You can’t eat junkfood for 360 days a year, and then ‘make up or it’ by taking a short detox diet. But, health experts say, a short and well-planned detox diet can be like spring-cleaning your body. You get rid of some toxins, and jump-start a more holistic and realistic diet. It can also help you feel more energetic. Here are some things to help you decide whether or not you should go on a detox diet, and the best way to go about it.
How to tell a good detox diet from a bad detox diet
A good detox diet shouldn’t you leave you starving, cranky, and weak. You still need calories. So you stil leat, but you get pure, healthy food that is easy to digest—typically vegetables and fruits, and well-selected protein or carbohydrates. This gives your digestive system a chance to rest and reset, while providing your body with enough energy to function throughout the day.
Signs you need a detox diet
Go on a regular detox diet if your lifestyle and diet tends to rely heavily on processed food (ex: you eat fastfood or ‘instant’ food like microwave dinners one or more times week. You can also go on a detox diet if you have hit a weight plateau, or are suffering from constipation or fatigue (even after a full night of sleep).
Choosing a detox diet
Ask two questions before going on a detox diet: ‘Does it provide healthy source of nutrients?’ and ‘How does it remove the toxins from my body?’
What to expect from a detox diet
In general the detox diet starts with a ‘preparation’ phase, where you are asked to stop eating processed food and even drinks (such as coffee and sodas). You will replace these with meals that are made solely from fresh foods. Usually the detox diets involve special recipes, as they combine certain ingredients because of their effect on food digestion and waste removal. Others will ask you to purchase special drinks. It’s up to you to decide which detox diet you prefer. It’s cheaper to make your own food from scratch, but a pre-prepared drink or dish is convenient and consistent.
The detox diet then gradually eases your body back into a more typical eating routine, though you should continue to eat healthy (like a vegetable juice).
Photo from greenlifeweightloss.com