Detoxification or detox (short form) is simply the process of cleansing the body of toxins or transforming or neutralizing them, and the elimination of excess congestion and mucus. A large number of toxins come from drug use, diet, smoking and environmental factors like pollution. Internally, within our body, cholesterol, oxidized fats and free radicals act as the toxins. In addition a reduced liver function, colon dysfunction, poor digestion and improper elimination through the respiratory tract, kidneys and skin all increase the toxins in our body. Detoxification is the process that involves a change in ones diet and lifestyle which will reduces the ingestion of toxins and improve their elimination.
One of the common ways to get rid of toxins from the body is to urinate frequently. For this purpose pickle juice, cranberry juice and prune juice are known to be effective, as they will help you in passing more urine and thus help in cleaning out your system. As compared to pickle juice however, cranberry juice is preferred simply because it tends to activate our kidneys and release a greater number of toxins. Further more, pickle juice is not usually recommended as it consists of just vinegar and salt and, if had in large quantities, it can make a person sick. As an alternative you could try making this very popular detoxifying cleansing drink. Mix together 2 liters of water, the juice of 4 lemons, a spoon of honey, a pinch of cayenne pepper, a bit of grated ginger (for taste purposes) and 1-2 tablespoons of apple juice. Mix all these ingredients together in a blender and drink it 2-3 times a day. This is known to be a very effective detoxification remedy.
One of the most effective ways to detoxify the body is by drinking plenty of water, in fact more than the recommended amount of 10-12 glasses per day should help the system effectively. In addition there are plenty of herbal teas available that help in this process. One such type of tea is milk thistle; it flushes out the liver where toxins are usually known to accumulate. Peppermint leaves can also be added to this tea in order to increase its flavor and boost its outcome. Barley juice when mixed with fresh pineapple, parsley and spinach is also a good detoxifying agent. All said and done, whatever detoxification remedy you choose to follow, always make sure that you get a second opinion from your physician.