Detox Diet Ideas

There are several types of detox diets. There are those in which you can only eat fruits and vegetables, those in which you can only eat “clean” foods, those in which you can only drink fruit and vegetable juice, and the most extreme type where you can only drink water. You can also do specialized cleanses designed specifically for certain area of the body, for instance the liver, kidneys, blood or lungs. However, most detox diets just involve cleansing the entire body. Below, there is a sample of a seven day detox diet that you can try.

First of all, it is important that you have regular bowel movements during a detox because this will lessen the likelihood of toxins being reabsorbed by the body. A good way to make sure you will eliminate regularly is to take 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds in lemon water in the morning, and drink lemon water throughout the day. Flax seeds provide the body with fiber and lemon water has a slightly laxative effect.

It is also important to drink enough fluids on a cleanse. You should try to include at least 8 glasses of water daily to ensure that you are allowing toxins to be flushed out.

A sample menu of a detox diet follows below. This is a diet that allows some food, since this tends to be easier for beginners. Remember, you can modify this to fit your needs and preferences.

UPON RISING

·1/2 lemon squeezed into a glass of warm water

·1 tablespoon of bentonite clay and 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds in a glass of water

BREAKFAST

·breakfast smoothie made with pear, rice milk and rice protein powder

·supplements: vitamin C

SNACKS

·apple juice diluted with water

·water

·vegetable broth

·supplements: milk thistle

·celery sticks and hummus

LUNCH

·chunky vegetable soup made with vegetable stock and your choice of vegetables

·steamed broccoli with sesame seeds and beets sprinkled with lemon juice on brown rice

·apple sauce

·supplements: multivitamin

SNACKS

·dandelion root tea

·carrot sticks with hummus dip

·water

·supplements: milk thistle

DINNER

·curried lentils on quinoa

·salad with mixed greens, red peppers, artichokes and sprouts drizzled with salad dressing of garlic, lemon juice and olive oil

·vegetable broth

BEFORE BED

·1 tablespoon of bentonite clay and 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds in a glass of water

This can be followed for up to seven days. Have fun, and remember to be careful, because while you should expect to feel sluggish and slightly ill, if you are feeling very ill or fatigued, contact your doctor.

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Detox Diet: A Basic Understanding

Detoxification occurs in our bodies daily. Our internal organs, the colon, liver and intestines, help our bodies eliminate toxic and harmful matter from our bloodstreams and tissues. Often, our systems become overloaded with waste. Today’s over processed foods and environmental pollutants can easily overwhelm our delicate systems and cause toxic matter to build up in our bodies. 

Detox diets are designed to help your body rid itself of the toxic matter buildup and lose weight. If you feel sluggish, have frequent colds, digestive problems or just aren’t feeling your best, you may have a toxicity issue. A detox diet will help you clean the harmful matter from your body and lose weight. 

A detox diet will help your body by increasing stamina and energy, making the digestive process easier, increasing mental clarity and decreasing allergies. Most detox diets don’t involve weird or unhealthy foods, simply fresh and whole foods like fruits and vegetables. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, except grapefruit. Enzymes in grapefruit interfere with the proper functioning of enzymes in the liver, so they should not be used during detox diets. 

Fresh vegetables are also great on the detox diet. The best vegetables for detoxing are broccoli, garlic, artichokes, beets, cauliflower and red and green vegetables. Avoid corn products, as corn often contains allergens. Rice is also acceptable on a detox diet, and beans, nuts and seeds are great as well. 

Drink plenty of water, about 6 to 8 glasses a day to aid the body in flushing out toxins. A hydrated body helps your body organs to function in an optimal fashion. 

A simple detox diet plan may just involve staying off meat for a couple of days. For a more detailed plan, consult a professional on what to eat for each meal during the detox period. 

Using a detox diet plan can help maximize your health, reduce your weight, and help you feel more energetic and rested. Try a detox diet for a few days. You’ll be surprised how much lighter you’ll feel.

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Detox Diets – The Next Diet Fad

If you have been on the diet front lately, you have probably heard of detox diets. Basically, detox diets are the next big player in the fad diet game. Like Atkins, Southbeach, even the cabbage diet, different detox diets are popping up all over the internet and in bookstores. What exactly are detox diets, do they work, and are detox diets safe?

The premise behind detox diets is that your body is full of toxins, many of which come from the foods you eat. A basic detox diet will have you fast for a certain period of time, which means you will not eat at all. You will then only eat specific foods that are believed to be toxin free, completely refraining from other foods, such as sugar, red meat, wheat, and eggs. Most detox diets also call for a cleansing process during which colonics, or enemas, are used or herbal colon cleansers.

It is important to understand that detox diets are not really designed for weight loss; instead they are to cleanse your body of harmful toxins. The goal should not be to lose weight. Secondly, there is a great deal of controversy over these diets and whether they are safe.

For the most part, the diets are meant to be relatively short term, or at least the most stringent part is. You will only be required to fast and undergo body cleansing for a few days. Anything longer will definitely cause health problems. Fasting for any length of time will cause nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, dehydration, and possibly eating disorders. Likewise, the colon cleansers that are used to rid the body of waste are basically laxatives that can also cause dehydration and nutritional deficiencies if used in excess. So it would seem that you are doing something very dangerous, but because you only do it for a short time, they try to pick out the potential beneficial aspects of it.

While healthy people may be able to go on a detox diet, not have any complications, and potentially even benefit from it, a person that is not at their best should see a doctor before taking part in it. Likewise, children and teenagers should not go on a detox diet because their bodies still need a certain number of calories and fat grams to maintain healthy growth and optimal development. If there is any question, see you doctor before starting any diet plan.

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