While some studies have shown that the body is efficient enough at ridding itself of toxins, a detoxifying diet can help expedite the process and assist with weight loss and removal of toxins from the body. Also, for people giving up drugs, alcohol or caffeine, removing trace amounts of these substances can help fight cravings.
Detox diet tips
Drink six to eight glasses of water a day
During exercise and stretching, adequate amounts of water serve as the carrier to remove toxins from body tissue through perspiration. The liver and kidneys rely on water to flush from them the toxins and waste material they collect. Water acts as a solvent to dilute waste products within the body and transport nutrients and chemicals throughout the body.
Use green and herbal tea
Green and herbal teas have a multitude of beneficial effects on the human body. Besides providing cancer-fighting antioxidants, green and herbal teas such as ginger, mint and, aid in digestion, assist with liver function and boost metabolism to expedite the removal of toxins from the body. Things to keep in mind when choosing a tea; decaffeinated teas are a better option for the purpose of detox, and detox specific teas have a laxative effect.
Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
The majority of foods should be fresh fruits and vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower and red and green vegetables. Prepared legumes, non-glutenous grains, and a few unsalted nuts are also beneficial. These foods provide lots of dietary fiber that binds to impacted foods in the colon and helps remove them from the digestive tract.
Avoid unhealthy food
Abstain from alcohol, large amounts of caffeine and fried, barbecued or processed foods. Dairy, wheat, yeast, chocolate and fatty foods should also be avoided. These foods contain preservatives and other substances to be rid of and work against the detox diet if consumed.
Detox diets are thought to be harmless unless nutritional deficiency arises. As with any diet, an important tip to remember is not to go overboard. Binge and purge or extreme diets often fail because they are unmaintainable. Do not starve yourself. A short-term fast can be healthy, but a person still needs to meet basic nutritional needs.
People with health conditions should take particular care when considering detox diet tips, especially diabetics or pregnant mothers. Overall, a detox diet should focus on eliminating processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine, to be replaced with organic and natural foods. All changes in one’s health routine should be done in concert with a doctor’s advice.