The 4 Stages of Detoxification when you Start Intermittent Fasting
During your first approximately 30 days of intermittent fasting — if you follow the advice that I can give you, this is what is happening in your body.
Detoxification Stage 1
On the first day of fasting, your blood sugar level drops. Your heart rate slows, and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from your muscles which could cause some weakness. The first wave of cleansing can be the the worst. Headaches, dizziness nausea, bad breath, and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period. My best tip for you is if you feel any of these effects (some people don’t) is a couple of grains of organic pink Himalayan salt under your tongue or in your coffee will help. What you may be lacking is electrolyte balance and in this natural mineral you will gain 6 of the electrolytes your body needs
Detoxification Stage 2
Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the glyceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily, as rancid oils can be purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. The breath is still foul smelling, and your tongue may be coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted faeces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.
Detoxification Stage 3
You will experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of our body’s increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the original break, the body’s ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food or unhealthy diet, the body’s natural healing ability was compromised. During fasting, the body’s healing process is at optimum efficiency.
As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs.
Detoxification Stage 4
The body is completely adapting to the fasting process. You will experience energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink, and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are often felt at this time. Your memory and concentration improve.
So, there you have it. There are amazing happenings going on right there inside your body and all this happens within the first approximately 30 days. It is mind blowing that this is going on inside your body.
You can read all about this and a lot more in my book Intermittent Fasting, No Diets Involved available from Amazon Worldwide
