Striving4Zen

Some signs that your bod may need a jump-start include: chronic headaches, insomnia, eye puffs or dark circles, sinus problems, acne, hair loss, allergies, iffy digestion, joint pain, low energy, mood swings and frequent illness. But a detox
plan is also something you may want
to try after a holiday season of overindulging,
or anytime you feel like your body and brain need some fine-tuning.

The main goal of a detox diet is to knock out the foods that tax your body’s ability to eliminate toxins. These include fatty cuts of meat, processed foods of any kind, simple carbohydrates (white flour, white rice, and pasta), sugar, caffeine, coffee, alcohol, yeast, and artificial sweeteners. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of foods that frequently cause allergic reactions, such as dairy, soy, nuts, and night shade vegetables (peppers, white potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant). Side-stepping condiments such as vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, teriyaki, mustard, and mayonnaise is also advisable, since they are fermented and so contain yeast, which can compromise the body’s immune system. So is laying off fruits with a high glycemic index (those that quickly break down into sugar). Think: grapes, bananas, oranges and watermelon.

So What Can You Eat?
Pretty much every vegetable and salad fixing are on the menu, as are fruits with low glycemic indexes (those that are broken down slowly). Think: apples, pears, melon, grapefruit, and
blueberries. Chicken, turkey, fish, and even lean cuts of lamb and beef also get the green light. Olive oil and other healthy fats are also a “do.” “Many detox diets fail because they are so low
in fat that people never feel satisfied,” Dr. Morrison says. “Healthy fats also ensure your body stays well-lubricated. Many detox diets fail because they are so low in fat that people never feel satisfied...” Salt, black pepper and virtually every other spice, except for cayenne pepper,
should help beat the blandness of overly rigorous detox programs. And if you can’t completely ditch caffeine, green tea is definitely doable.

Source

Labels: detox, detoxify, diet