The last time I did a Google search for “detox diet”, I got over 2,680,000 results. Detox, or cleansing, is a hot topic and for good reason. We live in an increasingly toxic world where we either ingest, inhale or are otherwise exposed to chemicals in the form of pesticides, food additives, household cleaners, drugs, pollution, cigarette smoke, heavy metals, to name a few. In short, there is no escape. Some we have control over, for example what we choose to eat, others we don’t, like jet fuel and industrial waste spewed into the atmosphere.
Detox diets have become the rage amongst the jet set and celebrities, but many people are not totally clear on what detoxing really means, or how it works. It’s essentially a nutritional system that aims to rid the body of harmful impurities, leaving the cells healthier and able to carry out the functions they were made for. There is a veritable plethora of detox plans available. Some are better than others, and some can actually be harmful, so do your research before starting a cleanse. One website listed over 30 different detox diet plans ranging from the “Master Cleanse” to the “Hallelujah Diet”. How do you know which one to choose?
A good detox or cleanse, is one that flushes toxins out and at the same time floods the body with high quality nutrients. By combining the right nutrients, minerals, vitamins and the correct balance of cleansing herbs, you provide the body with what it needs so it can eliminate what it doesn’t need (toxins, metabolic waste, excess fat and water.)
It’s important to realize that cleansing for weight loss should not mean fasting, which can be really harmful to the body. When you detox, you need to support your body with the right minerals, vitamins and bio-available proteins (easily digested proteins with a complete amino acid profile, such as undenatured whey). You need to give your body the essential nutrients it needs to repair and regenerate healthy cells.
Here are the 5 mistakes to avoid when embarking on a detox diet:
1. Not drinking enough water. Water regulates body temperature, helps breathing, transports nutrients, creates energy in your cells, carries away waste and helps your muscles function. The cells need to be adequately hydrated in order to flush out impurities.
A good rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 120 lbs, drink 60 oz of water a day.
2. Eating a diet high in acidic foods. Health thrives in an alkaline body, disease thrives in an acidic body. If your body is too acidic it will hold on to water in the tissues in an attempt to diffuse the acidity. This can also cause the body to hold on to fat.
3. Drinking acidic beverages. Soda is the worst culprit, but also be aware of coffee, many fruit juices and energy drinks to name some. All of these are highly acidic and can wreak havoc on the body’s ability to burn fat efficiently.
4. Not consuming enough calories. If you go for more than 48 to 72 hours with inadequate calorie consumption, your metabolism will slow down and your body will hold on to fat.
5. Not including exercise to help flush toxins from the body.
To ensure the best results when embarking on a weight loss detox, first find a plan that includes high quality nutrition. Then make sure you drink enough water, eat an alkaline diet, cut out acidic beverages, consume the right amount of calories and incorporate an exercise program. If you follow these tips you’ll be well on your way to getting rid of unwanted fat and improving your overall health.
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