Companies who produce cleansing supplements and detox products would like you to believe that the only way to remove toxins and impurities and effectively re-balance the body is to use one of their (often expensive) products, however it is possible to avoid these completely and create your very own cleansing program. Below we’ll explain how to create a DIY detox program that won’t cost a fortune and will still enable you to remove toxins and improve overall health.
Please see the ‘Warnings’ section towards the end of this article before commencing any program.
What is a detox?
First its important to understand what a detox is and in-fact it can mean different things to different people. Essentially it is about assisting the body in removing toxins, impurities and impacted matter from the body, whilst providing the body with the nutrition it needs to restore optimum health.
People decide to do a detoxing program for a number of reasons. This could be to lose weight, improve energy levels, improve digestion, support optimum health or simply to ensure the body is clean and free from ‘nasties’.
How long should it be?
One of the problems with the supplement industry is that they are focused on ‘producing’ short-term results, however for long-term health it is important to create a lifestyle which is clean and healthy and will help support your body for the long-term. If you do a short cleansing program and then simply go back to your old habits, you’ll quickly lose any benefits you gained during your cleanse.
Our advice is to do some kind of initial ‘kick-start’ to get the body moving, provide the body with the nutrients it is lacking in and help it remove any backlog of toxins that exists and then move to an ongoing maintenance plan which involves simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Reduce your exposure to chemicals
Start by taking a look at your house, work place and the environment outside and try to reduce or remove as many chemicals as you can.
- Avoid all processed foods and anything with any added preservatives, additives or chemicals
- Eat free range meats (or meats with no hormones or additives) and ideally organic fruits and vegetables
- Avoid caffeine and other stimulants
- Drink only filtered water
- Go for natural, gentle shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste.
- Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean the house.
- Try to reduce exposure to chemicals at work
Foods to avoid / increase
This is not a starvation diet or a ‘colon cleanse’ it is a process that will support the body in returning to an alkaline state (rather than acid) and provide the body with the nutrients it needs to return to great health.
Foods to Avoid
- All simple sugars and simple processed carbs (no white bread, white pasta, white flour or white sugar)
- Processed meats (e.g. salami or sandwich ham) and all red meats
- All refined or processed products e.g. cakes
- All processed or packaged foods
- Fried or ‘fatty foods
- Caffeine
- Cigarettes
- Alcohol
Food to increase
Essentially you want your diet to consist of quality lean protein (e.g. chicken or fish), fruits/vegetables and nuts/feeds – anything close to nature that hasn’t been processed or refined in any way.
- Lean protein such as Free Range chicken or local Fish
- Fruits and vegetables – ideally organic or washed carefully if not
- Nuts and seeds
- Brown/wholegrains – e.g. brown rice, spelt, oats, quinoa
- Legumes and beans e.g. chickpeas, kidney beans
Foods to watch our for
These are foods you need to limit your intake of:
- Dairy
- Bread
- Starchy high GI veggies like potatoes
Top Tips for a Successful Detox Diet
Start your day with a glass of warm water that contains a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice- Do some kind of exercise each day and aim to ‘get a sweat up’ to encourage the body to release toxins
- Drink plenty of filtered water each day (most of us don’t get enough) – its one of the best ways to remove toxins from the body
- Drink plenty of herbal teas – nettle tea is a great natural detoxifier
- Sit down when you eat and focus on your food – this will help digestion
- Do some kind of relaxation activity each day to reduce stress in the body
Side-effects
All you are putting in to your body is high quality nutrition and natural foods, however if your body is particularly toxic or acidic and is not used to having these great foods inside it you may experience some signs of detoxing, if you are also giving up caffeine, alcohol or cigarettes you might also experience these symptoms. Headaches are the most common side-effect. Most people find that by drinking plenty of water and herbal teas they are able to significantly reduce any side effects
Warning
Please do not make any changes to your diet and lifestyle without consulting your Doctor first – some people may be allergic to one of more of the foods or food groups above, obviously if you have any kind of allergy or intolerance you should completely avoid these foods. If you are on any medication or have a medical condition your Doctor will need to create a program specifically designed for your personal needs.
