When you hear the word “detox,” so you immediately think of all liquid diets, expensive supplements and short term deprivation for short-term gains? The truth is, a detox doesn’t have to involve any of the above.
If you detox in a healthy, supportive manner, you can achieve lasting results in weight loss, energy gain and full-body health.
You might have to eliminate certain foods that you enjoy, detoxing isn’t all about eating lettuce with a drizzle of olive oil. There are many delicious recipes that can be prepared using healthy ingredients that not only taste amazing, but nourish and detox your body. Many recipes don’t involve any fancy ingredients and can be prepared even by a cooking novice.
While you may consume fewer calories while following a detox, you shouldn’t feel deprived or hungry. An extremely low-calorie diet can actually disrupt your metabolism, making your body less efficient in the long run. Everyone’s needs are different, so a detox should never dictate how many calories you consume. Eating nutritious whole foods, you help detox your body while feeling satisfied.
Liquid-only detoxes have had more than their fair share of popularity. These types of detoxes can backfire: Not only do people often gain the weight back as soon as the detox ends, but such restrictive eating for several days can be detrimental to your health. An effective detox will include a variety of whole foods to help nourish your body and produce long-term results.
Supplements involved in a detox should be just that, a supplementary part of the program, not the primary source of your nutrition. While on a detox, you get most of your vitamins and minerals from whole-food sources. Supplements may be recommended to help your body make the most of the nutrients it receives. For example, including probiotics in your diet, can help your body produce vitamins, absorb minerals and remove toxins.