Matcha Green Tea Detox – What Does Detox Tea Do?

Detoxification

Every day we’re exposed to thousands of chemicals. Perfumes, cleaning products, plastics ^(1,2), smoke, cosmetics, construction material, unhealthy food – to name just a few.

Of course, these products are part of modern living. However, many of these chemicals can also be labelled as toxins. While we can’t avoid these toxins, we can defend against them. Detox (short for detoxication or detoxification) is a popular method. It’s the process of removing toxic substances from your body through natural bodily functions or through a specific diet that includes detox tea or green tea detox.

An ongoing unhealthy and imbalanced modern lifestyle can cause a build-up – or overload – of toxins in our body. We may feel it when we start losing our efficiency to work effectively. Not all the symptoms have one single cause, but a body with too many toxins is likely to experience these sorts of effects: ^(8/9)

• Minor symptoms such as fatigue, allergies, excessive urination, sore throat, or muscle aches
• Major symptoms such as obesity, weight loss problems, or vascular disease

Don’t our bodies already detox on their own?

Yes, to an extent.

The most prominent detoxifier is our liver ⁽¹⁾. This removes both endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external) toxins from our bodies.

The skin is another major organ of detoxification ⁽⁷⁾. Through simple perspiration we flush toxic compounds from our body.

Why it’s so important to detox

Our natural detox systems can only handle so many toxins. Nowadays, we’re taking in toxins faster than we can eliminate them.

The good news is that you can help your body and support its natural detox process:

1. Limit your toxic intake
   Be aware of products containing toxins, and avoid consuming or coming into contact with them as much as possible.
2. Enhance the process of natural detoxification
   This can be through the intake of healthy nutritious food, superfoods, detox drinks, or natural snacks.

A great example of natural detoxication is a (dry or wet) sauna or exercise. The stimulation of perspiration here is an excellent way to enhance or increase your detoxification. ^(14/15)

Plenty of studies have shown the impact of diet and dietary supplements. These can greatly help reduce damage associated with exposure to toxins. ^(3/4/5)

While the intake of detox supplements or drinks is beneficial, it’s not a silver bullet. Other factors such as stress, inactive lifestyle, diet, poverty, alcohol and tobacco consumption ⁽⁶⁾ all have a significant impact. Ultimately, a balanced healthy lifestyle involves a long-term approach rather than a quick fix.

How does a detox work?

Our body contains certain oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons. These molecules are called free radicals, and are highly reactive to other molecules. In turn, they cause a chain chemical reaction called oxidation. This causes damage to our body’s healthy cells ⁽¹⁰⁾.