Time to detoxify!

Detox diets are thought to result in:

· Clearer skin
· Reduction of acne
· Brighter eyes
· Increased energy levels
· Improved concentration levels
· Weight loss
· Reduced bloating
· Reduction of cellulite
· Improved mood
· Better sleep

In fact I have read several true life stories of people that have experienced these benefits after being on a detox diet. I really could do with ALL of the above results!

I started a detox diet yesterday (which I will write about in the next blog entry) as I was fed up of the way I was feeling and looking and decided it was time to detoxify! I have had low energy, lack of motivation to exercise, acne, dull, tired looking eyes, dull looking skin, food cravings (especially for sweet foods) and have been finding it hard to lose weight.

Principles of detox diets:

The main principles of detox diets are to eliminate foods that are known to cause food intolerance and foods that are quite toxic that make the digestive system work harder and to eat natural, unprocessed, highly nutritious foods that will also aid your digestion, so that the body will get rid of a lot of the built up toxins. The duration of detox diets usually varies from 2-28 days.

Non-organic fruits and vegetables contain pesticides, a build up of which can be toxic to the body, so it is best to buy mainly organic produce when going on a detox diet. However, if you cannot afford organic foods, you can wash the fruits and vegetables with water (no soap) each for at least 10 seconds which gets rid of some of the pesticide residues, or you can buy a fruit and vegetable washer from most health food stores. Even if you do not include any organic foods in your detox diet, you will still gain some of the benefits – and it is better than eating a diet full of processed foods! When going on a detox diet you must make sure that you are eating a variety of foods each day so that you consume all of the nutrients to meet your body’s needs. There are some good detox books that contain lots of highly nutritious, delicious looking recipes, which have been balanced for nutrient content. It is also important to drink plenty of water, at least 6 glasses per day.

When is it a good time to detoxify?

You can detoxify at any time you like! Of course some times will be better than others, for example it is probably best to not go on a detoxifying diet during a stressful time such as just before and during exams. A good time to detoxify will be just before or after a holiday period. Many people go on a detox in January, after the overeating and drinking that they do at Christmas! You should not go on a detox diet for longer than a month, without the advise of a nutrition therapist, nutritionist or dietician, as you need to ensure that you are getting all of the nutrients that your body needs

The things I really like about the detox diet

The things I really like about this kind of diet are that you don’t have to count calories (even though in my head I do anyway!), no weighing of foods is required, you get to eat a variety of delicious natural foods – which taste far better than processed foods, you can experiment with foods and create new dishes, and you don’t feel hungry!

Foods to eliminate on a detox diet include:

· Caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, chocolate)
· Sugar (table sugar, sweets, chocolate, cakes)
· Salt
· Artificial additives, preservatives and sweeteners
· Carbonated drinks
· Oils, hydrogenated
· Ready made meals
· Fried foods
· Wheat products (wheat bread, pasta, noodles, wheat crackers, cakes, biscuits)
· White rice
· Dairy products (eggs, milk, cheese, yogurts)
· Alcohol
· Meat
· Fish

Foods you can eat on a detox diet include:

· Fruits
· Dried fruits (without added sulphur is best)
· Vegetables
· Fresh herbs
· Nuts
· Seeds
· Pulses (better dried than canned)
· Bean sprouts
· Grains: brown rice, buckwheat, millet, rye, quinoa
· Non-wheat bread: rye, pumpernickel, oat cakes, rice cakes
· Dips and spreads: tahini, home made hummus
· Water (preferably mineral or filtered)
· Herbal teas
· Fruit and vegetable juices (pure, freshly squeezed)
· Home made smoothies
· Oils, cold pressed
· Plant based milks: almond, rice and sesame

Links:

Detox diet in wikipedia

The detox diet in About

Detox special in ivillage

Deepak Chopra

Wheat-free.org

Detox.org