Toxins get into your body in a number of ways. These include through exposure to pollution, eating unhealthy or contaminated foods, smoking cigarettes and a myriad of other ways. That can be detrimental to your health by altering cell health and overall immunity.
Detoxing is something that is pretty popular among the celebrity crowd, although there is some debate as to whether it’s really necessary or not. So how do you know you have toxins in your body?
There are several things to be on the lookout for that could indicate that you have a higher level of them. Talk to your doctor before attempting any type of detox diet as some of them are not healthy for all people.
In the meantime, these signs could indicate a problem.
1. You Can’t Sleep At Night
There are plenty of things can cause insomnia, but a build-up of toxins in your body is one of them. A high level of toxins can interfere with healthy cortisol production, a hormone that controls stress and weight. When the levels get out of whack, your body may respond by increasing stress, which can get in the way of a good night’s sleep.
2. You Have Body Odor
If you shower and wash up on a regular basis, but still have body odor, you could have too many toxins in your body. This is also true if you have bad breath or foul-smelling bowel movements. Some experts say that you can help your liver by doing a detox, which can do wonders for your scent and ensure that you aren’t self-conscious about the way you smell in public places.
3. You’re Really Tired
Being tired happens all the time, especially after a tough day at work or a night up with a sick toddler. However, if you’re feeling exhausted with no discernible reason, you could be in need of a detox.
Having a lot of toxins in your body is taxing on your adrenal glands, which increases fatigue and exhaustion. By detoxing in a healthy way, you can regulate adrenal function, something that can boost your energy and make you feel more alert and awake all day long.
4. You Can’t Concentrate
There are plenty of toxins that hinder healthy brain function. When they build up in your body, they can make it hard to focus on things you’d otherwise have no trouble with. This can be a problem for your productivity and efficiency, both at work and at home.
Aspartame, found in diet sodas, and MSG, found in many Oriental foods, are two that have a particularly detrimental effect on your cognition.
5. You Can’t Lose Weight
There are a plethora of things that interfere with weight loss, but if you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing is working, it might be time to assess the toxins in your body.
Many of them make you store body fat, which means that their continued presence in your body will make it hard to shed that weight. Being overweight can lead to other health issues, including heart disease and diabetes, so getting control of your toxin levels is pretty important.
6. Your Skin Is Reacting
Again, there are many things that can give you skin reactions, including allergies and dermatitis. However, when toxins build up in your system, they can manifest as acne and rashes all over your body. You might also notice boils.
If your typical treatments don’t work, consider detoxing in a healthy way. In the meantime, make an appointment to see your dermatologist for treatment options that will make you feel better until the condition clears up.
7. You’re Constipated
In terms of toxic overload, constipation occurs because when you can’t move your bowels, you aren’t eliminating waste from your body. Toxins in that waste can then be reabsorbed by your body, making the problem worse. Drinking more water and bumping up your fiber intake can help with this issue.
8. You Are Sensitive To Smells
Experts say that being sensitive to smells is a clear sign that your liver isn’t working properly. Those scents can lead to headaches and nausea, another indication that you may have high toxin levels in your body.
Cleaning up your diet is the best way to boost liver function and get the issue under control. That means eating whole, fresh foods and eschewing processed foods, fast food, soda and other junk.
9. You Have Aches And Pains In Your Muscles
Because toxins tend to collect in your bloodstream and your muscles, a build-up can cause aches and pains throughout your body. Of course, a new exercise program or an injury can do the same, but if you can’t figure out a cause for your aches and pains, it might be a good idea to assess your toxin levels and make the necessary changes to clean things up for the sake of your health.
10. You Have Mood Swings
Toxins can alter healthy hormone function, which can seriously interfere with a happy and balanced mood. When the toxins build up and cause your hormones to go haywire, you might experience mood swings as a result.
This is something that should always be checked out by a mental health professional to rule out something serious like depression or bipolar disorder. Otherwise, a healthy detox should make you feel better.
11. You’re Getting Headaches
Certain toxins, including aspartame and MSG, can cause headaches when they build up in your body. Eliminating them is the clear answer, but an overall healthy detox might also boost the benefits since there are many other toxins that can produce headaches when they build up in your body.
Having a headache all the time seriously interferes with good quality of life, so you definitely need to do something about it now.
Detoxing is something that is trendy right now, but does that mean it’s a good choice for you? Some experts don’t think so. The Mayo Clinic says that your liver and kidneys do the job on their own and that a detox diet isn’t necessary.
However, a healthy detox can help pave the way to making the right eating and lifestyle choices, which can reduce the toxins in your body and ease the stress placed on your liver and kidneys. If you want to try a detox diet, talk to your doctor first.
Together you can choose the one that’s best for your health status and your goals. You’ll want to stay away from detox programs that are seriously restrictive because this can lead to health issues down the road.
Instead, choose one that makes room for fresh, healthy foods that contain the nutrients your body needs to support proper liver and kidney function. These foods will also boost overall health, helping you solve each of the issues on this list in a positive way.
