Much of our modern food supply exposes you daily to preservatives, extra sodium and sugar, pesticides and colorings. A cleansing diet intends to help rid your system of these offending items. You do not have to ingest supplements, magical drink concoctions or starve yourself to detoxify. Use simple diet strategies to help you cleanse your system.
Step 1
Eliminate caffeine and alcohol. Stick to water or herbal teas for the duration of your cleanse. Flavor water with slices of cucumber, fresh mint, lemon or lime.
Step 2
Use fruits and vegetables for the foundation of your cleansing diet. Choose primarily watery varieties like dark green lettuce, sweet peppers, zucchini, asparagus, spinach, melons, apples, berries and kale says Dr. Ben Kim, a chiropractor and acupuncturist, on his website. Eat generous portions of these foods at every meal.
Step 3
Buy organic produce if possible as conventionally grown produce may contain pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers and chemicals that can be harmful to your body notes Raw and Living Foods.
Step 4
Eat small amounts of lean protein. Stick to fish and poultry for most meals, as even the Harvard School of Public Health notes these are the best choices for animal-based proteins. Opt for vegetarian protein sources like sprouted beans and soaked almonds--sprouting and soaking makes foods more readily digestible says Christine Dreher, C.C.N., C.C.H, on TransformYourHealth.com.
Step 5
Consume whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, millet and amaranth. Avoid commercial breads and pre-seasoned grain mixes.
Step 6
Avoid all sugars, except those naturally occurring in fruit. Skip processed candies, cookies and cakes. Eat dates if you must satisfy a sweet tooth.
Tips and Warnings
- You can undergo a healthy dietary cleanse for as long as you like. Be sure to take in a minimum of 1,200 calories per day as a woman or 1,500 as a man for nutritional support says Medline Plus.
- Check with your doctor before beginning a cleanse.
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