Detox drinks are one of the trendiest ways to diet. However, having the phrase detox on a product can mean a variety different things. If it is a tea, then it will most likely have a diuretic effect, dietary supplements in tablets – a mild laxative, face masks – cleansing and antibacterial properties, similar to mud masks. Further, cosmetics manufacturers make detox masks, and cleansers and they certainly do a detox.
But, as you know, beauty begins from the inside, and therefore a detox diet should be the first step in cleansing the body.
Detox can be described as a nutritional system which cleanses the body of toxins, and helps you get rid of excess weight.
Is detox good for your health?
On one hand, modern medicine refutes the idea that vegetable juices or OTC (over-the-counter) supplements can rid the body of toxins. Various manufacturers take advantage of a low level of knowledge by selling completely inadequate products under the detox label (e.g. “detox soap”).
On the other hand, the sources of information about detox, like ancient Indian teachings, do not say that cleansing the body consists in drinking a glass of juice and smearing a mud mask on the face. The emphasis is on a comprehensive combination of yoga, breathing exercises and a special diet that suits you.
Detox diet: for body and mind
What is a detox diet? It is a short period of dietary change aimed at removing waste products and toxins from the body. Such a diet relieves the digestive system, liver and kidneys, allowing them to cope with the processing and elimination of toxic substances naturally. The result is the normalization of digestion, an improvement in the condition of the skin, strengthening of the body’s defenses, overall health improvement, reduction in the manifestations of allergies and increased efficiency of body systems. Weight loss is just a “side effect” of this diet. It improves metabolism and kidney function, as a result of which excess fluid leaves, and food is absorbed more efficiently. But still, the main goal of a detox diet is to get rid of harmful substances that, accumulating day after day, poison the body and prevent it from working to its full potential.
The detox diet is not a new invention. The basic principles of such a diet were developed at the end of the 19th century by the Austrian nutritionist Felix Mayer. He developed a whole system for cleansing the body – in addition to proper nutrition, it included massage, bathing in thermal springs and exercising. The system was very popular.
Needless to say, it is still relevant these days. Patients of Felix Mayer did not know anything about the processed produce stuffed with preservatives, they ate mainly natural products, lived in the quiet of country estates, and not in the center of a polluted metropolis. For this reason, our contemporaries need a detox diet even more than Victorian aristocrats.
Important!
If you are taking any medication, be sure to talk with your doctor about a detox diet. Some drugs are incompatible with this diet.
Where did detox come from?
The idea that the body needs to be cleansed of toxins comes from yoga and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda). According to this teaching, undigested food and “undigested” emotions remain in the body, becoming sources of various inflammations and provoking diseases.
In order for the energy of life to circulate freely and unhindered in the human body, Ayurveda recommends regular yoga classes and a vegetarian diet. In some cases, fasting days on vegetable juices are recommended. This is where the concept of a “detox” is born.
Detox in Ayurveda
According to yoga teachings, incompletely digested food provokes a number of unpleasant symptoms, ranging from bloating and heartburn, ending with skin problems (acne and redness), back pain (a malfunctioning stomach “harms” the back) and even cancer.
To normalize metabolism, it is recommended to follow a vegetarian diet, refuse sweets, alcohol and nicotine. In addition, medicinal plants (primarily aloe), herbal teas (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger), as well as juices of green vegetables consumed on an empty stomach can help.
Positive effect on the body
The abilities to control stress through yoga and remove accumulated toxins and waste in the body through a healthy diet, and regular fasting have a positive effect not only on metabolism, but also on the body’s ability to fight various diseases.
However, if you ignore yoga and diet and instead focus on the hyped aloe detox pills and vibrant goji berry detox smoothies, you’re not getting neither body nor mind healthier.
Home detox
The first element of a home detox is a fasting day that is done at least once a month. If you regularly feel a heavy stomach, nausea, and burning sensation, learn to give your body room to breathe and recover – skip any solid food for 24 hours or start practicing intermittent fasting.
After you have successfully spent several fasting days on water and sugar-free herbal teas (chamomile, ginger, cardamom, fennel, basil), move on to light vegetable juices. Local green vegetables (cucumbers and cabbage) are preferred over sweet exotic fruits.
Key Rules of a Successful Detox Diet
How and when to detox so that it brings as much benefit as possible without harming the body? Here are the most basic rules for a detox diet at home:
- It is better to prepare for a detox diet in advance so that the entrance is smooth and does not shock the body. A couple of weeks (or more) before starting the diet, start reducing the amount of fried, starchy foods, spicy and salty foods, give up alcohol and coffee. Stick to a diet – you should have dinner 3 hours before bedtime. A week before starting your diet, cut back on meat and fish by replacing them with vegetables, beans, cereals and dairy products. Desserts can be replaced with fresh fruit detox smoothies with added probiotics to support bowel function.
- Once you start your diet, start every morning with a glass of cool or room temperature water and a slice of lemon – this will help the digestive system “wake up” and speed up the process of removing toxins.
- Don’t plan on a detox diet during periods of intense exercise. Exams, time sensitive assignments at work, fuss while preparing for a vacation or a wedding is not the best time for such a diet as well. Detox involves not only dietary restrictions, but also good rest. Choose quiet days and try to get yourself 8 hours of sleep.
- Combine your diet with other measures. For example, a visit to the spa. Treatments such as massages, body wraps, and sauna detox will be the most effective. In addition, they will enhance the results of the diet. Do not give up on moderate physical activity – walk, swim in the pool, ride a bike.
- Remember, a detox diet is not the same as fasting. You don’t have to suffer and feel uncomfortable. Make a meal plan and detox menu and stick to it. The optimal eating schedule is at least 5-6 times a day, but the portions should be small. Fold your palms in a boat – the resulting volume will be the maximum volume of each of your portions.
- Don’t forget about water. Drinking a lot during the detox diet will help your kidneys work. You should drink a little over half a gallon of fluid daily. In addition to water, you can drink herbal teas, detox juices, cocktails and smoothies.
- Start small. There are detox diets of varying lengths, but if you’re not used to limiting yourself, don’t set the bar too high. Start cleansing with a 3 Day Detox Diet. The next one may be longer – 7 days. The 10 Day Detox is already quite a challenge for those who frequently purify their bodies.
- Do not overdo it. A detox diet should not be done more than once every 4 weeks.
- Before starting a detox diet, talk to your therapist. Some diseases of the internal organs, as well as acute inflammation and infections, can be a contraindication for such a diet. Avoid detoxification during pregnancy and lactation, or if your blood sugar is low.
Permitted products. Eat to improve your health!
So, what foods should a proper detox diet be based on? Cleansing the body involves in large part consumption of plant foods, so a detox diet is often referred to as vegan. Here’s what you can eat with almost no restrictions:
- Broccoli. This vegetable is packed with folate, vitamin C, and fiber.
- Beets. They help restore the body’s iron stores and help the liver function.
- Grapes. A real storehouse of trace elements – it contains potassium, phosphorus, iron, manganese and magnesium. Pectins in grapes remove heavy metals, and enzymes improve the absorption of nutrients from food and accelerate digestion.
- Asparagus. It contains coumarin – a substance that improves the activity of blood vessels and the heart. It is a source of vitamin B6, which normalizes blood sugar levels. In addition, asparagus has a mild diuretic effect.
- Citruses. Provide the body with vitamin C, and the digestive tract with the fiber its needs.
- Bell peppers. Extremely rich in vitamins C and A, improves the functioning of the digestive tract and pancreas.
- Bananas. Energize and provide an adequate supply of potassium and magnesium.
- Apples. They contain quite rare vitamin P, iron and a large amount of easily digestible fructose. In addition, they, like grapes, contain pectins, which help rid the body of heavy metals.
- Artichokes. They have choleretic properties, improve metabolic processes and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Pomegranates. Rich in vitamins C, P and E, they improve blood circulation.
- Cucumber. It has a mild diuretic effect.
- Seaweed. It is a source of iodine, which our nervous system needs.
- Dried fruits. They contain all the same vitamins and minerals as fresh fruits, but in a higher concentration. Sugary dried fruits can help reduce dessert cravings while dieting. But they are very high in calories, so you shouldn’t get carried away with them.
- Small quantities of cereals. They quickly satiate and result in a feeling of fullness that lasts for a while. Almost all cereals contain B vitamins.
All of these products are extremely effective in cleansing the body. You can add other vegetables and fruits as desired. During a long (7 days or more) detox, you can also eat one boiled egg or steam omelet, a small portion of cottage cheese or lean fish, grilled or steamed, once a day. The dishes should be seasoned with olive or sesame oil, and lemon juice.
Popular detox diets
There are several options for a detox diet.
Detox diets are distinguished by duration, calculated for 1, 3, 7 and 10 days. The longer the diet, the more pronounced its effect. A one-day detox diet is very easily tolerated, such a fasting day can be arranged weekly to maintain the body’s work, it practically does not require preparation. A one-day detox can be done the day after a hearty meal. A detox diet, which lasts 3 days, already allows you to remove a significant part of toxins and get rid of edema. 7- and 10-day diets are not only designed to cleanse, but also to speed up regeneration.
A detox diet can be completely liquid, in which case detox smoothies, juices and herbal teas are the basis. This type of diet is good for the stomach and intestines.
In recent years, a “raw” detox diet gained popularity. During the course of this diet you can eat any fruits and vegetables, provided that they have not been heat-treated.
Some people prefer mono detox diets, during which only one food is allowed – for example, apples or carrots – but without any restrictions. Mono-diets have a significant disadvantage – with such a diet, the body receives a lot of some vitamins and minerals but lacks substances that are not contained in the selected product. In addition, the monotonous diet quickly becomes boring.
Detox for 1 day and 3 days: menu options
1-day detox
- Breakfast: apple, celery and lemon juice smoothie.
- Lunch: vegetable soup made from carrots, zucchini, celery, tomatoes and cabbage. Add a couple of garlic cloves, parsley, and black pepper for flavor.
- Afternoon snack: banana, strawberry and apple smoothies.
- First dinner: grain bread with grilled zucchini and bell peppers, a glass of chamomile tea.
- Second dinner: apple baked with raisins and prunes.
3-day detox
The first day:
- Breakfast: whole grapefruit.
- Lunch: boiled brown rice, seasoned with any boiled vegetables.
- Afternoon snack: smoothie made from half a banana, kiwi and sour apple.
- First dinner: fruit salad with kiwi, apple, grapes and pineapple. Use lemon juice as a dressing.
- Second dinner: boiled egg, a glass of thyme tea.
Second day
- Breakfast: unsweetened yoghurt with cereal and dried apricots.
- Lunch: lentil soup.
- Afternoon snack: two medium-sized oranges.
- First dinner: salad from various types of leafy vegetables with cucumbers, carrots and olive oil dill dressing.
- Second supper: a glass of pomegranate juice.
Third day
- Breakfast: freshly squeezed apple juice.
- Lunch: vegetable soup.
- Afternoon snack: unsweetened cottage cheese with prunes.
- First supper: oatmeal.
- Second diner: salad of boiled beets and fresh cabbage.
The most important thing in a detox diet is a systematic approach. Of course, after following on it for three days, you will already notice a difference in well-being, but if you return to your previous lifestyle after the diet, the effect will not last long. Cleansing the body should be done regularly. Better one detox a day, but monthly, than a 7-day beauty and health fast, but once a year.
Contraindications
It is important to remember that even a typical diuretic detox tea bought in a regular store can have a number of contraindications. If a tea contains the cassia plant (senna), then it is strictly prohibited in the presence of stomach ulcers and a number of other diseases, since it can cause bleeding.
Choose only those teas and dietary supplements that contain information about the composition of the product on the packaging and be sure to check every unfamiliar ingredient. The fact that these drugs are sold without a doctor’s prescription does not at all guarantee that they cannot harm your health.
Detox recipes: healthy and tasty!
Detox recipes can be fun and delicious. The main thing is to use a little imagination.
Let’s take a look at simple and affordable home methods for cleansing the body of toxins.
LEMON CUCUMBER DETOX WATER
Add lemon and cucumber slices to water and let it set to maximize the nutrients released into the detox water.
Drinking lemon water in the morning starts the body off with balanced digestion after resting for 8 hours without food or water and boosts liver function.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR WEIGHT LOSS DRINK
A zesty blend of apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and water to rid the body of unhealthy bacteria. Drinking apple cider vinegar mixed with water is one of the best things for weight loss.
LEMON CAYENNE PEPPER WATER
This detoxing drink is slightly spicy with a sweet combination of cayenne pepper, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger and Stevia liquid drops.
Cayenne pepper is spicy and burns in a good way! Like most spicy foods, cayenne pepper is fantastic to rev-up the metabolism! This recipe has metabolism boosting ingredients and anti-inflammatory properties from fresh ginger, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar.
GREEN DETOX JUICE FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Fresh detox green juice made of cucumbers, celery, ginger, romaine lettuce, and lemon to promotes body cleansing and assists in weight loss!
Drinking green juice is a quick and deliciously hydrating way to get a few doses of daily vegetables in! It is one of the best juice cleanse for weight loss to add to your existing diet.
Detox drinks are a favorite wellness beverage of mine with green juice ranking in the top.
While detox teas and detox juices alone are not capable of ridding the body of toxins, regularly cleansing the body with fasting and herbal treatments and managing stress levels with yoga are important ways to stay healthy and stay youthful.
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