Fitness
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is a Water Detox?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

A water detox is a kind of detox during which a person consumes only water for a certain period of time. It is one of the most difficult kinds of detoxes to follow because it restricts the body's intake so severely that it is impossible to take in nutrients. As such, a water detox should only be followed with the approval of a doctor or natural health professional. Furthermore, while some kinds of detox systems can be maintained for weeks, a water detox is almost always a short detox that lasts just a matter of days if not 24 hours or less.

Water is one of the most important elements in detoxification. Drinking plenty of water is always important, but especially during a detox. In addition to drinking water, bodily functions that have to do with water are crucial to detoxification. In addition to eliminating waste from the body through the digestive system, water also helps us to detox when we sweat. For this reason, taking warm baths and spending time in a sauna or steam room can be very important during the detoxification process.

Bottled water.
Bottled water.

Some water detox programs require participants to focus on drinking a certain amount of water every day. This is based on the idea that many people take in far too little water on a daily basis. With coffee, tea, juice, and soda as favorite drinks, many people drink little or no water on a daily basis. Therefore, some water detox systems do not limit one's food intake, but only promote an increased intake of water. There are a few equations for the amount of water that a person should drink on a daily basis, but one of the most common ones is a rule that states that people should drink half of their body weight in ounces of water each day.

A woman doing a water detox in a sauna.
A woman doing a water detox in a sauna.

This kind of water detox can help to dilute toxins in the body and boost the functions of the digestive system. It can also help to keep the joints well-lubricated and can help to clear excessive amounts of fat from the bloodstream. Drinking enough water is also crucial to the health of the brain. This is just a list of a few ways that following a water detox — the kind that involves taking in plenty of water — can improve the health and functions of the body.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Bottled water.
      By: monstersparrow
      Bottled water.
    • A woman doing a water detox in a sauna.
      By: omicron
      A woman doing a water detox in a sauna.
    • Only water is consumed for a 24 hour period in order to do a proper water detoxification.
      By: luchshen
      Only water is consumed for a 24 hour period in order to do a proper water detoxification.