Answer: Yes, detox can make you stink. Body odor from alcohol detox is a side effect of the detox process, but one that should not typically cause alarm. Fortunately, this odor does not usually linger beyond the detox process.
The Bottom Line
What comes out of your body when you detox? Numerous waste products such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, excess sebum, dead skin cells, and industrial toxins. Your body can signal you it needs to detox with signs such as fatigue, poor sleep quality, infrequent bowel movements, and skin issues.
The diverse list of detox symptoms includes — but isn't limited to! — fatigue, headaches, body aches, nausea, brain fog and irritability. You may also experience acne or skin irritation because your skin is a large exit pathway for toxins.
Sweat also contains many components similar to urine, which is why we can smell more of it when detoxing! Over time, toxins come into our body from our environment and the unhealthy food that we have eaten, and are eliminated through our sweat and other bodily fluids, causing a stronger than normal odor.
Once the cleanse is over, people report feeling better than ever, being more focussed, energized and rejuvenated. Suddenly the food tastes better, digestion is more efficient and the bowel movements are regular. The skin is clearer, the eyes are whiter and the body is toned.
A true metabolic detoxification is a full cycle of the three stages, and that takes time. We need at least 10 days to effectively support our bodies to be better at removing toxins, and even longer if you're particularly toxic or have never done a metabolic detox before.
Symptoms tend to mimic the flu: fatigue, nausea, headaches, dizziness, bloating, digestive issues, chills, elevated heart rate, brain fog, and increased joint and muscle pain. Taken together, these symptoms are known as the Jarisch–Herxheimer Reaction, sometimes called herxing or retoxing.
One of the most effective ways to detox your body naturally without turning to an ineffective juice cleanse is through sweating. When sweating, your body is flushing out toxins such as alcohol, cholesterol, and heavy metals such as mercury, nitrates, and perchlorate.
Drinking water is one of the best and fastest ways to flush out toxins from your system. Water transports toxins through your system via your bloodstream, making sure they're expelled from your body. Try to get the recommended 8 glasses of water per day (tip: herbal tea counts towards your water intake, too!).
Armpit detoxification may help reduce the amount of sweat and odor these glands produce. Armpit detoxification becomes necessary thanks to traditional antiperspirants, which often use aluminum-based compounds to clog sweat ducts.
Common Frequencies for Detoxification
Some people detox once a week, others once a month, and others just a few times per year. If you're frequently experiencing symptoms of toxicity, such as fatigue, moodiness, mental fog, and abdominal bloating, more frequent detoxing is a smart choice.
Detox triggers a state of imbalance in the patient's brain. This imbalance can result in anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation in severe cases. The patient will also feel fatigued.
Do detoxing once in a week, and that's the key to healthy life. No matter how strong your will power is, undertaking detoxing for 5 or more days can be an unrealistic task,” says Shreya Katyal.
Detox programs tend to last anywhere from three days to two weeks. Many different factors play into how long each specific detox program lasts. The main factor is which substance(s) was/were being abused. Some substances are able to be removed from the system faster than others.
At 1am is when our liver energy starts to flow, and the liver is the main detoxifying organ in the body.
A 3 to 7 day detox will clean your pipes of excess mucus, food wastes, sludge, old fecal matter, and inorganic mineral deposits. A detox routine requires you to eat light foods that soothe the system and don't take a toll on your body during digestion. Even a short fast eliminates toxins from your body.
Second, you will find you will need to urinate more frequently and may perhaps experience loose stools, both of which can be dehydrating to the body. It is commonly understood that dehydration causes headache, and that liver cleansing can cause dehydration.
Citrus Fruits: Fruits like grapefruit, oranges, limes and lemons all boost the liver's cleansing ability. Even consumed in small amounts (we know some of these can be tart!), citrus fruits help the liver to produce the detoxifying enzymes that flush out pollutants.
Detoxing is a process. You may feel extra smelly for a few days, but it will pass. Drink extra water and enjoy a clean diet. A little sweat is good for you.
Expect to Detox
If you've been using conventional deodorant or antiperspirant for years, it can take 2-4 weeks to detox and release all of the aluminum in your pits that's been preventing you from sweating. During this time, you might notice that you're a little more stinky than usual.
“The liver and kidneys really take care of detoxing the body from any harmful chemicals. There's no way to get them out of the sweat glands or out of the skin.” There's no evidence that toxins can be physically pulled out of the skin or deeper layers of tissue.