Want to hit the reset button? 9 signs you need a detox

Today’s world places a heavy toxic load on our bodies, from environmental toxicants to stress and anxiety that create inflammation and have adverse effects on our mood, behaviour, energy levels, and overall health. While our incredible bodies have an inbuilt detoxification system, it can become easily overwhelmed. 

It's frustrating to feel like your body is holding you back when you want to live a full, active life. If you are experiencing any of these nine signs and symptoms of toxic overload, it might be time to hit the ‘reset’ button with a full body detox.

 Photo by Jannis Brandt on Unsplash

You always feel tired

No amount of sleep ever feels like enough and you wake up feeling foggy and lethargic, even after a full night’s sleep. 

Frequent colds or viruses

You seem to pick up anything that’s going around and a cold or virus grounds you to a halt more than a handful of times a year.

Digestive issues

Frequently upset stomach or food sensitivities that leave you feeling irritable, bloated and/or with heartburn and cramping.

Chronic or unexplained headaches

Suffering from headaches almost every day. Over-reliance on pain medication to alleviate symptoms of pulsing, throbbing or tightening in the head.

General and constant aches and pains

While body aches and pains are common, you hurt all over for seemingly no reason, and it feels like the ache is coming from every muscle, joint and is lodged deep in your bones. 

Skin reactions

Toxins enter the body in one of two ways: through the mouth and through the skin. Skin rashes, sensitivities, breakouts, irritations, and dermatitis are common signs of toxicity.

Unidentifiable weight gain

Some environmental toxins get stored in fat tissues and can prevent weight loss (Crinnion, 2000). If you’re not at your ideal weight even after attempts at shedding those extra kilos, it could be due to the build up of toxins in your body.

Sugar cravings

Cravings, especially the sugar kind, are a sign your body is in a higher toxic state because it is seeking foods that are simple to digest and that provide instant energy.

Trouble sleeping

Melatonin signals the body for sleep, but toxins can reduce the amount of melatonin that is released and causes a domino effect that gives you trouble sleeping.

“Detoxification is important because it strengthens the body’s immune system and helps the body’s biochemical processes function efficiently so that we are better able to digest the nutrients in our foods. Detoxification has also been shown to be helpful with colitis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, auto-immune disease, immune deficiency states, autism, ADD and ADHD.”

- Dr. Rachel West

Photo by Sarah Cervantes on Unsplash

How a regular Infrared sauna can help you begin the detox process

Alongside improving your nutrition and exercise, if you want to detox, researchers have long known that toxic substances are secreted from the body through sweat. Therefore, the more you can safely sweat (while maintaining proper hydration), the greater quantity of toxins will be released from the body. 

Infrared saunas are one of the most effective methods of inducing a detoxifying sweat, carrying toxins out of the body through your pores. However, not all saunas are created equal.

The fundamental benefit of an Infrared sauna is the deep penetration of heat through to the fat layers just beneath the skin. It also helps your body eliminate toxins from your internal organs. In this way, Sunlighten Infrared saunas promote a deep detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where toxins reside, leaving you feeling cleansed, refreshed and energised.

For more tips on making regular sauna into a habit or to learn more about the benefits of Sunlighten’s infrared sauna for your health and wellbeing, visit our website or enjoy a range of articles on wellness on the Sunlighten blog.