Detox yourself with this expert-recommended diet plan

Consult a nutritionist before you undergo such a diet and inform him/her about any health problems you are suffering from.

Neha Chandna | Updated: February 4, 2015 10:56 pm

In today’s hectic lifestyle, our bodies are exposed to a lot of toxins through air pollution, food and water. Use of preservatives in packaged food, presence of pesticides in vegetables all lead to toxins depositing in our body. Some of the harmful effects of this toxicity are indigestion, headache, tiredness, skin problems, poor concentration, etc. It is important to go on a detox diet in order to flush the toxins out of our system. Our expert nutritionist Neha Chandna gives us a sample detox diet that we can follow.

Detox diet is one which consists of food and herbs that eliminate toxins from the body. It emphasises on foods which are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants to prevent damage to the body and foods rich in fibre and water to clear the system by increasing the frequency of urination and stools.

Here are a few benefits of detoxification:

It helps improve digestion
A detox diet will result in your body having more energy
Your concentration will improve
It cleanses your system which means you will have clear skin
Since your digestion is in place, you can sleep soundly
You will feel light and refreshed after a detox diet

Below is a chart of foods that you should and shouldn’t have while on a detox diet.

Foods to be included

Foods to be excluded

Fruits and nuts

Fruit juices

Raw veggies

Veggie juices

Lemon juice

Coconut water

Thin dals

Buttermilk

Green tea

Grains

Milk and milk products

Meat, fish

Chicken

Eggs

Restaurant food

Fried foods

Sweet foods and desserts

Processed and packaged foods

Tea, coffee and aerated drinks

Points to remember:

You can opt for a 3-day detox diet every month. On the first day, you might feel hunger pangs and tiredness but you will overcome this on the second and third day.
Pregnant and lactating women should avoid going on a detox programme.
Go for 30 minutes walk every day.
Do not stop or reduce medication dosage during this diet.
If detox diet does not suit you, stop it immediately.
After the diet, get back to normal food slowly. Do not over eat. Introduce grains, milk and foods slowly and one at a time.
Along with the diet, you can take enema for clearing the digestive system. Read about the ayurvedic detox plan.

When following a detox diet, you can make interesting blends to add some taste to your food. Here are some recipes:

Carrot beet mint (pudina) juice

Ingredients:

2 carrots
1 beet
10g pudina
salt
Chaat masala

Method:

Blend all the ingredients in a blender.

Serve

Pomegranate-grape- sweetlime juice

Ingredients:

1 pomegranate
1 bunch grapes
Rock salt

Method:

Juice all the fruits.

Add rock salt and serve.

A detox diet should not be followed for many days. Consult a nutritionist before you plan to undergo such a diet and inform her about any health problems you may be suffering from. While the diet plan will be similar to the above mentioned one, it will change slightly based on your health condition and fitness levels.

Image source: Getty Images

Published: January 24, 2015 5:20 pm | Updated:February 4, 2015 10:56 pm

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