If you want to detox and cleanse your digestive system, a fruit detox diet may do the trick. Fruits of all kinds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber and have a large water content, making them especially good for a detox program. Begin with a one to three-day fruit detox program. Remember to hydrate with several glasses of water throughout your fruit detox and also sip herbal teas to assist with digestion and elimination.
Step 1
Consume a minimum of 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day of fruit to maintain basic fuel requirements for daily activities and consume more if you exercise heavily or have a job that has high physical demands. High-calorie fruits include bananas, pineapple, dried fruits of all kinds and coconut. Eating too few calories can make you feel fatigued and will be counterproductive.
Step 2
Eat organic fruit only, as these do not have artificial pesticides. If you must use inorganic fruits, use a bleach food bath to remove any remaining pesticides. Add 1 tsp. of bleach to 3 qt. of filtered water and soak the fruits for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly before using. Avoid using frozen or canned fruit for your detox. Fresh or dried fruits will have the most vitamins, minerals and fiber appropriate for a detoxification program.
Step 3
Divide fruits into groups so you know how to combine them for maximum digestion. According to Ann Wigmore, author of Living Foods (1978, Rising Sun Publications, Boston), acid fruits include citrus and sour fruits, pineapple, pomegranates and strawberries. Sub-acid fruits include pears, papayas, mangoes, grapes, cherries, apricots and apples. Sweet fruits include persimmons, raisins, prunes, figs, dates and bananas.
Step 4
Eat acid fruits alone or in combination with sub-acid fruits. For example, eating pineapple alone or with grapes is fine. Eat sub-acid fruits alone or with sweet fruits. This means eating apples alone or with figs is just right for digestion. Ideally, eat fruits that are in the same category: only acid, sub-acid or sweet fruits.
Step 5
Eat four to five small amounts of fruits throughout the day to keep your blood sugar level. This prevents you from going off the detox diet. For example, eat 300 calories, five times a day of pineapple, apples, bananas, prunes and mangoes at 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, 2:00 and 4:00 pm.
Step 6
Sip water and drink herbal teas, such as senna, cascara sagrada or buckthorn tea, to make certain you are cleansing the colon thoroughly.
Things You'll Need
- Organic fruits
- Bleach (optional)
- Filtered water
- Herbal teas
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