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ARE DETOX DIET PLANS REALLY HEALTHY FOR OUR BODY?


Detox is detoxification in short and it refers to the process of removing toxic or unhealthy substances from the body. Some people justify the need for detox because we are exposed to toxins from the environment every minute – from car emissions, air particulate matter, foods that are subjected to pesticides and herbicides, meats that contain antibiotics and growth hormones, cleaning products which are made from strong harmful chemicals and the list goes on.

These toxins accumulate in tissues and cells of our bodies and may disrupt with our normal bodily functions. By detoxing your body, vital organs can cleanse themselves of toxins and improve overall well-being.


Caring For Your Liver


Since the liver plays such an essential role for detoxification, it is crucial to take good care of your liver so that it can function efficiently. There are some simple strategies which can reduce the risk of liver disease and help the liver cleanse toxins from the system.

Limiting alcohol intake and avoiding unnecessary medications can reduce the burden on the liver. It is also important to adopt regular exercise and a well-balanced diet to protect liver health.


Fad: Detox Diets?


The most common way people detox is via detox diets. They are short-term dietary interventions which claims to remove toxins from your body and cleanse your blood. However, there is little scientific evidence to back the concept of detox diets and the benefits they bring to your health. In fact, many consumers choose to go on detox diet plans because they provide quick weight loss.

A typical detox diet starts with a period of fasting, followed by a strict diet of fruits, vegetables, fruit juices and water. Some detox diets also include herbs, tea, dietary supplements and colon cleanses or laxatives. Unhealthy foods such as fried foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are completely eliminated during the period of detox diet. 

Some nutritional experts warned that some of these detox diets can even backfire and cause weight gain or malnutrition.


Our Body Can Detox Itself!


Our body is capable of detoxing and cleansing the body naturally. The liver metabolises drugs (including medication), alcohol and unknown foreign substances that are not meant to be in the body and converts them into harmless substances. So, people are often interested in how to detox liver. Let’s find us find out more!

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses a much broader definition of the liver compared to Western Medicine. From the TCM perspective, the liver has a regulatory role and promotes digestion and assimilation of food. This is somewhat similar to the detoxification function of the liver in modern medicine.

Other than the liver, our kidneys in modern science can also help to filter the blood and remove toxins from our urine. After digestion and assimilation, the colon filters remaining waste, including toxins, to be excreted from our faeces. Cilla in the lungs trap toxins that enter the body via the air we breathe in and are expelled by breathing out or by coughing.

Detox water is claimed to aid in weight loss, toxin removal, metabolism, digestive system and complexion, most of its benefits can be attributed to drinking water alone. However, if you find plain water boring, detox water is still a healthy drink with several health benefits.

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Detox Water


You probably heard enough of “You need to drink 8 glasses of water per day”. Some people think adding extra ingredients to water improves its health benefits. Detox water is water that has been infused with the flavours of fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs. It contains very few calories hence it is often used to replace sugar sweetened beverages in our daily diet.

Making detox water at home is easy! Add your preferred selection of fruits, vegetables or herbs into cold or hot water (depending on your liking) and allow the flavours to infuse overtime. Some favourite combinations include cucumber and mint, lemon and orange, lemon and lime etc. Lemon detox water is also popular as you just need to add a few lemon slices into your water for a quick boost of antioxidants and Vitamin C.


Detox Juices & Teas


If you have more time to spare, you can try preparing your own detox juices at home! Some people prefer juices as it is an easier way to fulfil your recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables without having to eat them whole. Furthermore, as the juice does not contain fibre, nutrients are more easily absorbed by the body.

Some popular fruits and vegetables used to make detox juices include apples, celery, cucumber, kale, carrots, oranges, beetroot and spinach. Simply cut them up into smaller pieces and toss them into an electric juicer for a quick juice fix!

Detox teas usually contain herbs like lemongrass, ginger, dandelion, burdock and milk thistle, some of which have properties which can protect liver cells and guard against liver damage. However, some detox teas may contain ingredients that can have a diuretic or laxative effect.

This results in a loss of water weight and not actual body weight. This detox water weight loss is actually not effective. Tea also contains caffeine which may disrupt sleep, cause heart palpitations and headaches. It is important to check the ingredient list of the detox tea before consuming and make sure it does not contain powerful herbs, laxatives, high levels of caffeine, medications or even illegal drugs which can cause severe health problems.

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How to Detox using TCM


In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), toxins can be viewed as either qi and blood stagnation, phlegm accumulation, indigestion and build-up of internal heat. These factors disrupt the harmony of the body and causes discomfort or even illness. Therefore, TCM aims to remove these toxins and restore the body to a state of harmony. Remedies can come in many forms, including herbal medication and detox foot patch

There are eight main methods that TCM uses for toxin removal: Vomiting, Perspiration, Clearing Heat, Replenishment, Purging, Warming, Elimination and Harmonisation. The right choice of remedies can aid in liver and kidney detox. If your condition is serious, it is good to obtain a professional diagnosis from a trained TCM practitioner to determine the cause of toxin build-up before deciding on a suitable treatment plan. Otherwise, you can also consider safe and useful supplements to maintain liver health and help to cleanse your body. 

For those considering a safe and effective general detox remedy, All Link Happy Liver+ is definitely a top choice.  All Link Happy Liver+ is an all-natural liver protecting supplement consisting of a special blend of liver cleansing TCM herbs as well as Soy Lecithin and GAG & Collagen II to enhance the support of healthy liver functions.

The special blend of liver cleansing TCM herbs protect the liver by regulating lipid metabolism in the liver, strengthening the spleen; working together to prevent accumulation of excess fat in liver cells. The added Soy Lecithin is rich in Choline, which maintains proper liver activity and functions in the transport of fats out of the liver. GAG & Collagen II helps to maintain healthy lipid levels. So, start having All Link Happy Liver+ today to provide a total protection for your liver and optimises liver health and functions!

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Protect your liver and detoxify it from harmful toxins build-up caused by late night drinks and snacks or consumption of processed food!

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