If you’re on a detox right now, I think you’ll agree with me if I say that detox symptoms can be a real pain in the butt!
You might even say that your detox is making you feel worse than you did before you started cleansing… Right?
Unfortunately, detox symptoms are part of the process. They are completely normal and I’ll tell you why in a second…
Whether you decided to cleanse with a detox diet, a mono diet, a smoothie detox, a traditional juice cleanse or strict water fast, keep in mind that the benefits you will get from this detox will be extraordinary!
Click here to learn more about the different types of cleanse.
Look, you shouldn’t be afraid of the possible detox symptoms you may go through during your cleanse…
They won’t last for long, that’s a sure thing.
In the world we live in, we are constantly surrounded by toxins, air pollution, and chemicals from the food we eat and the products we use.
Doing a cleanse will not only purify your body, but it will also allow you to change bad dietary habits and achieve greater health.
Once your cleanse is over, you can expect to feel better than ever!
More focussed, energized and rejuvenated…
It’s amazing!
And that’s not all…
Suddenly you’ll notice that the food tastes better, your digestion is more efficient, and your bowel movements are finally regular…
Your skin is clearer, your eyes are whiter, and your body is toned.
This awesome feeling of general well-being is a reward anyone can experience if they want to put some time and effort into a detox program…
During a detox, it’s common to feel lighter and cleaner than ever!
But here’s the catch…
The first few days of your cleanse might be more difficult…
You may have to go through different detox symptoms that will make you feel pretty crappy!
But this is a good thing…
When you’re feeling ill, it means that your detox is actually working!
Why?
When your body eliminates toxins, you can feel it…
While the toxins circulate in your bloodstream, you can feel their poison and experience different detox symptoms.
But this will only last a few days… maybe 1 to 3 days.
But this can differ from one person to another.
Some people don’t have any detox symptoms and feel awesome the whole time (lucky them!).
Other people may have a harder time throughout their cleanse.
So, how to know if you’re gonna be lucky or not?
Usually, the more toxic your lifestyle is, the harder it may be for you… (That rule doesn’t apply to everyone though) This is a sign that this cleanse was much needed and that you should do this more often!
Remember…having detox symptoms just means that your detox is working!
8 detox symptoms that show your cleanse is working
1. Different pooping habits…Constipation or diarrhea
When you follow a detox diet, you may notice a change in your bathroom habits.
This is probably because you are eating way more fiber than usual and drinking a lot more water.
Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of fiber, while meats and dairy contain none…
That can be a huge change for certain people.
And eating more fiber stimulates the digestive system and encourages more bowel movements!
So, you can expect to visit the bathroom 1 to 3 times per day… (Which is a totally normal number for a healthy person!)
Your stools may be softer too, due to the sudden change in your diet.
Keep in mind that your gut bacteria (who are responsible for digesting the fiber) need some time to adjust to the new food you are providing them.
If you are taking herbs or supplements that generate bowel movements (laxatives), you may also experience diarrhea…
These supplements have the ability to flush the content of your intestines, so expect to visit the toilet often…
On the other hand, if you are limiting solid food and you don’t drink enough water, you may experience constipation.
This is why it’s very important to stay hydrated during your cleanse.
If you are fasting with juices or water only, expect to have no bowel movement.
This is not constipation! Bowel movements will resume once you start eating again.
Would you like to know if your poop is normal? Take the test right here…
2. Strong body odor… Yes, you might stink!
Another common detox symptom is to have a strong body odor.
This is due to the cleansing of your gut. Accumulated waste and toxins are being evacuated…
Your body does not only eliminate toxins through your urine… but you also sweat them out.
And the more toxicity you have in your body, the stronger your body odor will be.
It’s kinda like people who drink a lot of alcohol or consume drugs. Their skin tends to smell really bad…
Or like those people who work hard at the gym but have a very bad diet… You can smell them from a distance!
During your cleanse, make sure to drink a lot of water to encourage more urination and sweating.
Water is also going to help your liver and kidneys filter all of the toxins.
You can also go to the sauna to sweat the toxins out… But be careful if you are fasting.
It’s best not to go to the sauna when you are not eating, to avoid losing too many electrolytes.
Drink green vegetable juice to maintain good electrolyte levels and counteract the acidic load from the toxins.
Probiotics will also help restore your gut flora, which will help with body odors…
3. Swollen lymph nodes… Your body is fighting for you!
Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which carries lymph fluid, nutrients, and waste products within the body.
The lymphatic system is an important part of the immune system because it defends the body against diseases.
Lymph nodes are like a filter that traps bacteria, viruses, and toxins before they are destroyed by our white blood cells.
Swollen lymph nodes can be felt underarms, the neck or groin.
If your lymph nodes suddenly swell up during your cleanse, chances are that you were either very toxic or infected by a bacteria, yeast or a dormant virus…
So, don’t panic!
If you have swollen lymph nodes during your cleanse, it’s ok.
This is a detox symptom telling you that your immune system is fighting for you… Once again, your detox is working!
Other signs that your immune system is fighting for you
Just like lymph nodes, allergy symptoms can arise when the immune system is fighting to eliminate toxins.
You may experience detox symptoms like body aches, a sore throat or a runny nose.
This is just like when you are in contact with an allergen like cats or dust…
Your body’s defense mechanism fires up against the invader (cat saliva, dust mites) and provokes an allergic reaction.
Similarly, when toxins are released during your detox, they are perceived as foreign substances, which can also provoke an immune response and allergy symptoms.
4. Gas and bloating…That’s uncomfortable!
Gas and bloating are not detox symptoms that normally happen during a fast, but rather during a detox diet.
Because of the high volume of fiber you are eating, your digestive tract may take time to adjust to this new diet.
More fiber encourages the growth of good bacteria, which can provoke more activity in your intestines.
Chew your food carefully, this will start the digestion process.
Remember that anything that you don’t chew properly, your stomach will have to do it for you!
Eat slowly to avoid swallowing air… When your intestines are not able to move the air efficiently, it provokes gas and bloating.
Avoid yeast and animal products if you want to limit the putrefaction in your gut and the rotten egg farts.
The best way to avoid gas and bloating is to have a healthy flora… And you can achieve that by taking probiotics daily.
Check out my favorite probiotic supplements.
5. Nausea and vomiting… Those damn ketones!
If you are fasting or following a keto diet (ketogenic diet = high fat & low carb), you may experience nausea or even vomiting.
This is usually due to the presence of ketones in your blood.
Ketones are dumped in the blood by the liver when the glycogen (sugar) reserves are depleted.
This condition is called ketosis.
This happens after 24 hours of fasting, or between meals on a strict low-carb diet.
When your body is deprived of carbohydrates (its main fuel), it must turn to fat for energy.
This is when ketones are produced by your liver from fatty acids and will be used to feed your brain and the other cells in your body.
Ketones will substitute glucose for the duration of your fast, on which your cells would normally survive…
You will notice that you are in “ketosis” when you feel nauseous and when your breath smells fruity or like nail polish remover… (weird)
Nausea can also be caused by a large number of toxins circulating in your blood. This should pass after a few days…
Did you know that the best homemade remedy for nausea is ginger tea? If it works for morning sickness in pregnant women, it should work for you too!
6. Mood swings
Mood swings are very common detox symptoms at the beginning of a cleanse…
While your metabolism adjusts to your dietary changes, you might be grumpy and irritable.
Several factors can provoke irritability, like the waste that is circulating in the bloodstream, or the withdrawal from caffeine and sugar.
If you are suffering from candida overgrowth, you may experience die-off symptoms that will affect your mood.
When many Candida cells are destroyed at the same time, it releases a large load of toxins that can shock your detox organs and provoke all sorts of reactions like allergy symptoms and irritability…
Using bentonite clay during your detox is a great way to eliminate the toxins faster and reduce detox symptoms.
When bentonite passes through the intestines, the clay molecules absorb the toxin molecules and expels them on the way out. Magic!
Wanna use bentonite on your next detox? Try this 7-day cleansing program…
7. Headaches… they can be intense!
Headaches are usually caused by the withdrawal of caffeine.
This usually lasts 2 days and can be quite intense for heavy coffee drinkers.
This is the reason why I always recommended to stop consuming caffeinated drinks a couple of days before you start a fast…To give yourself a chance!
Quitting smoking, alcohol, drugs, medications, and sugar can also be responsible for your headaches.
All these substances are very toxic. So just like tobacco, their elimination from the bloodstream can be painful.
Headaches are also one of the numerous detox symptoms caused by the elimination of toxins.
Once the toxic waste is liberated from your tissues, it circulates in your body before being eliminated…
These toxins are felt like poison and can cause discomforts such as headaches or migraines.
8. Extreme fatigue
Being tired at the beginning of your cleanse is normal.
It can be caused by the liberation of toxins or an increased metabolic demand…
You would think that eating healthy food would give you more energy… and you are right!
But detoxing from caffeine, sugar and fatty foods can cause you to go through a few rough days before you feel energized.
If you are doing a fast, the absence of calories will also cause fatigue…
And the first 3 days can be quite difficult.
After those 3 days, your energy should rise and you will feel awesome!
Bottom line…
Stay hydrated, sleep when you are tired, practice gentle yoga, go for walks, meditate…
Just take it easy and enjoy the ride!
So now I turn to you…
What type of detox program did you choose?
Did you experience any of the detox symptoms I described?
How long did it take for you detox symptoms to disappear?
