If you've been trying your hardest to lose weight with no success, there may be a reason for this which isn’t so obvious. Toxins stored in the body can prevent weight loss!
When your body burns off fat, any toxins which have been stored in these cells (and fat cells are exceptionally prone to storing toxins) are released as the cells are lysed and metabolized by the liver's enzymes. When you lose a significant amount of weight, you can flood your system with these stored toxins.
Toxins may enter the body in many ways. There are environmental pollutants found in the air and water, pesticides, chemicals and hormones in foods and the list goes on and on.
These toxins have many different negative effects on your body.
1. Toxins can cause damage on the cellular level by harming the mitochondria; these are the intracellular bodies that produce energy. The mitochondria in your liver and muscles are responsible for metabolizing fat into energy.
2. Toxins can cause an imbalance in the hormones released by the thyroid gland, the part of the endocrine system which is responsible for metabolic regulation. The thyroid is particularly important for metabolizing fats and carbohydrates.
3. Some of these toxins can prevent the proper function of the hormone leptin, which is produced by fat cells and is responsible for the storage and use of energy; it also plays a role in telling the brain that you are full. When this hormone is prevented from working properly, it can lead to overeating and thus weight gain.
Paradoxically, burning off excess weight in the form of fat can make the problem worse. As fat cells are metabolized and converted into energy, toxins stored in these cells are released and can overload the liver, causing your metabolism to slow down. Naturally, a slower metabolism makes you more disposed to gaining weight and makes losing weight harder. You can try to adapt by limiting your caloric intake, but this will only cause your metabolic rate to decrease further! This can set off an unwinnable contest between you and your own metabolism.
In order to break this cycle, detoxifying your body is essential. Certain vitamins and herbs can help your body to detoxify and eliminate these harmful toxins. A daily 15 minutes in a sauna can also help to detoxify your body, especially in conjunction with drinking plenty of (filtered) water. This will detoxify your system and help you lose weight, get healthier looking skin and feel better all around.
