WHAT ARE TOXINS AND HOW CAN YOU GET RID OF THEM?

We often hear a lot about detoxing, but exactly what are toxins? Just the word alone sounds frightening and instantly strikes up worry. According to the dictionary definition, a toxin is a poisonous substance that is the result of metabolic activities. Simply put, a toxin is something harmful to our bodies.  The definition of a toxin tends to be vague because of the different types of toxins. Toxins are generally classified as either an internal toxin or an external toxin. It’s important to understand what toxins are so that you know how to identify and get rid of them in your body.

What are Internal Toxins?

Internal toxins are naturally produced by our bodies as part of our daily functions. Our bodies are constantly using energy to rebuild body tissue and replace worn out cells. Throughout this process, they’re also producing waste or internal toxins. These toxins need to be broken down, recycled, and eliminated.  While our bodies have automatic processes to carry out these tasks, they can’t always address built-up toxins. Without proper detoxification, these toxins can clog your system and cause damage to surrounding tissue, organs, and cells.

What are External Toxins?

External toxins are the toxins outside of our bodies that can be ingested or absorbed. Whether chemical or microbial, external toxins enter the body through food, water, air, or physical contact with skin. These toxins can affect your overall health and wellness.

What are the most common external toxins?

• Bisphenol A and Phthalates, commonly referred to as BPA, are toxic substances that exist in cheap plastic drinking bottles. While most bottles with BPA have been phased out, some still use them and should be avoided. A 2015 study confirmed that about 44% of canned food producers still use BPA-lined cans.

• Environmental toxins like smog, airborne particulates, and smoke can wreak havoc on our eyes, lungs, and sinuses. They can remain in our bodies for an extended time after exposure.

• Environmental toxins can be transferred to common indoor spaces like homes, offices, or commercial buildings.

• Household chemicals are also guilty of introducing toxins into indoor living spaces. Common surface cleaners can emit dangerous fumes that may concentrate in small, enclosed areas. Even pet products may contain toxic elements that can harm both you and your pet.

Common Signs of Toxins in Your Body

You may want to consider a detoxification routine if you see any of the following indicators:

• You have trouble losing weight especially inches in a particular area. Many toxins naturally gravitate toward the fatty areas of the body. These toxins are called lipophilic and can include PCBs, dioxins, and pesticides.

• You’re tired all the time even though you’re getting enough sleep. Toxin overload can cause problems with the adrenal glands and that often manifests as unexplained exhaustion. A long-term effect of toxin build up is chronic stress, which can trigger feelings of sleepiness and overall fatigue.

• Frequent headaches can also be a sign of toxicity, especially those that are unexplained or don’t stem from a normal source. MSG, artificial sweeteners, and various food preservatives may trigger headaches due to their inherently toxic properties.

headache-toxins

• Moodiness can indicate that your body hormones are out of balance. A proven contributor to hormone disruption is toxic chemicals like BPA, PCBs, and phthalates. Minimizing exposure to plastics can help reduce harmful toxic loads.

• Aches and pains can indicate a high toxic load in some individuals. Various toxins act to stimulate pain receptors in the muscles. This can lead to spasms, aches and pains, muscle knots, and general discomfort.

Detoxification – How Does it Work?

In its simplest terms, detoxification is a process that removes poisonous or harmful substances from your body. Impurities are removed from the liver, which is where the body’s toxins are stored and processed prior to elimination. A good detoxification will also cleanse the intestines, kidneys, lungs, lymph nodes, and skin.  Detoxification is important because it effectively removes or greatly eliminates the harmful toxins that can accumulate inside our bodies. Whether these toxins are internal, external, or acquired from toxic behavior, better health is often just a few weeks away when an appropriate detox method is used.
Here are several ways to cleanse the body and minimize toxins in your system:
Hydrate
One of the most important ways to minimize harmful elements in the body is to stay hydrated. You should drink at least two quarts of water per day. This amount should increase if you’re exercising a lot or using a sauna on a regular basis.
Eat fiber
Your diet should include plenty of fiber in it. Fiber enables your body to process and move waste products through your system as efficiently as possible. Organically grown fruits and vegetables both introduce fiber into your diet and limit the amount of pesticides in your system.

Fiber-Rich-Vegetables

Exercise regularly
An hour of cardio exercise every day can help detoxify the body. Any physical activity that gets your heart pumping is a great detoxification option. Exercising regularly will help detox and cleanse your system from the inside out.
Sauna
Using a sauna can remove toxins from your body quicker than any other method available. A good sauna session will promote profuse sweating. That sweat acts as a transport vehicle for getting harmful toxins out of the body.

Using a Sauna for Detoxification

Sweating is a natural process for the elimination of toxins in the body. While we can’t avoid all harmful toxins out there, we can encourage the removal of toxins from our systems through our skin – and sweating is a great way to do it!  Using an infrared sauna on a regular basis can help to remove heavy metals and toxins quite quickly. To do so, begin by using a sauna at least twice a week for 15-20 minutes. Gradually increase the amount of time you’re able to remain in the sauna until you can comfortably complete five 30-minute sessions each week.

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Woman using an infrared sauna for detoxification

Research shows that far-infrared saunas work better than traditional saunas because they deliver deep infrared energy into the body. Infrared sauna detoxification helps remove toxins more effectively than traditional steam saunas. IR units are also generally more comfortable to use than steam-based saunas, so you may be more likely to actually detox your system as often as possible.
Just remember, don’t stay in the sauna more than 30 minutes. Take it easy f\or at least 10 minutes after exiting the sauna. And, be sure to drink lots of water after the sauna session.
With everything our bodies go through each day, detoxing should be a top priority for everyone. Using a sauna can make the detoxification process enjoyable and, it offers a variety of other health benefits.

SAUNAS, SWEAT & SUMMER: SAUNA WEIGHT LOSS TIPS FOR SUMMER

With summer in full effect, losing weight is definitely on the top of everyone’s to-do lists. For most people, it always seems to be those last few pounds we just can’t shed off. We all know that diet and exercise are the fundamental keys to losing weight and staying healthy but, did you know that an infrared sauna can help shed those extra pounds? Here are some basic sauna weight loss tips to help you get your summer body in shape.

Saunas = Sweat!

A sauna is designed to make you sweat by heating your body in a safe and controlled manner. Pro athletes and fitness professionals use saunas to quickly lose a few pounds by sweating out water weight. An example is professional boxers or wrestlers who must weigh in at a specific weight on a certain date. They often use saunas to sweat out excess fluids to hit that perfect weight goal. While many of them do rebound and rehydrate their way back up to a slightly higher weight, there’s no denying that saunas promote weight loss.  Also, a typical sauna increases circulation and makes you sweat more often. This energizes your metabolism to burn more calories throughout the day. The trick is to combine regular sauna use with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and appropriate levels of hydration.

Infrared saunas, in addition to the water weight loss, help raise your core body temperature, lower cortisol level and slightly increase your HGH.  All of these contribute to real and long term weight loss.

Shed Pounds with a Sauna

To ensure the ideal level of detoxification, sweat production, and weight loss, you’ll want to use your sauna 4-7 times per week. Most individuals who are new to sauna use may find this excessive. If you fall into this category, start by using a sauna twice per week. Gradually increase your sauna use until you can tolerate a daily 30-40 minute session.  Make sure that you drink water before and after each session so you stay comfortable and hydrated at all times.

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Aside from regular sauna use, make sure to also have a comprehensive fitness plan that incorporates diet, exercise, and hydration. Work with your fitness and/or healthcare professional to create a plan that includes these elements as well as your sauna use. Most fitness professionals will suggest that you use the sauna soon after working out. This allows the warm air of the sauna to loosen muscles, relieve aches and pains, and generally shorten the overall recovery time between workouts.

General Sauna Weight Loss Tips

First off, and hopefully we’ve made this quite evident already, you must combine dedicated sauna time with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise to lose weight. But the sauna time will certainly help, and if you’re not familiar with the benefits of a top-quality sauna, you’ll be amazed at how good you feel once you commit to the process.

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Keep these tips in mind when trying to losing weight with a sauna:
• Watch your diet. Try to limit your intake of artificial ingredients, caffeine, alcohol and processed food items. This will help trigger even greater weight loss and overall health benefits.
• Always drink more water than usual when using a sauna. You’ll sweat during your sauna session, so it’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day (especially before and after you use a sauna).
• Make it a social exercise. By inviting others into your sauna routine, you’ll make the entire process much more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll have a sense of motivation to continue the routine even if you’re feeling lazy or uninspired.
• Use your sauna after working out to relax your mind and body. Exercise tends to drive the release of endorphins, which trigger happy feelings in the body and perk up the system. A sauna can also lift the spirits, but it does so in a more subdued way than vigorous exercise.

Other Benefits of a Sauna besides Weight Loss

• Detoxification
Saunas do a good job of detoxifying the body by flushing out harmful elements through sweat and your other elimination systems but, the best results are usually seen with infrared saunas. The reason is simple – IR saunas promote a deeper sweat and users often don’t need as much time in the sauna as normal models. Sweating is a natural way to detoxify the body and promote a balanced system.
• Relaxation
There are few things as effective as a sauna when it comes to relaxing the body and spirit. Saunas promote better circulation that stimulates the muscles and joints. This stimulation generally means faster recovery times and less joint aches and pains for those committed to their exercise routines.

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• Healthier Skin
The intense yet controlled heat from the sauna stimulates circulation. This helps improve skin tone and flush out toxins that can make us look prematurely old. Sauna treatments also boost collagen production to promote a more even skin tone among frequent users.
• Fewer Colds
Infrared saunas, in particular, have claimed to increase white blood cell counts. This can help minimize the effects and duration of the common cold and flu. Infrared Saunas also raise your core body temperature creating an artificial fever that will help ward off colds and flu.
If you’re looking for a relaxing way to encourage the loss of those last few pounds this summer, consider including a sauna into your weekly diet and exercise routine. With regular sauna use – and these sauna weight loss tips – you’ll feel confident and healthy in no time at all!