We all love to eat and need it to survive, but once in awhile it makes sense to give our bodies a rest from eating the same thing, day in and day out. Detoxing implies following a detox diet designed to clear your body of toxins and chemicals you come across on a daily basis. Although many detox programs are based simply on juice cleanses, others include easily digestible whole foods. When eating whole foods while detoxing, you actually supply your body with all the necessary nutrients instead of starving yourself. It improves your energy and overall welfare. But, before you start with detoxification, consult your doctor about your detox program and take a look at some of the best foods to eat while detoxing.
Fresh fruit
It’s well known that fresh fruits are rich in vitamins, but they’re also high in fiber and low in calories. They contain nutrients that boost your energy, improve your body’s functioning and help digestion. Besides, the phytonutrients found in fresh fruit can contribute to many health benefits and disease preventions. The fruit that is particularly good to eat while detoxing is apple, because its fiber pectin helps you to cleanse your body of metals and additives. Furthermore, avocado’s glutathione encourages the liver to eliminate synthetic chemicals from your body.
Other fruits good to eat while detoxing include citrus fruits, berries, pineapple, apricot, figs, grapes, guava, kiwi, mango, melon, watermelon, nectarine, papaya, peach, pear, plum, prune and tangerine.
Fresh vegetables
Just like fruits, vegetables are low in calories, but, on the other hand, high in vitamins and minerals. If you want to provide your body with all necessary calories and energy, forget about cooking or juicing and just eat them raw. They also contain high levels of phytochemicals that are believed, but not yet proved, to be good at hormone regulation, immune system improvements and cell damage prevention. For instance, beet, the red veggie, purifies blood and cleanses the liver, while cauliflower helps your body to eliminate toxins and carcinogens out of your system.
Other vegetables to eat while detoxing: broccoli, asparagus, onions, garlic, artichokes, sprouts, cabbage, carrots, spinach, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, beans, sweet potato and kale.
Whole grains
Whole grains are complex carbohydrates that will increase your energy levels, but won’t put pressure on your digestive system. According to Yoga Journal Magazine, you’re supposed to consume them only in small amounts and early in the morning. And, obviously, without adding salt or sauce. Great representatives of whole grains are quinoa, wild rice and steel-cut oatmeal. In case your detox diet restrains you from consuming red meat, eggs and dairy, since most of them do, you can eat grains as a substitute for protein sources. However, with the exception of quinoa, they don’t provide you with complete protein unless you combine them with other plant protein sources.
Other whole grains to eat while detoxing: barley, buckwheat, winter squash, faro, amaranth, millet, freekeh, tapioca and teff.
Protein
Protein has to be included in detox diets because it is essential for cellular growth. If your detox program isn’t vegan, you can opt for fish, lamb, wild game or organic poultry. As stated by the creator of “The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet”, another protein source that is excellent for the liver is whey. It contains high levels of L-cysteine – amino acid transformed into glutathione by your body which is later used by the liver for cleansing. Because of this and many other favorable substances that whey contains, nutritionists recommend taking flavorsome whey protein powder smoothies for breakfast.
Healthy fats
Healthy fats are also necessary to your organisms. Sources of healthy fats that you should incorporate into your detox diet are nuts, almonds and walnuts in particular. Not only are they good sources of healthy fats, but protein too. If you want to avoid salt and preservatives, stick to the raw nuts.
Other sources of healthy fats to eat while detoxing: avocado, coconut, pumpkin, chia, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and pistachio.
In conclusion, be aware that the above listed foods are only some of the items that should be part of a detox diet. Detox diets can be dangerous and you shouldn’t form your own diet program without consulting your doctor or nutritionist. But, you can incorporate some of these foods into your daily diet and prevent the accumulation of toxins in your body to some degree at least.
Have you gone on a detox diet before? If so, did you feel better afterward?
**Guest post by Helen Bradford
FT&PD
Suz
We should eat that all the time as they are very important in our diet. I have never tried detoxing.
I have never tried detoxing,but I eat these food daily!
I’ve never done a detox diet, but I do try to incorporate these healthy foods into my regular diet.
Definitely makes sense. I don’t believe in a detox diet. I do however eat wholesome foods , fruits and vegetables on a regular basis.
I have never done a detox diet, although I eat most of these foods regularly. It is important to eat them!
I’ve never gone on a detox diet, however, I do eat food like fruits and vegetables anyway.
I really need to make sure that I start to eat the daily fruits and vegetables on a daily basis