Spring is the time for renewal and rejuvenation and also the optimal time to perform a detox as our body craves a break from the culinary indulges of a long and lazy winter. However, most often we see good intentions going wrong as people attempt to detox their bodies without any specific guidelines and end up mobilizing their toxins into the bloodstream.
Oftentimes drastic weight loss regimes can have the unwanted side effect of increasing your body’s toxicity. A similar thing happened to Susan, a former colleague, who had been sick of being overweight for the last eight years and was desperately trying everything that promised to deliver quick results.
Susan began the so-called all-liquid fat-burning diet that claimed to help shed 10 pounds in two weeks. Though she successfully achieved her weight-loss target, by the end of week-two she began to have severe headaches and cramps in her entire body. Since the drastic weight loss was a result of lack of essential nutrients entering the body, she ended up raising her body’s toxins to dangerously high levels, making the situation even worse than before.
So what should we do to actually lower our body’s toxicity without having any negative effects on our health? Here are some of the things you should be looking for in an optimal detox plan:
Good Protein Sources
Foods rich in protein not only provide all essential amino acids that help keep muscle mass and support cellular growth and repair, but are also necessary for liver detoxification. However, dietitians suggest that not all protein sources be added in a detox-focused diet. An effective detox plan limits consumptions of red meat, eggs and dairy and focuses more on protein rich vegetarian sources that include beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Ample Intake of Nutrients
The process of detoxification utilizes vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. Hence diet plans that fulfill your requirement for B-complex vitamin, methylcobalamin and methylfolate are important to support the body’s natural detoxification system.
Foods Rich in Antioxidants
While the body is going through the detoxification process, it creates some toxic molecules that can be harmful for the body. The effect of these molecules must be offset by foods that are rich in antioxidants. These include fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C, magnesium, selenium and phynonutrients.
Cruciferous Fruits and Vegetables
Studies have shown that the benefits of cruciferous fruits go well beyond mere detoxification of the body. They help protect cells from DNA damage, have antiviral and antibacterial properties, have anti-inflammatory effects and supports liver detoxification as well as estrogen metabolism. Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are some of the examples of cruciferous vegetables.
Keeping Well Hydrated
Since water is an essential part of every metabolic process that occurs in the body, adequate water intake balances body salts, addresses natural thirst and eliminates toxins through urine and sweat.
Things Not to Include in a Balanced Detox Diet
Intake of alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, drugs, sugary drinks or snacks, and processed foods are some of the things that hinder the body’s natural detoxification process.
Following these simple rules to detox will not just reduce toxicity levels in the body but also result in weight loss, reduced cravings and enhanced energy, less inflammation and pain and will improve your overall wellness.