Detox diet has emerged as an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle, despite the fact that it has existed for a long time. The wear and tear of our fast and dreary daily lives shortens the life span of the human body. Improper diets and unhealthy habits like smoking and alcoholism further mar the body. As a result, the natural cleansing process in the body slows down and in certain severe conditions stops functioning. A detox diet is aimed at cleansing such harmful poisons and toxins from the body.
It should not come as a surprise that the notion of a detox diet has been in existence since centuries. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks practiced these approaches hundreds of years ago. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian
medicine practice, also lists various items that help in removing toxins which possess super-healing powers. These detox diets have seen a resurgence of late, as people feel the need to cleanse the body of various pollutants that exist in water, air and food.
With special emphasis on
natural or organic food items, detox diets aims at increasing the intake of unpolluted fruits, vegetables and water. Items to be avoided are processed foods, artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners. Genetically modified items are yet to prove their merits, but experts believe they too should be avoided as far as body cleansing is concerned.
Raw vegetables and fruits are an integral part of each meal that is consumed under the detox diet. The number of meals taken should be increased. This means instead of taking one or two heavy meals a day, one should aim at taking four or five meals but with smaller portions. For the initial few days initially, a detox diet remains more or less a liquid diet. Other organic foods like fruits, boiled vegetables, etc are added to the menu only gradually.
The first phase of detox diet is generally is a duration of about four weeks. In the days following it, people can take a few liberties in the diet. But the first phase has to be religiously adhered to. This is also where most people make mistakes. They usually adopt a detox diet that is very different from their daily lifestyle and eating habits. They find is hard to follow such drastic changes, and they opt out of the plan midway. The trick is to find detox recipes that are not far removed from your daily eating habits. Intensifying the diet program in steps to higher levels is a safer practice. Detox diets act as eye-openers, with followers of such diets concentrating their attention on what they consume.
Regularization of bowel movements is another key factor of a detox diet plan. Elimination of faeces and urine is the body’s natural method of getting rid of poisons, toxins and unwanted materials. A proper detox diet should therefore take into consideration this aspect, lest the harmful chemicals and toxins being released be reabsorbed by the body. And it is always a good idea to consult a professional dietician or doctor at regular intervals when following any detox diet plan.
Followers of such programs have reported higher energy levels, better memory recall, and overall clarity, radiance in skin, enhanced digestive systems and regular bowel movements. Some cases have reported fat loss too. But conditions such as age, gender and body-type should be considered and discussed thoroughly with a dietician before starting a detox diet.
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