Veggie Blog

How a detox body wrap works: what it can and cannot do

Feeling good about yourself is not just about having an attractive outward appearance. Most people still believe that beauty shines from within. Being pretty on the outside is no guarantee that you are healthy inside too.

It is quite common for people to eat all kinds of food, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and much more. You may be one of those people who still do not know the harm some of these habits cause, or who choose to ignore it.

When a person drinks alcohol, eats foods with preservatives or additives, or smokes, unwanted substances enter the body. The body has its own natural way of detoxifying them: the liver breaks them down, and the waste leaves the body in the urine and stool.

Detox products are based on the idea that, in the long run, toxins inside your body build up because its normal way of detoxifying them is no longer enough. Supporters say this leads to hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies and a slow metabolism. There is no good scientific evidence for this; in a healthy person the liver and kidneys keep up.

Symptoms like lethargy, allergies, occasional pains and dull skin are often blamed on accumulated toxins. They have many other possible causes, so if they persist, see a doctor rather than assuming you need a detox.

Body wraps are now offered to people who want a detox treatment. The bandages are soaked in a specially formulated solution, often made from sea clay, which acts like a large poultice. The makers say the clay draws out toxins and tightens the skin and the tissue underneath, leaving it firmer and smoother.

How is a body wrap supposed to detox the body? According to its makers, toxins have built up for years around and between the cells, and their amount grows depending on a person’s lifestyle.

The wrap is applied tightly over your whole body, and the makers say it reshapes the fat cells, which results in inch loss. People who want to lose inches from their thighs, buttocks and other parts of the body use body wraps for almost immediate results. In reality, the inches lost come mainly from compression and from water leaving the tissues, so they return within a day or two. A wrap is not a way to lose fat or weight.

The solution is said to pass through the pores of your skin until it reaches the toxins, which then either come out into the bandages or are flushed out. There is no good evidence that this happens. What you can expect is skin that feels smoother and tighter for a few days.

Because a tight, warm wrap makes you sweat, it can dehydrate you, so drink plenty of water before and after the treatment. You do not need to wash off the wrap solution straight away.

Your body clears waste products on its own, every day, whether you use a wrap or not. The harm done by an unhealthy lifestyle is better tackled by changing that lifestyle.

You can choose among the many body detox wraps available, in different brands. Some offer money-back guarantees to promote their products, and most of them promise inch loss within 30 days. Treat such promises with caution.

Not everyone should use a body wrap. People with phlebitis, emphysema, heart problems or high blood pressure, as well as pregnant women, should not use one, and anyone with a health condition should ask a doctor first.

A body wrap can be a relaxing spa treatment, but it is not a cure for disease. For real long-term benefits, focus on what you eat and drink, exercise regularly and avoid smoking.