the Master Cleanse diet, favored by a number of Hollywood celebrities. Dieters take a quart of warm salt water in the morning; consume a ounce concoction of water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper throughout the day; and finish with a cup of laxative tea in the evening.

Proponents of the Master Cleanse diet recommend adhering to it for at least 10 days. To restore energy, lose weight, and relieve symptoms of chronic conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia. There are no data on this particular diet in the medical literature.

But many studies have shown that fasts and extremely low-calorie diets invariably lower the body's basal metabolic rate as it struggles to conserve energy.

Once the dieter resumes normal eating, rapid weight gain follows. Much of the weight loss achieved through this diet results from fluid loss related to extremely low carbohydrate intake and frequent bowel movements or diarrhea produced by salt water and laxative tea.

When the dieter resumes normal fluid intake, this weight is quickly regained. The diet is lacking in protein, fatty acids, and other essential nutrients. Carbohydrates supply all the calories — an extremely low The daily laxative regimen can cause dehydration, deplete electrolytes, and impair normal bowel function.

It can also disrupt the native intestinal flora, microorganisms that perform useful digestive functions. A person who goes on this diet repeatedly may run the risk of developing metabolic acidosis, a disruption of the body's acid-base balance, which results in excessive acidity in the blood.

Severe metabolic acidosis can lead to coma and death. Numerous kits are marketed for this purpose, most of which include a high-fiber supplement, a "support" supplement containing herbs or enzymes, and a laxative tea, each to be used daily.

Manufacturers of the herbal detox kits recommend continuing the regimen for several weeks. Such regimens may be accompanied by frequent enemas. The aim is to eradicate parasites and expel fecal matter that allegedly accumulates and adheres to the intestinal walls.

Several studies suggest that milk thistle, which is often included as a supportive supplement, may improve liver function with few side effects.

But there's no medical evidence for the cleansing procedure as a whole. Promotional materials often include photographs of snake-like gelatinous substances expelled during cleansing. When these pictures are not faked, they are probably showing stool generated by large doses of the regimen's fiber supplement.

More important, the rationale for intestinal cleansing — to dislodge material adhering to the colon walls — is fundamentally mistaken. When fecal matter accumulates, it compacts into firm masses in the open interior of the colon; it does not adhere to the intestinal walls as the "sludge" depicted in the advertisements.

Like fasting, colonic cleansing carries a risk of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, impaired bowel function, and disruption of intestinal flora. The manufacturers recommend continuing the procedure for two to three months.

One method employs a special type of adhesive pad worn on the bottoms of the feet during sleep. Another approach is to immerse the feet for 30 minutes in a basin, sometimes referred to as an "ionic foot bath," containing salt water and two electrodes that supply a low-voltage electric charge.

Both methods claim to emit ions that stimulate the outflow of toxins through the feet. The pads contain tourmaline crystals, which are purported to emit ion-generating infrared rays.

Your body naturally produces these molecules for cellular processes, such as digestion. However, alcohol, tobacco smoke, a low nutrient diet, and exposure to pollutants can produce excessive free radicals These molecules cause damage to a range of cells.

Research suggests that free radical damage plays a role in conditions such as dementia, heart disease, liver disease, asthma, and certain types of cancer 34 , Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help your body counter oxidative stress caused by excess free radicals and other toxins that increase your disease risk.

Focus on getting antioxidants from food and not supplements. Taking too many antioxidant supplements may increase your risk of certain diseases. Examples of antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

Berries, fruits, nuts, cocoa, vegetables, spices, and beverages like coffee and green tea have some of the highest amounts of antioxidants Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants helps your body reduce damage caused by free radicals and may lower your risk of diseases that can impact detoxification.

Gut health is important for keeping your detoxification system healthy. Your intestinal cells have a detoxification and excretion system that protects your gut and body from harmful toxins, such as chemicals Good gut health starts with prebiotics , a type of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut called probiotics.

With prebiotics, your good bacteria can produce nutrients called short-chain fatty acids that are beneficial for health 41 , Antibiotic use, poor dental hygiene, and diet quality can all alter the bacterial balance in your gut 43 , 44 , Consequently, this unhealthy shift in bacteria can weaken your immune and detoxification systems and increase your risk of disease and inflammation Eating foods rich in prebiotics can keep your immune and detoxification systems healthy.

Good food sources of prebiotics include tomatoes, artichokes, bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic, and oats Eating a diet rich in prebiotics keeps your digestive system healthy, which is important for proper detoxification and immune health. For some people, detoxing is a means of eliminating excess water.

This excess fluid buildup can cause bloating and make clothing uncomfortable. If you consume too much salt, you can detox yourself of the extra water weight. While it may sound counterintuitive, increasing your water intake is one of the best ways to eliminate excess water weight from consuming too much salt.

By increasing your water intake, your body reduces the secretion of the antidiuretic hormone and increases urination, eliminating more water and waste products 49 , Foods rich in potassium include potatoes, squash, kidney beans, bananas, and spinach Consuming too much salt can increase water retention.

You can eliminate excess water — and waste — by increasing your intake of water and potassium-rich foods. Regular exercise — regardless of body weight — is associated with a longer life and a reduced risk of many conditions and diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers 52 , 53 , While there are several mechanisms behind the health benefits of exercise, reduced inflammation is a key point 55 , You should aim to do at least — minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise — such as brisk walking — or 75— minutes a week of vigorous intensity physical activity — such as running While promising, many of these effects are only evident in animal studies.

Therefore, studies in humans are needed to confirm these findings. Your body naturally clears itself of toxins. You can support the process and your overall health with some lifestyle practices, including avoiding or limiting alcohol, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and eating certain foods, among others.

Still, only when these organs are healthy can they effectively eliminate unwanted substances. A full-body detox is part of regular organ function, with the body naturally eliminating harmful or toxic substances through the kidneys, liver, digestive system, skin, and lungs. Detox diets are said to eliminate toxins, which supports improving health and promoting weight loss.

While these diets are popular, they are not necessary. Your body has its own highly efficient detoxification system. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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