Detox Diet: What is a Detox Diet?

While it might be hard to believe, our natural state of being is intended to be vibrantly healthy and energetic. Your body is designed to function and maintain itself for optimal health. Every second of the day, it performs multiple complex processes to ensure that you are able to get out of bed and function at full capacity.

The problem is the amount of food recommended in the Standard American Diet (SAD) is deficient in crucial vitamins and minerals to sustain vibrant health. To make matters worse, very few people adhere to the guidelines of SAD.

Instead of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds, the majority of Americans consume large amounts of processed foods that offer little, if any, nutritional value. Add to this, the amount of environmental toxins and stress we are exposed to on a daily basis and you've got a recipe for disaster.

One of the best ways to tune up your engine and restore your body to its natural state of being is to embark on a detox diet. Typically, detox diets consist of a 24- to 48-hour fast of nothing more than filtered water or certain juices.

Many holistic practitioners recommend embarking on a 3-day seasonal fast. This type of detox diet should only be done when you do not have to work or care for others. Oftentimes, 3-day detox diets can cause what is referred to as a "healing crisis." Always see a phsycian for advice.

The purpose of detox diets is to aide in the elimination of toxins and waste from the body. Whether you realize it or not, if you are eating commercially grown food instead of organically grown food, you're getting a lot more than food. You're also consuming pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. Add to that the tremendous amounts of environmental toxins that are in the water you drink and the air you breath, and you can easily see how your body becomes a toxic wasteland.

One of the easiest detox diets to adhere to is to eliminate eating any meat for at least two days. While many people are still addicted to the meat and potatoes diet, a large percentage of meat contains harmful chemicals that can wreak havoc on your body.

Instead of eating meat, poultry or seafood, consume fresh fruits and vegetables. Experts recommend eating broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes, beets, garlic, and red and green vegetables. Rice is also acceptable on a detox diet; however, its best to eat brown rice and avoid white rice when embarking on a detox diet.

Beans, nuts and seeds are good choices for a detox diet. They contain protein and essential fatty acids. Most nuts and seeds are high in calories, so consumption should be limited to one-ounce per day. This equates to approximately a handful of nuts or about twelve whole almonds.

Foods to avoid while using a detox diet include: meat, dairy products, corn, wheat, foods that contain gluten such as barley and rye, sugar, anything with caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and foods that contain yeast, such as bread and donuts. Additionally, you should avoid eating grapefruit when embarking on a detox diet. Grapefruit contains enzymes which interfere with the proper functioning of enzymes in the liver.

Be sure to drink plenty of filtered water when embarking on a detox diet. Experts recommend consuming a minimum of six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Filtered water aides in flushing toxins from the body, while helping to keep your body hydrated.

Embarking on a detox diet offers many health benefits. It can help you feel more energetic and assist you in getting a restful night of sleep. Detox diets can help you lose weight and improve bowel function.

If you've never tried a detox diet before, start off slowly with a one-day fast. Drink plenty of water, green tea, or sugar-free fruit juices. Chances are you will be amazed at how great you feel!