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. In addition, for people giving up drugs, alcohol or caffeine, removing trace amounts of these substances can help fight cravings. There are many easy detox diet tips that a person can include in their daily routine that will improve overall health.
The first step in a detox diet is to drink six to eight glasses of pure drinking water. This serves to hydrate body tissue, helping to carry toxins out of the body that are released by exercise and stretching. In the liver and kidneys, drinking plenty of water helps to flush existing toxins from these filtering organs.
Green and herbal teas bind to and help remove toxic substances from the body. A few good examples are Hawthorn root, nettle and ginger teas which aid in liver and kidney function and stimulate circulation. In addition, these teas can help to remove free radicals in the body, reducing the risk of cancer and improving overall health. Recommended intake is two to six cups per day depending on the individuals additional health factors.
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 small amount of 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.
Eliminating certain foods is as important as incorporating beneficial ones. Processed and fried or barbecued foods should be eliminated altogether. Anything that has refined sugars or preservatives are to be avoided as well. In addition, meat, dairy, yeast, and glutenous grains should be eliminated, all of which are a challenge for the body to process.
Calorie reduction is a frequently misunderstood part of a detox diet. As our bodies age, our metabolism rates slow down, requiring fewer calories to accomplish the same biological functions. The extra calories are stored as fat which toxins cling to. Eating less not only introduces fewer toxins into the body overall, but reduces the chance that they will be stored in difficult to remove areas. In some cases short term fasts can are beneficial in combination with fresh vegetable juice and water.
Care should be taken when proceeding into a detox diet, or any diet. While short term fasting might help to cleanse the system, basic nutritional needs still need to be met. Small adjustments to a persons routine are generally better than drastic changes that make the diet unmanageable over a course of time.
In the end a detox diet should focus on eating more raw, natural and organic foods and avoid processed foods, artificial ingredients, alcohol and large amounts of caffeine. People with health conditions, including diabetes and impaired immune functions, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers should take extreme caution when choosing a detox diet. Any detox diet tips should be applied in conjunction with the advice of a person’s doctor.
Learn how to detox and lose weight with healthy detox diet tips. Following a liver detox is probably the best way to improving your health long term.