The Toxic Effect of Dehydration: No Detox Diet will work without Proper Fluids

It is easy to think of dehydration as a result of extreme lack of fluids, such as the parched cowboy crawling across the dessert with an empty canteen. However, as soon as you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated to a certain extent and your body is signaling you to give it fluids. Even people experienced with detoxification may be surprised to find out how many of their efforts do not live up to their potential because of a lack of hydration. No matter what detox diet or cleansing program you choose, it will not work if you do not provide your body with the water necessary to flush your system.

Two young women were on a weekend excursion when they decided to indulge in a detox massage. When they were finished and feeling very relaxed, the massage therapist warned them to drink plenty of fluids because the detoxification process of the massage would release the toxins into their system and if they did not drink enough fluids in order to eliminate the toxins, they would build up in the system. The women were young and skeptical. Instead of heeding the advice, they continued with their day of shopping and playing tennis.

After a couple of hours, they both had symptoms of fatigue, aches, stomach discomfort, and they generally felt bad. They remembered what they were told about staying hydrated and made a point to drink the water which eventually pulled them out of their discomfort. This made them believers about the benefits of massage for detox, and more importantly, the need to flush released toxins immediately from the body.

Water is needed for any detox process. Every cell in your body contains systems of transport that are completely dependent on sufficient amounts of water. The entire process of moving substances in and out of the cellular membrane is a complex chemical exchange dependent on the proper balance of chemicals, including water. No matter which part of the body is being targeted for detoxification, the point is to get the toxic substances out of the area and out of the body. How can this be done if there is not a way to flush it away? Have you ever tried to clean a pot or pan with inadequate water pressure? It makes cleaning much more difficult. However, providing proper fluids allows for toxins to be swept away and eliminated, rather than reabsorbed.

For example, the kidney is a complex unit that cleans the blood and relieves the body of toxins on a regular basis. The blood is passed through the Bowman’s capsule within the kidney’s nephron. A series of tubules then use diffusion to allow toxins to be forced away to the ureter and eventually out of the body as urine. It also allows for the beneficial substances to be reabsorbed and returned to the blood stream. It is hard to conceive that these complex chemical reactions occur constantly within tiny parts of the small organs. And yet, we all know how important the kidneys are. Water is key to the proper functioning of this process.

It is easy for a layman to see that a person who has not had much to drink will produce urine that is saturated with deeply colored and pungent toxins whereas a person who stays well hydrated is able to readily eliminate their toxins from the kidneys because the adequate supply of water allows for the easy elimination of toxins and produces a light colored byproduct with less smell.

No matter which detox diet, kidney cleansing regime, or colon cleansing method you use; pay close attention to your intake of water. Getting the toxins out of the organ is not enough. Provide enough water so that your body can completely eliminate the toxic substances.