Tag: green tea

What Can I Eat On A Detox Diet?

So you thought you would try a detox diet? Before we look at the foods you can eat let’s just find out if a detox is really the right thing for you to do.

A detox diet means you must withdraw all the food you normally eat and stick to a strict regimen of detox foods. In some cases to withdraw certain snacks and fat filled food is a good idea. But remember your body requires a certain amount of nutrition to function normally.

If you don’t consume enough calories your body will ‘think’ food has become scarce and will begin to try to conserve energy using less of its precious energy supply, namely your fat reserves. Your metabolism slows down and you are less likely to remove toxins or lose weight.

You must also consider your health. Certain health conditions may make dieting of any kind unwise. Speak to your doctor before you begin.

Why Should I Detox

Most of us over indulge at one time or another. Too much alcohol or unhealthy food can take its toll on your body. So a detox diet is a good way to stop your unhealthy eating habits and ‘reboot’ your lifestyle.

A detox diet is often referred to as clearing out the toxins from your body. In fact your body does this all the time. Your liver and kidneys remove toxins from your body on a daily basis. If you eat healthy foods you put far less toxins into your system so your liver and kidneys don’t have to work quite so hard. As well as that, healthy foods are better for you so you get far more nutritional value for far less effort.

What Can I Eat On A Detox Diet?

Ok, so now you know what you’re letting yourself in for. Let’s find out what foods are going to help you detox. As you would expect the best foods to eat are fresh fruit and vegetables. Some diets recommend one or the other but a variety of good food will prevent you from becoming bored and cheating on your diet.

Antioxidants prevent the breakdown of body cells by a reaction known as oxidation. Oxidation is an essential part of your body chemistry but it can lead to irreversible cell damage if it goes unchecked. So eating food high in antioxidants is of great benefit. Here are some foods that contain antioxidants.

1. Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons are high in vitamin C. Vegetables such as broccoli also contain vitamin C.
2. Vitamin E. This can be found in seeds and nuts so they should be included in your detox diet. But don’t eat too many because they are also rich in fat.
3. Vitamin B can be found in green vegetables such as broccoli. B6 and B12 in particular are active in the chemical reactions that occur naturally in your body to remove toxins and renew body cells.
4. Glutathione can be made naturally in your liver but foods containing glutathione give you a head start. Vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, garlic and sprouts are high in glutathione.
5. Green Tea contains antioxidants known as catechins as well as vitamin C and minerals. Research has shown that green tea can help to reduce heart disease and some cancers.
6. Oatmeal and rice contain melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that regulated your sleep pattern but it is also an antioxidant.
7. Ginger, a great ingredient to use when cooking is also an antioxidant. Research has also found ginger to have an influence on the digestive system, aiding recovery from nausea and diarrhoea.

There are many detox diets around, all offering great advice. They can be found online in places such as Amazon or if you prefer try your local book store.

But you don’t need to spend massive amounts of money on a diet plan. Just use your common sense. You already know which foods are healthy and if you regularly eat a healthy diet there is no need to put yourself through a detox regime.

To use the old adage ‘You are what you eat’. If you eat healthy foods and live a healthy lifestyle then you’ll see the benefits in your health and energy levels. But don’t take my word for it, try it out for yourself and see how it makes you feel.