Five key signs that your body needs a good detox

    Detox diets aren’t for everyone and not all of us actually need to eliminate toxins from our bodies. In fact, some doctors and other health professionals actually advise against them.

However, many other nutrition experts think this type of short-term eating plan is a great way to get your body back on track and not just to lose weight.

There are also lots of well known women who have waxed lyrical about the benefits of detoxing, including model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Beyonce and Victoria Beckham.

Detox diets tend to be short term, just a matter of days, they are not recommended for longer periods and you should stop if you feel faint or experience other ill-effects.

Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley and Beyonce are both fans of a good detox

Here, naturopath and ­nutritionist Jessica House of MyDetoxDiet.co.uk, brings you the top five signs that show you might be in need of a detox.

1) Aches and pains and stiff joints

Toxic material is thought to be deposited in areas of the body with low blood flow, such as joints. For example, a common cause of aching in the knees, is wheat and gluten intolerance.

Fruits are astringents meaning they pull toxins from cells and help to carry them out of the body. A juice fast will not only reduce your exposure to many of the chemicals and toxins commonly found in the modern day diet but also carry toxic build-up out of these hard to reach places leaving you feeling supple and mobile once more.

2) Skin rashes

The health of your skin is a direct reflection of the health of your gut. In fact, the epithelial lining is continuous and covers the skin, lungs and gut lining. A juice fast (no smoothies – sorry) causes a shutdown of the ­digestive system allowing the ingenuity of the cells and tissue to go to work repairing.

3) Bloating, digestive discomfort

The most common cause of bloating is digestive enzyme ­deficiency – usually caused by vitamin and mineral deficiency. A fruit and vegetable fast will give you a mega injection of nutrients needed for the effective function of the ­digestive system.

4) Low energy, sluggish and fatigued

Adrenal weakness (or exhaustion) is often linked to low energy. This can easily be checked at our clinic with an adrenal stress profile test. Another cause of low energy is high levels of toxicity in the body.

This is commonly caused when the immune system becomes hyper over-reactive to foods – which are then perceived as poisons. In addition, candida and yeast can deplete the body’s ­nutrition reserves (research suggests they can consume up to 50 per cent of our nutrients). Potential issues can be checked with simple tests and if they are found to be a problem, then a juice fast is often the solution.

This is because, in addition to the toxin-pulling properties of fruits and vegetables, the alkaline environment induced through juice cleansing is unfavourable to unwanted bacteria and yeasts – meaning it can correct the major cause of low energy and fatigue.

5) Hay fever, seasonal allergies, allergies and sensitivity to strong smells

Reactions to natural triggers such as plants, dust mites and ­sensitivities to strong smells, such as perfume, are major indicators that the body is struggling to eliminate toxins effectively. An individual who doesn’t have ­allergies will pass these toxins out through faeces, urine, sweat and even their breath.

When the nose and eyes start streaming, it’s a clear sign that the elimination channels are overwhelmed and the body is flushing out the toxins through the moist orifices of the eyes, nose and ears.

If you suffer from any of the above, then it is worth ­considering going on a detox. A detoxifying juice fast will support your body’s natural self-cleaning inclination, your liver will love it and your kidneys will get a spring clean. Juice cleansing is highly effective. Generally three days is considered the minimum for optimal results.