What Are the Side Effects of Whole Body Cleansing?
Cleansing or detoxifying the body is the process of removing accumulated toxins from the body by means of healthful diet changes, fasting, and use of vitamin and herbal supplements. Some of the benefits of cleansing the body include clear skin, weight loss, a sense of well-being, and overall lessened toxic load in the body. The process of a body cleanse, however, can be long and arduous and is known to produce several unpleasant, albeit temporary side effects.
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Documented Side Effects
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A cleanse may make you feel worse before you feel better due to unpleasant side effects. These may include headaches, muscle aches, crankiness, insomnia, weakness, anxiety, restlessness, diarrhea, skin rash, and nausea. Herxheimer reactions, a healing crisis of the body, also can occur and is characterized by fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain.
Treatment
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While the unpleasant side effects are only temporary, they are uncomfortable. Get lots of rest and relaxation during the cleanse to help your body heal and relieve side effects. Getting a massage is a great way to further move toxins from the body while relaxing at the same time. Drink plenty of water and fresh, organic vegetable juice. This will provide the body will fluids to help flush away toxins, and the juice will also provide beneficial vitamins and minerals to nourish the body. Potassium supplements and foods rich in potassium such as potatoes, apples, and carrots are excellent at countering unpleasant side effects. Finally, be sure to continue the detoxification program to eliminate the toxins that made you feel bad to begin with.
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Causes
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Unpleasant side effects of a body cleanse are caused by the body's removal of toxins. Sometimes toxins are released more quickly than the body can eliminate them, causing a Herxheimer reaction. If the body is addicted to certain substances such as caffeine, sugar, tobacco, or alcohol, it experiences withdrawal from these substances producing unpleasant side effects. As more toxins are eliminated, less side effects will be experienced.
Prevention
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Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent unpleasant side effects while cleansing the body. However if you ease into your body cleanse a few steps at a time, (for example, eliminating refined sugar and alcohol the first week, then eliminating caffeine the second week), it reduces the body's reaction to the changes you are implementing, resulting in less severe side effects. Be sure to take your time and not rush the detox program you choose and you can avoid Herxheimer reactions.
Warning
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Body cleanse and detox programs are not appropriate for all individuals, such as those suffering from heart conditions, diabetes or eating disorders. Children, teens, senior citizens, and pregnant or breastfeeding women should not participate in a cleanse.
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