Our bodies are amazing in their ability to adapt, seamlessly regulating important functions from temperature to heart rate, and constantly working to repair, cleanse and rejuvenate. We often take for granted how the body naturally detoxifies itself, from not only the normal by-products of cellular reactions but also the potentially harmful substances and pathogens we inevitably encounter in daily life.
At times the body gets overloaded by toxins, and our detox organs— the liver, kidneys, lungs, gut, and skin, which we count on for maintaining our health, get knocked out of balance. When this happens, we often experience significant symptoms that occur from the body trying to correct itself.
And because of our growing exposure to toxins, and lifestyle habits counterproductive to maintaining our health, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us through the symptoms we’re experiencing. When we take note of what’s going on with our bodies, we can take responsibility for acknowledging when it needs a little help detoxing, becoming agents of our own wellness.
So what are the symptoms that communicate your body needs a little help correcting itself?
Here are 5 major signs you’re due for a detox.
- Fatigue – One of the biggest indicators the body is working overtime to correct itself is persistent fatigue. Being sleepy on occasion or after a long week is one thing, but feeling groggy after a regular night’s sleep, wanting to nap throughout the day, or having irregular sleeping patterns is a sign it’s time to clean things up inside.
- Infrequent bowel movements – The liver plays a key role in detoxification by identifying toxins and repackaging them in a way that allows them to passed along to the digestive system and eliminated from the body. Constipation is dangerous because those toxins stay in your body for longer than intended and can be reabsorbed into circulation instead of exiting through the bowels.
- Inability to lose weight – If your midsection is growing, despite clean eating and regular exercise, it is a sign that what is coming into your body has surpassed what your body can use and effectively move out. Adipose tissue, otherwise known as “fat cells,” tend to hold onto toxins. The body knows this and may declare it unsafe to breakdown the adipose tissue and release the toxins within, consequently making it more difficult to lose weight.
- Skin issues – When the liver is overloaded and the body isn’t eliminating its toxins through normal pathways like daily bowel movements, it will seek alternative means to rid itself of those harmful substances. One such alternative way is through the skin. As our largest organ, the skin provides a very useful way to eliminate toxins through sweating and less favorable ways like rashes, rosacea, and eczema. These skin conditions, as well as foul body odor, can all be signs your skin is picking up the detoxing slack for the rest of your body.
- Gallbladder problems – Often overlooked as unimportant, having gallbladder issues can be another sign your systems are out of balance, as this mighty little organ is considered the “right-hand man” of the liver. Poor digestion, pain in the right-hand side of your rib cage after eating, and gallstones are all major indicators your body is in need of repair.
If you regularly experience one or more of these symptoms, it’s time to start paying attention to what your body is trying to say. By taking note of the way you feel, you can start reclaiming your wellness, making proactive choices and lifestyle changes that promote your ongoing health.