The healthy detox diet

Image from Lorna Jane

If you’re feeling a little sluggish after a long winter then you might be considering a detox.   However, a lot of detox diets aren’t healthy, especially over a longer period of time. Done correctly, a one week “detox” can rejuvenate a healthy routine, and help boost your nutrient intake to enhance your wellbeing. As a nutritionist, here’s my dos and don’ts of a detox.

1. Avoid restrictive detox

Many detox diets advocate completely eliminating food groups and relying on just a few types of fruit and vegetables over a period of a week.  These detox diets are very low in calories and don’t give you a balance of nutrients. They’ll be likely to leave you feeling weak and lethargic. Remember, these types of detox diets only boost weight loss because they are super low calorie. You’ll lose fluid and muscle as well as body fat. Stick to healthy eating, and you’ll get better results long term. It’s best to avoid these types of detox and follow are more balanced regime.

 2. Focus on whole foods

On a detox, base most of your daily food intake on foods as they come in nature.  Rolled oats, brown rice, chickpeas, lentils, beans, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds,dairy or alternatives, lean meats and seafood should be the base of your diet.  Some dairy and wholegrain breads are fine to include, but avoid sugar and refined white flour based foods.

3. Get your drinks right

Because our bodies are mostly water, drink 6-8 glasses a day.  Have a break from coffee and alcohol.  Try green tea as an alternative to coffee to boost your antioxidant intake.

If you’d like an example of what a detox might look like, then you can find a 3 day sample plan through this post.

Our bodies have their own effective in built detoxification methods so rather than a way to remove toxins from the body, I see a detox as a week of eating whole foods, avoiding highly processed foods and taking a break from coffee and alcohol.  It’s a way to kick start yourself into some good eating habits that will help keep you looking and feeling healthy.

Nicola, Eat Well NZ