Detox Diets: The Secret to Feeling Great

Here’s a fact about detox diets that may surprise you. You know that fatigue you feel, that rundown feeling that never seems to go away? Or–the fullness or indigestion that makes you feel like something went wrong between your mouth and gut. Even that nagging voice in your mind that makes you hate your body and think you’re fat. You’re all too familiar with these things, but what you might not know is that they can often be traced directly to the toxins that you put into your body. Ever since we are children we are fed preservatives and additives and who-knows-what in the form of food, drinks, chemicals, etc. Your body isn’t made to handle this stuff. The constant build up takes its toll.

If you’re like me you’ve had more than enough. It’s time to make a positive change. You need a detox. This can be accomplished through any of a number of easy practices. Some people detox through fitness, like walking or jogging. Others enjoy the detoxifying effect of yoga or relaxed mindfulness. These can do wonders for your body and help to cleanse your system. But even more powerful –and it seems more popular too–is a simple detox diet.

What changes are necessary in a detox diet? Remember that there are two goals to detox. One, you want to do what you can to reduce the flow of new toxins into your body. Two, you want to clear out the ones that are already in you. For the first goal, it is highly recommended that you only eat organic foods. This alone can cut a huge amount of harmful toxins from your diet. For the second, identify foods that are high in nutrition and antioxidants and begin to work them into your diet. Try fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts, and look for foods high in fiber. You don’t want to hear it, but that morning coffee–or evening glass of wine–may be doing you more harm than good and should be avoided if possible while detoxing.

The benefit of making these simple lifestyle changes can be enormous. When done right, a detox diet can breathe new life into both your body and mind. Of course, the results vary from person to person and depend entirely on you, but detox diets have been known to clear up lifelong skin problems, lead to smoother digestion and bring order to troubled bowel movements. Your body will show its thanks with a new vibrancy and aliveness that will surprise you. Somehow, the day just seems brighter once you have detoxed the nasty toxins from your system!

To make sure the detox process goes as smoothly as possible, take it slow at first and try to get started on a day when you can rest, relax and let your body react. Once you’ve begun to detox, you may experience certain effects of the toxins leaving your body, and as your body adjusts to the new diet. You may feel tired or sore or have headaches at first. Drink water–lots of water! You’ll need it because you may get diarrhea and you need to stay hydrated.

Despite the incredible benefits, there are some important things to remember. When you see the great effects a detox diet has on your health you may be tempted to overdo it–it’s easy to get too much of a good thing! Don’t detox too often for too long. A couple times per year is a good pace, and summer is the best time. Also, be aware that detox diets are not necessarily for everyone. When pregnant or nursing, women require certain extra nutrients that may be hard to come by when detoxing. People with specific medical conditions should make sure that the diet will not make things worse. “Talk to your doctor before making any big health decisions” might seem cliche after hearing it in so many articles and commercials but it is a very important step. Ask a doctor or nutritionist whether a detox diet is a good fit for your body.