Photo: Nina Matthews Photography
As summer approaches and we rid our houses of unnecessary clutter, we should also consider cleansing our bodies. With long and warm days ahead, we should gear up our bodies for afternoon bike rides and mornings at the beach. Detoxing is a great way to cleanse your body of toxins and rejuvenate your spirit. Although many detox diets focus on what you can’t eat, these guidelines encourage you to embrace all the life-giving food you can eat.
Fresh produce, organic grains, and raw nuts make for a healthy and happy body. A detox diet doesn’t have to be about restriction. This is especially important if you’re a new mom. Because even though you want the benefits of a detox cleanse, you still need energy to take care of you and your family. Follow these guidelines to ensure you give your body an extra step forward as summer begins.
Eliminate the no-brainers
To detox, you will need to remove some food items from your diet. But most of these aren’t a surprise. Coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, and overly processed carbohydrates should be the first to go. If you can’t imagine a morning without caffeine, turn to green tea or eat an apple. Both of these life-giving foods will give you energy without giving you the shakes.
Fill up on fruit and vegetables
The bulk of your detox diet should be organic fruits and vegetables. Try to eat the rainbow by embracing produce of all colors. Strawberries, spinach, orange bell peppers, yellow squash, and blueberries are just a few of the many color combos out there. Different colors often mean different vitamins and nutrients, which is why so many doctors and dietitians recommend variety.
Squeeze on citrus
Lemon and lime not only taste great in warmer months, but they are vibrant stars in a detox diet. Citrus aids the body in flushing out toxins and provides powerful digestive enzymes. Your liver will thank you for adding lime and lemon to each meal. Squeeze a lime in a hot glass of water when you wake up and add lemon to your steamed vegetables at lunch. A little citrus can go a long way in your detox diet.
Add enough fats
When detoxing, it is important to make sure you have enough nutrients to maintain energy. Eating a variety of healthy fats, such as avocado, flaxseeds, and olive oil will line your intestinal walls with oils that can help absorb and then remove toxins from your body. Easy-to-digest nuts like walnuts and almonds are also advisable.
Eat lean protein
Lean protein, such as egg whites, chicken breasts, white fish, and soy, will fuel your body and help rid unwanted fat. Avoid red meat and dairy products while detoxing but be sure to get protein at every meal. Fresh produce, healthy fats, and lean protein will guarantee your body gets cleansed while your energy is maintained.
Remember, a detox diet isn’t supposed to last forever. Talk to your doctor or health practitioner before beginning a cleanse, especially if you are nursing, trying to get conceive or are pregnant.
About Monet Moutrie
Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.
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