Spring is here and magazine covers are sure to start featuring detox diets. You might hear about friends doing the classic, maple syrup and cayenne pepper master cleanse, or others who paid x amount of dollars to have raw juices delivered to their homes. In the past few years detoxing has become very trendy.
It’s true that spring is a good time to re-boot your system. However, detoxing should not be mistaken for a quick way to lose weight. When you deprive your body of food you send it the starvation signal. Your body can’t tell the difference between a fad diet and real deprivation. It reacts by slowing your metabolism and kindly clinging to as much fat as possible. Going without food can also cause headaches, sleep issues, fatigue and mood swings. It’s likely you will feel awful in one way or another. When it’s all over, your body will try to regain what it’s lost.
You can still recharge your system this spring without shocking it. Eliminating processed, chemicalized foods that sludge up your system, creates more energy for you body to rid itself of toxins. Here are some options for a gentler detox diet:
Level 1 Detox:
Eliminate 1 or 2 processed foods from your diet for 3 or more days.
Eliminating dairy products, sugar or refined white flour for three or more days will help your digestive system run faster and cleaner. Just three days may leave you with clearer skin, a flatter stomach, and more energy.
Pick one or more of these, or select your own:
Dairy (cheese, yogurt, milk, butter, whey, etc.)
Sugar (desserts, fruit juices, pastries, condiments, etc.)
Refined White Flour (bagels, pasta, muffins, bread, etc.)
Level 2 Detox:
Eat only natural, whole foods for 3 or more days.
This means no “healthy” power bars, protein shakes, or preserved juices. Eat foods in their natural, unprocessed form. This level of detoxing allows you to eat normal amounts, but cuts out the processed foods.
Here is a sample day:
Breakfast: plain or vegetable omelet
Lunch: brown rice and vegetables
Snack: an apple with almonds
Dinner: fish, chicken, or meat and a steamed vegetable
Level 3 Deotx:
Brown rice and vegetables for 2 or more days.
If you are really ready for a detox, try eating only brown rice and vegetables for two or more days. You can add clear vegetable broth, switch from a variety of roasted, raw, grilled or sauteed vegetables, and add or skip the brown rice. Simplifying your food intake in this way, can really help clear your system.
Here is a sample day:
Breakfast: brown rice and steamed bok choy
Lunch: vegetable broth, brown rice, and steamed broccoli
Dinner: brown rice, grilled zucchini, and sauteed kale
Note: If this seems extreme, compare it to starving yourself.
All of these ligher forms of detoxing should include lots of water and rest. Be prepared for mood swings or fatigue to occure while your body releases toxins. Try to ease up on work or activity during your detox. Give your body the rest it needs to recalibrate itself. It’s worth the temporary sacrifice to recharge your health this spring.
