The idea that your body requires special detoxification diets to cleanse itself of toxins is a matter of debate in the medical community. Your body has many mechanisms in place to filter out harmful substances, and many health professionals believe your body can handle this task just fine. Enough detoxification diets exist to make your head spin, with some being severely restrictive and possibly dangerous. Luckily, many health professionals who advocate cleansing diets have come up with more gentle alternatives that allow you to eat normal foods.
Benefits
Many detoxification diet plans do not allow you to eat much of anything; they might focus solely on liquids or one or two foods. These sorts of detoxification plans can lead to nutritional deficiency and dangerous health complications, particularly if you suffer from certain medical conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Furthermore, you can not maintain these diets for the long term, meaning any weight loss or other benefits gleaned will not last. Gentle detoxification diets focus on a wider range of foods and can help promote healthier eating over time. They also provide adequate nutrition necessary for your liver and other parts of your body involved in the detoxification process.
Professional Guidance
Regardless of the type of detoxification diet you choose, you should consider working with a health professional, such as a conventional or naturopathic physician knowledgeable about this process. He can offer guidance on a diet plan, supplements and how long to follow the program.
What to Avoid
Detoxification diets vary widely in the permitted foods and length of time required to follow the plan. When it comes to items to avoid, various plans typically stand in agreement in terms of eliminating meat, dairy, eggs, coffee, alcohol, sugar and anything processed.
Diet Guidelines
Physician and author Elson Haas, who has been counseling patients on detoxification diets for over 25 years, advises starting each day of your plan with two glasses of pure water with juice from a fresh lemon. Breakfast typically includes fruit. Naturopathic physician Ronald Steriti recommends papaya, pineapple, melon, grapefruit, pears, grapes, nectarines, mangoes and bananas. Choose \fresh fruits in season. Typically, lunch and dinner consist of lightly steamed vegetables.
When it comes to beverages, both Haas and Steriti recommend sticking to water, herbal teas and fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
Long-Term Diet for Liver Health
Your liver takes center stage when it comes to detoxifying the body. If you want to keep your detoxification system functioning optimally, naturopathic physician Wendy Hodson recommends adopting long-term eating habits that give your body the nutrients it needs to perform this process.
Eat fiber-rich foods; they help absorb excess toxins in the intestines, giving the liver less work to do. Fiber-rich foods include plant foods of all kinds such as whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Foods high in B vitamins help reduce congestion in the liver; good sources include sunflower seeds, almonds, pine nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, buckwheat, wild rice and brown rice. Foods rich in vitamins C and E also promote liver health; good sources include citrus fruits, strawberries, peppers, broccoli, potatoes, asparagus, whole grains, leafy greens, avocados and nuts. Hodson also recommends eating foods rich in the nutrients choline, methionine and cysteine, which you can find in garlic, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, egg yolks, brown rice, chick peas and sesame seeds.
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