How To Detoxify While You Lose Weight Quickly

Detoxifying your liver is a critical step to weight loss, according to advocates of detoxification, such as Ann Louise Gittleman, author of "The Fast-Track One-Day Detox Diet." When your liver is overwhelmed with toxins, it's less efficient at metabolizing sugars and fats. Gittleman points out that detoxification helps to release toxins from cells to be excreted, enhance liver and colon function and may also help you fight food cravings more effectively.

Step 1

Begin to wean yourself off sugar, sugary foods and caffeine during the seven days leading up to your detox diet to better prepare your liver and colon for detoxification, advises Gittleman. Drink at least 72 oz of filtered water and freshly squeezed citrus juices. Use liquid stevia extract to sweeten drinks instead of sugar.

Step 2

Gradually increase your intake of fiber --- preferably from organic sources ---leading up to your detox start date. Consume 35g of fiber daily during the detox, advises Brenda Watson, author of "The Detox Strategy. Good fiber sources include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Step 3

Do not eat saturated and trans fat from sources such as fatty beef, pork poultry, milk and dairy products. Eat fish or organic lean lamb or wild game and healthy fats such as olive oil in minimum quantities during the detox.

Step 4

Do not drink coffee or black tea. Drink certified organic green or white tea, because regular green tea can be contaminated with aluminum fluoride, according to Gittleman.

Step 5

Drink a glass of cranberry, lemon with cinnamon and ginger each day of your detox. Cranberry and lemon are rich in vitamin C, which helps the liver to break down fats more efficiently and increases the levels of the antioxidant glutathione, which the liver relies on during phase two detoxification.

Tips and Warnings

Eat smaller meals throughout the day and try to eat the same amount of food at each meal to keep blood sugar levels stabilized. You'll ward off cravings and lethargy ---common symptoms during a detox and when dieting to lose weight. Take milk thistle daily to increase liver function and enhance detoxification. If you are allergic to plants in the chrysanthemum family, do not take milk thistle. If you experience any side effect such as itching or nausea, stop taking it. Look for the label "USDA organic" or "Certified Organic" on meat to ensure that the meat comes from animals raised without antibiotics.
If you have a medical condition such as diabetes or you're taking any medications, speak to your doctor before attempting to do a detox on your weight loss plan. (general knowledge) Keep your fish intake of fish to two servings a week, but do not eat fish such as blue and striped marlin, swordfish, shark, Atlantic salmon and grouper, all of which have higher levels of contaminants, according to Watson.