Drug addiction is a multilayered psychosocial phenomenon, and for this reason, there should be little surprise to learn that the drug detoxification process can be equally complex. Detoxification, most simply, involves the elimination of drug or alcohol substances from the body. Detoxification is a medical intervention process that safely helps a substance abuser through the experience of acute withdrawal. Detoxification is a means to an end(recovery), but not an end in itself; after detoxification, recovering drug abusers can best aid the recovery process by entering and staying in a treatment plan. READ: What Classification Of Drug Is Alcohol?
How To Clean Your System Out From Drugs and Alcohol
When most people attempt to quit drugs cold-turkey, they are ambitious and optimistic that they can do it. But then the withdrawal symptoms start. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in duration and intensity, and symptoms will also present in different ways, depending on what drugs a person has taken. For example, people who are addicted to cocaine are at risk of developing depression during detox, while people detoxing from alcohol may have a seizure.
Getting help from professionals during the withdrawal and detox process is ideal for keeping patients safe and lessening the severity of symptoms. How long it takes to detox for each substance can vary. And, if someone is addicted to more than one substance, the process will take longer and symptoms may be more severe.
Get Rid of the Source
The beginning of detox is to stop drinking and/or doing drugs. To rid your body completely of the substance, you must stop participating in the habit itself. This will allow your body to begin shedding the toxins it has long accumulated. The sooner you quit, the faster you’ll get healthy.
Drink a Lot of Water and fluids
Alcohol dehydrates your body and can cause unpleasant side effects like headaches, muscle pain, and fatigue. By drinking lots of water, you can eliminate these symptoms. Water also has the added benefit of being a natural detox. It flushes out your system, bringing chemicals, toxins, fats, and other unwanted items with it as it leaves your body. The more water you drink, the more you end up flushing out. At a minimum, everyone should drink 64 oz of water daily. Those looking to detox should consume between 80 oz and 100 oz of water each day. READ Do Detox Drinks Work For Drug Tests
Eat Nutritious Food and Avoid Junks
You ended up with toxins in your body by ingesting them, so it makes sense to replace these unhealthy consumptions with healthy ones. The best way to do this is to change your diet. The first step is cutting down on sugars and bad fats, which are just one more obstacle for your body to deal with on its journey towards healing. Also, avoid processed and refined foods, as they have little nutrient value and are hard for your body to digest. This means limiting food that comes in boxes, cans, jars, etc. The best way to get your body jump-started is by juicing. Drinking all-natural juiced fruits and vegetables is basically a shortcut to getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. You can drink about five times the vegetables and fruits that you can eat because your body is only filling up on the juice (where the vitamins are) instead of also consuming the meat of the plant. This is beneficial because you get large amounts of vitamins and can consume more in a day, which is key to proper nutrition.
If you don’t own a juicer or can’t afford one, make sure you eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and accompany it with a multivitamin to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need. When eating lots of produce, one important thing to think about is organically produced food. Foods that are not grown organically are treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are harmful to your body and can prevent the absorption of nutrients.
Here’s a list of foods that are excellent for detoxification:
Chia seeds, cilantro, parsley, and lemon leech on to impurities in your intestines and help dispose of them.
Green leafy veggies: kale, romaine, wheatgrass, seaweed, and others are a great source of fiber to flush out your body and antioxidants to boost your immune system.
Berries: strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are other sources of antioxidants, which help fight disease.
Yogurt contains probiotics, which keep your digestive tracts happy and healthy.
Wild-caught fish, avocados, and almonds are high in Omega 3 fats, which can keep your cravings down and help with depression.
Eliminate Toxins
Besides eliminating toxins through waste, exercise is the best way to start ridding your body of its unhealthy build-up. By accelerating your heart and causing your body to sweat, you’re eliminating the unhealthy toxins through your pores. Running, biking, hot yoga, or any other exercise will not only help you detox but will also produce endorphins in your brain that can keep you in good spirits through this difficult process. An alternative method to remove toxins is to get yourself in a sauna. Not only is this a great way to de-stress, but the heavy amount of sweat that is produced releases chemicals out of your body. Epsom salt baths are another great way to accomplish the same thing. Hot water opens your pores and the salt carries the toxins away.
Incorporate Additional Healthy Habits
Lessen your stress: In the hectic world we live in, it can be hard to avoid stress. Make sure to unwind and treat yourself well each day. Stress hormones, such as cortisol, are detrimental to your health and path towards detoxification and healing.
Stay away from coffee and cigarettes: Not only are they harmful toxins themselves, but they can also reinforce unhealthy habits that trigger addiction.
Get a massage: This is another great stress-reducer and can aid in the release of toxins from your body.
Get more sleep: Most of us are sleep-deprived. Ideally, you should get eight to nine hours of sleep a night to reduce stress and keep your body in peak health.
Get your family and friends involved: Anyone can take these detox steps to build a healthier life. By participating in this together, you can offer support and help one another to keep everyone on track. SEE: How Rapid Benzodiazepine Detoxification Works
