The Detox Diet

Weight loss is indeed the first strategy to adopt to carry out a detox diet. As we already saw in the previous article that certain habits are essential to allow our body to get rid of dangerous toxins, which are mainly stored in fat. Therefore, the first thing we have to do is to eliminate excess fat which is stored in several areas of the body.

Certain habits are also good to adapt to protect the organs like our intestines. They are on the front line from external aggression.

 

[This is a second article in the detox series. If you haven’t read that, it’s here, “Detox: A Guide To Rejuvenation!“]

 

Where are the Toxins Hiding?

Unhealthy eating habits, a poor lifestyle, unbalanced sleep, or a significant source of stress can lead your body to store more fat. And concerning the fat, that’s the one that we can see easily which is stored under our skin – the one that bothers us at the beach. There is also another type of fat we can’t see but delivers catastrophic effects. It’s visceral fat. These organs surrounding fat disrupts the exchange of nutrients in the blood and modifies the proper functioning of metabolisms. This fat is mainly responsible for type 2 diabetes.

When we keep following bad habits i.e. eating unhealthy, another vital organ, out the liver, becomes full of fat and its function decreases. And an accumulation of fat within its ultra-organized structure leads to a decrease in one of its major functions, detoxification.

The premise that detox programs are based upon is by offering you food supplements supposed to improve the functions of your liver and then promised you better health. The truth is, many of these dietary supplements only works great, as long as you’ve already done the essential part on the other side i.e. have taken the problem at its source.

Strong Barriers

Our intestines are confronted with most of the toxins from our environment namely heavy irons, microbes, drugs, alcohol, food additives, preservatives, water pollutants, tobacco, trans fats, and the list goes on and faces so many aggressions. So, we have to be smart and develop an effective strategy to combat this.

The intestines consist of a particularly well-organized mucous membrane or mucosa. The cells, which allow the absorption of nutrients, are extremely tight between them, so as not to let pass harmful substances. These are the tight junctions. Poor eating habits can alter these tight junctions making them wider like open doors, allowing the toxic substances to enter into our body.

Therefore, healthy intestines should be a priority for those who wish to detoxify their body. But the intestine is not limited just to a mucosa, it also consists of an arsenal of “flora”, bacteria willing to help you live well. Without this arsenal, you would not live more than a day. It is therefore essential to bring the right foods for both, protect the lining of your intestine, and to protect bacteria living there. We will also explore certain categories of nutrients that are essential for trapping toxins. We also talk about a “chelating” process, a type of bonding of ions and molecules.

The Basics of the Detox Diet

You may consider drinking only cabbage soup for a week or fasting for a few days. You can also take purgatives to relieve your liver and kidneys. These methods are common and essentially help relieve your awareness. Here are the basics of an effective detoxifying diet, to be followed all year round.

Respect Your Organization

Do you experience bowel pain after a meal? Please note that your body sends you the message that digesting a certain food from your meal requires too much effort. You have to determine which one and remove it from your diet the next time you sit to eat.

Fibers, Your Friends!

Consume fiber every day to take advantage of their role of chelating (trapping) toxins and waste from your body. A diet with less or no fiber can be toxic. On the other hand, you have to be careful not to consume a lot of fibers that you can’t tolerate, causing digestive disorders. Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables provides your body with fibers, vitamins, minerals and lots of water are the basic tools of a good detox!

Pre/Probiotics, Friends of Your Flora

Certain foods are rich in fibers that nourish your flora (prebiotic effect), it is, therefore, necessary to consume stuff like artichoke, garlic, chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, leek, onion, banana, etc. Other foods containing bacteria like probiotic effects necessary for the health of your intestinal flora are fermented products, kefir, yogurt, cheeses, brewer’s yeast, sourdough bread, etc.

Quality Fats and Lots of Protein

Over-consumption of saturated fat, associated with a significant intake of collagen (protein difficult to digest), leads to laborious assimilation, tiring your intestines and giving rise to unpleasant digestive disorders. This can be taken as signs of poor digestive health resulting in flatulence, bloating, fatty stools, etc.

Hydration

It is a well-known fact that drinking water helps you to eliminate toxins. Since alcoholic beverages have a direct impact on the health of the liver. So, we have to avoid them as often as possible.

Lemon Juice

You have certainly heard of the famous lemon juice to be drunk on an empty stomach. It is indeed a good reflex when you want to do a detox diet. Indeed, lemon juice is naturally diuretic, which promotes the elimination of toxins. At the same time, it is also a powerful stimulant of bile production, which promotes detoxification of the liver. Drink each morning, about 30 minutes before your breakfast, half a squeezed lemon diluted in lukewarm water.

A Healthy Lifestyle

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is by far the best detox diet you can follow. Here are some tips.

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day
• Drink at least 3 liters of fluids per day: water and tea
• Eat fruits and vegetables every day
• Squeeze half a lemon, mix it with lukewarm water and drink this mixture every morning upon rising
• Get regular physical activity
• Limit your alcohol consumption on special occasions
• Avoid processed foods (ready meals, pastries, etc.) absolutely
• Consume regularly food supplements for detoxification
• Eat 4 small meals a day and avoid large meals that are difficult to digest
• Drink mainly between meals

The “EXPRESS” Detox

Did you party all weekend or did the end-of-year meals put you flat? In this case, opt for an “express detox” in order to eliminate as much waste as possible in the shortest possible time.

For 3 consecutive days, follow this protocol:

• Drink the juice of half a squeezed lemon mixed with lukewarm water as soon as you get up
• Eat a salad made up of the following ingredients twice a day (midday and evening): black radish, artichoke, fresh spinach, cabbage red, kale, and apple. Season with apple cider vinegar and a level tablespoon of olive oil. Do not use salt. Adjust the amount of the ingredients according to your body size and appetite.
• Drink at least 2 liters of green tea (hot or cold)
• Consume a food supplement for detoxifying the liver at both meals (the recommended daily dose for each meal)

After these 3 days, resume a normal and balanced diet. Do not succumb to the temptation to eat confectionery, pastries, or fast food. If you do so, then all your efforts towards reaching your goals by the means of detox diet will be futile.