14 January 2008

Before You Go To A Spa To Detox

Spa detox programs try to remove environmental and dietary toxins from the body in order to promote health. People who detox at spas generally lose weight, gain energy, and become calmer. But not all detox programs are alike, so it's important to do your research on the best detox spas to make sure you get into the right detox program for you.

Understand What Spas Mean By Toxins

Spas with detox programs target four kinds of toxicity:

* the body's own metabolic waste products
* dietary toxins like alcohol, caffeine and white sugar
* psychological toxins like stress and worry
* environmental pollutants including mercury in fish and chemicals that are part of our lifestyle, from the clothes we wear to our home furnishings.

Understand How Spas Help You Detox

Detox spas have a number of ways to target the toxins:

* treatments that support the body's own detoxification systems. These include colon hydrotherapy and herbal enemas, which cleanse the colon, and detoxifying spa treatments like lymphatic drainage massage, and body wraps.
* dietary changes that can range from a juice fast to simpler changes like adding healthy fruits and vegetables and cutting out the foods that are hardest on your body.
* meditation and yoga that helps you change negative mental habits
* major dietary changes and oil-based treatments that are part of the Ayurvedic detox called panchakarma.

Think About What You Want In A Detox Program

Some of the basic choices you might think about:

* Does the detox program consist of a juice fast, raw food, vegetarian/vegan, or meals with a meat option?
* What level of medical supervision is there?
* Are you going through the detox program with other people, or is it self-directed?
* Does the spa offer colon hydrotherapy?
* Do you want the Ayurvedic detox called panchakarma, and will you commit to major dietary changes for 3-4 weeks or longer?
* Do they offer educational lectures,and what are the qualifications of the lecturers?
* Are the surroundings luxurious or rustic?
* How much does it cost?

Educate Yourself About Detox Diets

Many detox diets rely on Juice fasting . Juice fasting can stimulate motivation, creativity, and spiritual awareness, and help during life transitions, but it's not easy, and it's not for everyone. Find our more about the benefits or juice fasting, how to prepare for a fast, side effects, who should not try a fast, and why some critics don't like fasting or even the concept of detox.
Think of Detoxing as a Lifestyle
Ideally, detox should not be a short-term purge, but a lifestyle. The best detox spas give you the tools to maintain a healthier lifestyle through better food choices, stress reduction techniques like meditation, and knowledge of how to reduce your exposure to chemicals.