Detox, yes or no?

The term detox comes from detoxify and has as many adepts as detractors. Some people claim that it is the basis of almost everything, and some others affirm that it is just “magufism”. Virtue is found in the middle ground.

Our bodies will naturally return to the routine days after the excesses of Christmas and New Year’s Eve, with no need to do anything special. No one unavoidably needs a depuration, nor will a depuration heal all your disorders. Health is the consequence of consolidating good habits of life, a well-balanced diet and moderate physical activity over time. In the same way, we do not inevitably need a moisturizer to hydrate dry skin, but after summer and tanning, we know that exfoliation and proper moisturization are positive for faster skin repair, which is exhausted from too much sunbathing. Therefore, why not help our bodies with a detox guide?

Advantages of a detox plan

The benefits of a detox time exceed expectations:

• DIURETIC EFFECT: some plants have diuretic properties. There are multiple reasons for fluid retention: dehydration, a diet rich in sodium, potassium loss due to excessive sweating, a sedentary lifestyle, poor blood flow, some drugs, or even some pathologies that need professional treatment. Eliminating liquids will not help you lose weight because water loss may cause you more harm than good in the long run. However, in short and specific times, it may help to improve the feeling of heaviness, heavy legs, swelling or inflammation. Plants such as horsetail, green tea or dandelion help to accelerate the secretion of damaging substances accumulated in the body. A diet rich in potassium and fiber also potentiates diuresis.
• PLACEBO EFFECT, POTENTIATING BELIEFS AND HORMONAL ADAPTATIONS: The placebo effect is underestimated, but there is a lot of science behind the beliefs. What and how we think do have physiological consequences, particularly on the hormonal level. As if our hormones listened to our thoughts and their response was mediated by that inner dialogue. That’s it. Therefore, it is proven that maintaining a “plan” that includes the intake of natural supplements increases our commitment to the habit and ourselves. 
• THE POWER OF ARTICHOKE: we know that this plant has countless benefits, one of which is its high content of phenolic compounds, which have a stimulating effect on the gallbladder and contribute to better fat digestion as well as a noticeable reduction in triglycerides and endogenous cholesterol. Moreover, it has antioxidant, diuretic and antiedematous (it reduces inflammation) effects.
• PROPERTIES OF THE CHLOROGENIC ACID OF GREEN COFFEE: chlorogenic acid is a phenolic compound found in lots of vegetables and coffee. This polyphenol has multiple properties that promote health, most of them related to the prevention or improvement of metabolic syndrome. In addition, chlorogenic acid has an antioxidant effect that protects against lipidic oxidation, which helps to overcome the prejudices of gaining and losing weight and that typical vacation “yo-yo” effect.
• THE 21-DAY RULE: The strategies that work best to generate a habit are those that have to do with creating environments that facilitate the path, thinking about short-term objectives, and positive reinforcement so that our brain understands that what we are doing is effective. In order to do so, the search for quick results, although futile for long-term habit changes, is in fact useful to consolidate the necessary motivation to keep the habit for enough time to obtain real achievements. The 21-day rule cannot be taken literally, but it is a good way to make the objective SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound). 

When is it good to have a "detox" period?

• At the beginning of a fat-reducing diet
• After times of excesses, such as vacations or Christmas
• During seasonal changes, that entail habit and schedule changes

When is it not recommended to do detoxification?

• During pregnancy or breastfeeding
• When suffering from any disease, it is always recommended to consult a professional before taking any supplement
• When you are taking any drug