Get the scoop on detox diets. Plus, a healthy detox shopping list to get you started.
Lose the excess weight, beat cellulite for good, flush out toxins naturally, banish the bloat and improve your skin's clarity: These are just some of the promises that detox diets hold. It's no wonder that so many celebrities are huge fans of detox diets! So forget about bizarre juice and deprivation diets: Try a sensible detox plan to cleanse your system.
Planning your detox diet
Following a realistic one-week detox plan can help you drop the extra weight as well as improve your well-being. Here are the basics to help you get started on a simple detox plan.
1. Morning detox drink. Start each morning with half a lemon squeezed into hot water, instead of your usual dose of caffeine. Alternatively, non-caffeine tea, herbal tea, freshly-squeezed fruit juice are also great choices.
2. Avoid toxins including cigarette smoke, food additives, alcohol and caffeine. Advocates of detox diets say these toxins that accumulate in our bodies are the causes of health problems like weight gain, cellulite, headaches, bloating, fatigue and dull skin, so the purpose of detox diets is to kick-start the process of removing these toxins from the body.
3. Drink sufficient water. Stay sufficiently hydrated by aiming to drink around two litres of water everyday. The fluids will help flush out toxins from your system.
Foods to include:
1. Fresh, dried fruits and fruit juices including apples, bananas, oranges, pears, cranberries, grapefruit, mangoes, strawberries, mangoes and peaches. If you purchase pre-packed fruit juices, make sure they're labelled 'unsweetened'.
2. Vegetables, beans and lentils. Fresh, frozen or canned, take your pick from cabbage, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peppers, kidney beans, navy beans, red lentils, green lentils. Toss them in a bowl, mix in olive oil, flax oil or balsamic or wine vinegar for an appetitizing salad dish.
3. Oats and brown rice. These high-fiber foods aid bowel movement and will help you flush out toxins naturally.
4. Unsalted nuts and seeds such as almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pistachio, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. But skip the salted ones as their high sodium content can lead to water retention and bloating.
5. Poultry and seafood. Eat poultry such as skinless chicken and turkey as well as any seafood including cod, mackerel, prawns, crab, salmon and tuna.
Foods to avoid:
1. Red meat. Avoid red meat and red meat products like beef, pork, burgers, sausages.
2. Dairy products including milk, cheese, butter and cream.
3. Junk foods. Stay away from high-fat and high-carb, sugary snacks that have little nutritional value, including chocolate cookies, cream wafers, muffins, doughnuts, butter cakes and sweets.
4. Caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks. Caffeine and alcohol are toxins that can build up in our system, so ban coffee, tea, alcohol and sodas from your detox plan.
5. High-sodium foods including chips, canned soups, soya sauce and salt.
6. Wheat products Any food that contains wheat including bread, croissants, cereals, cakes, biscuits, pies, pastry, quiche, battered or breadcrumbed foods, etc.
