5 Elements For Successful Detox Diet Plans 

Lemon infused water

With people stressed, overworked and turning to convenience foods for nourishment, it’s no surprise many of us are walking around feeling like a toxic mess.

The purpose of a detox diet plan is to cleanse your body of its toxic load. Your body is in need of real wholesome, healthy nourishment.

The foods you to choose in your detox diet are important.

Do I Need A Detox Diet?

Toxins from the environment infiltrate your body causing problems like:

• Constipation or diarrhea
• Headaches
• Skin rashes, acne has and pimple breakouts
• Hair loss
• Loss of energy
• Weight gain

Most people need a detox diet plan because as a society we overeat, drink too much alcohol, caffeine, and sugar, lack sleep and are overwhelmed with various types of stress.

If you eat foods that help you detox, they will correct the problems you feel.

What’s A Detox Diet?

A Detox Diet is a diet that provides your body with the food it needs to recover from being exposed to “pollution”. Body pollution doesn’t have to be so toxic it kills you. However, it can cause just enough trouble to be a nuisance.

Whether it’s the air we breathe, the foods we eat or beverages we drink, your body is constantly being bombarded with things that are not good for it.

A detox diet should support the body organs that work hard to weed out the toxins.

The 5 main components of all good detox diet plans are natural:

1 Foods that supply essential fats and proteins and phytonutrients.
2 Beverages that hydrate and soothe without providing a significant source of calories.
3 Stress reducers and relaxation techniques (guided imagery, deep breathing techniques, a hobby or activity that is enjoyable, listening to music)
4 Organic Skincare
5. Adequate sleep

How To Follow A Detox Diet

Detox Diet Foods

If you stick to eating small simple meals that include non-starchy vegetables and free-range protein, it will help reduce the body’s digestive load.

It is important to include essential fats and proteins, and phytonutrients.

Essential Fats

Essential fats, such as omega-3 fats, can protect against the inflammation¹ that is linked to many different medical issues and help regulate hormones.

When you eat essential fats, the body can better absorb important fat-soluble nutrients, such as Vitamin A, D, E and K and enzymes such as Coq10 (coenzyme Q 10) That work to keep you energetic and healthy.

If you eat a low-fat diet, you may be low in these vitamins.

Proteins

In a detox diet, include proteins that are high in the essential amino acid, methionine. You'll find methionine in beef, chicken, turkey, sesame seeds, and Brazil nuts².

Methionine can help the liver in the detox process. It works to carry out the toxins from the liver, out of the body.

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are found in most colorful plants and vegetables. They are important to a detox diet.

There are 5 types of phytonutrients. Flavonoids, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), Quercetin, Curcumin, and Organosulfur compounds.

Flavonoids and Quercetin bind with the metals in your body and remove them from the body through urine.

EGCG prompts your body to produce certain genes and enzymes that help the body naturally get rid of all the dangerous toxins.

Curcumin is a well-known anti-inflammatory.

Quercetin and Organosulfur compounds bind with metals to remove them from your body through urine and produce genes and enzymes to naturally remove dangerous toxins from your body³.

Detox Diet Beverages

Water and green tea are one of the best Detox Diet Beverages. Add lemon to help support detox the liver.

However, there are many healthy combinations to make yourself a detox beverage of choice. You may like cucumber and basil or blueberries and raspberries in your water.

You may want to sip on some bone broth too.

Relaxation Techniques

Your Body is at work 24 hours a day, you may need to help your body unwind.

Relaxation helps you by bringing down your heart rate to normal, relaxing your muscles, stabilizing blood pressure, normalizing breathing rate and increasing the flow of blood to your brain. Relaxation also helps your combat illness, boosts energy and motivation and accelerates your brain power⁴.

Some relaxation techniques you can try out are deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, guided imagery, self-massage etc.

Organic Skin Moisturizers

Most skincare products on the market contain high levels of chemical ingredients. These chemicals are toxins absorbed by the largest body organ, the skin.

For example, one ingredient, Phthalates can disrupt your endocrine system and lead to reproductive, developmental and neurological damage. Other harmful chemicals found commonly in most skincare products are BPA, parabens, and triclosan. These are linked to a growing number of healthcare issues including obesity and diabetes. Triclosan can additionally cause bacterial resistance and alter your thyroid function and negatively affect your endocrine and reproductive system⁵.

Adequate Sleep

A study conducted by the National
Institute of Health revealed “that the space between brain cells may increase during sleep, allowing the brain to flush out toxins that build up during waking hours”⁶

Lack of sleep has also been associated with making poor food choices and metabolic challenges ⁷. 

What Foods Should I Eat?

If you’re planning to follow your own detox diet plan, consider:

•  Organic protein, such as eggs, meat, fish, and poultry
• Low glycemic Fruits (avocado, lemon, olives, grapefruit, berries)
• Greens and non-starchy Vegetables.
• Nuts: almonds, macadamias, walnuts, pecans, cashews.
• Seeds: Sunflower, chia, pumpkin, and sesame seeds
• Oils: Coconut and olive oil

One important thing to keep in mind is to eat real, not packaged foods.

I also suggest that you select meals and snacks that contain small portions of essential proteins and fats and nutrient dense high fiber carbohydrates.

If you suffer from stomach problems, you may want to try eating only liquids or intermittent fasting to give your gut a break.

What Are The Foods You Should Avoid?

Steer Clear of these foods items on your detox diet plan:

1. Processed Foods: Margarine, Frozen Dinners, Breakfast Cereals, Canned Food, Bread, Cakes, pasta, chips, cookies, cake, Biscuits.
2. Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
3. Dairy: Milk, Cheese
4. Caffeine: Coffee, Dark, Energy Drinks, Black Tea, Soft Drinks.
5. Soda and high sugar beverages
6. Alcoholic Drinks: Wine, beer, spirits, liquor

More Tips For Successful Detox Diet Plans

• Use the weekend to prep your meals for the entire week and march forward with a good action plan.
• Clean out your kitchen and pantry of any food that will not support your detox plan.
• Stay Hydrated. Water helps flush out the toxins from the body; Drink 8-10 glasses.
• Get a good night’s sleep. On a detox diet, a good eight hours of sleep is essential.
• Avoid strenuous exercise. A walk can be relaxing or try yoga and meditation.
• Mindful eating. The aim of detox diet plans is not to deprive your body of food. The idea is to nourish it.

Detox Diet Plans Wrap Up

When you take care of your body, it will take care of you. As you detox and Give your body a rest, you will feel the difference.

On the inside, you will notice improved gut function and more energy.

On the outside, you will see the benefits reflected in your glowing skin and weight loss.

Good detox diet plans will improve your metabolism, digestion, and mental health.
Detox Diet Plans should revitalize you so that you feel energetic and can attain peak performance.

References

1. http://www.ostro-organics.com/5ways-healthy-fats-can-help-you-detox/
2. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/why-you-need-protein-on-a-detox
3. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-27520/5-phytonutrients-you-should-be-eating-for-an-everyday-detox.html
4. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm
5. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/20/4-toxins-to-avoid-in-beauty-products.html
6. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/brain-may-flush-out-toxins-during-sleep
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3353049/i