In the whirlwind of modern life, we often sacrifice simple, healthy habits—like a good night's sleep or a home-cooked meal—in the name of productivity.
These sacrifices however, can take their toll on our health. Reports indicate that an increasing number of Singaporeans struggle with obesity and its subsequent health effects due to a dependance on fast food. The diversity of affordable, ready-to-eat meals means that we eat out more often, and therefore have little control over what goes into our meals.
This leads to an over-consumption of salt, oils and calories. Fortunately, you can correct these unhealthy eating habits with a detox.
There are several ways to carry out a detox, from juice cleanses to exercises to specialised regimens such as our 4 iconic programmes: the ReCulture 5, ReCulture 10, ReCulture 21 or ReCulture 60. These programmes are designed to help you eat more healthily, and in doing so, help your body release fats from storage, thereby releasing any toxins that may have been stored along with them. To help you determine if you need to have a detox, we’ve listed some of the most significant signs to look out for:
1. Feeling Lethargic
Processed foods are often rich in refined carbohydrates. They’re able to boost energy levels for a short period, but as these sugars rapidly decline, you may feel sleepy, lethargic and lose focus.
To prevent a sugar rush and its subsequent lethargy-inducing effects, you should consider a healthy diet with whole foods. Healthy sources of carbohydrates, like whole grain, tend to release their sugars in a gradual manner, preventing a ‘sugar high’ and its subsequent sluggishness.
2. Difficulty Falling Asleep
A study in the mid to late 1990s uncovered a link between the consumption of refined sugars and sleeplessness. Study subjects who chose to eat white bread, sugary foods and drink soda before bedtime faced higher instances of insomnia.
A sharp decrease in blood sugar levels in the hours following refined sugar consumption stimulates several hormones including cortisol and adrenaline, both of which make you more energised and awake.
As such, if you’re struggling with getting enough sleep or falling asleep, it would be wise to consider a detox diet free of refined sugars.
3. Increased Hair Loss
If you notice more hair getting entangled in your comb, or clumps of hair gathering at the drainpipes after a bath, this may be a sign that you need to adopt a healthier way of eating. A diet lacking in vitamins and minerals has been shown to negatively affect scalp health.
Vitamin deficiency, for example, can be caused by a lack of vegetables and fruits in your diet. A detox diet would remedy this by increasing the amount of vegetables and fruits in your meals. This in turn supplies Vitamins A,B, C, D and E, as well as the minerals iron and zinc that a healthy scalp needs.
4. Irregular Bowel Movements
An unhealthy diet is one that doesn’t supply your body with enough fibre. With inadequate fibre, you may suffer from constipation, which is a sign that your body can’t process food as efficiently as it should. Constipation may also be followed by other symptoms like bloating, belching and excessive passing of gas.
A fibre-rich detox diet can help you overcome the signs and symptoms of constipation. Additionally, you’ll enjoy more regular and comfortable bowel movements.
5. Difficulty Losing Weight
A regular, carbohydrate-heavy diet makes it challenging to lose weight. This is because excess calories in your body will be stored as fat. You need a calorie deficit detox diet to start losing weight effectively.
We’ve designed ReCulture’s programmes to boost metabolism and help your body use up its fat storage, releasing stored toxins as well. With the removal of these toxins, your metabolism will be optimised and you can burn calories more effectively.
The Bottom Line About Detox Diets
Detox diets are a great way to break from the onslaught of unhealthy, processed foods that flood our local food and beverage scene. With a switch in diet, your body will rejuvenate and recalibrate itself, with your systems reset and functioning at their full potential.
If you’re wondering how ReCulture can help you with your detox diet plans, you can always try our ReCulture 5 programme that consists of all natural, whole foods that help stimulate the body’s detoxification process. Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve your health goals in a more organised and well-planned manner.