Most of the time, people enjoy a good meal and even alcohol during Christmas and New Year's Eve. In addition, during this time, sleep and sports activities are neglected or even less intense. But this can be dangerous for the body. So what should be done to get the body back into shape?
What is the detox diet?
It is a detoxifying approach that originates from across the Atlantic. The diet allows the body to be purified in a natural way. It is also called a detox programme, which is essential for the purification of toxic substances accumulated during the previous season. In general, the process begins at the beginning of the new season and continues with a change of diet.
The detox programme allows the elimination of the toxins obtained in the food digested during the previous season. Generally, most people prefer fatty foods during the winter. Moreover, it also minimises physical activity. In fact, many toxins accumulate in the body and these types of substances are more precisely residues from the chemicals present in the daily diet.
Eliminating these toxic substances naturally allows everyone to stay away from fatigue, infections and diseases caused by many bacteria. To do this, it is necessary to control the foods to be consumed, while favouring fruit, vegetables and water. Alcohol, refined sugar, fatty foods, tobacco, caffeine, preservatives and other chemicals should be avoided during the programme. To stabilise the body, detoxification of the liver, kidneys and intestines is important. If one of the emunctory organs is not functioning normally, it is possible to feel tired, have a cloudy complexion and slow digestion. In this case, the detox programme has the role of eliminating toxins in the liver and kidneys while purifying the interior of the body.
What to do during the detox diet?
During the detoxification of the body, it is important to respect the following advice. First of all, the consumption of fresh fruit juices, vegetables and plants should be considered for a maximum of five days. A second step is the mono-diet or eating the same food for three days. Finally, the raw food and fruit diet can be followed by herbal supplements.
In reality, the duration of the programme depends on the results expected by those concerned. But in general, the detox programme is carried out for a maximum of 1 month. It is important to note that the weight loss diet is not the same as the detox diet. The aim of the detox diet is to relax the body, but not to lose weight. It is possible to lose weight during this programme, but this will be regained immediately when you return to a normal diet.
Also, do not confuse complete fasting with partial fasting. The first type of diet favours water, complete rest and medical supervision. The second type of diet is based on a frugivorous and curivorous diet. Herbal teas, soups and herbal supplements combined with sport are still foods to consider for this partial diet.
Cleansing the toxins in the body does not cure lack of sleep and illnesses caused by an unbalanced diet. The consequence of this detox programme is seen more specifically in the development of digestion and elimination activities. Thanks to the mixture of herbs, the liver, intestinal, digestive and renal organs function efficiently.
Is detox beneficial?
Given the cases, it is obvious that this detox programme brings many results for the body. With the intake of light and balanced food, the toxins accumulated in the body will be evacuated. Apart from the absence of controversial effects from scientists, it is already evident that taking balanced and light foods allows you to find serenity and well-being again.
Some specific types of food for detoxification of the body
To follow a detox diet, foods composed of fruits and vegetables should be considered. For this purpose,
Choose citrus fruits such as acerola and cold-pressed fruit juices so
that the vitamins, minerals and nutrients are retained in the body.
Moreover, these types of foods are rich in vitamin C.
Steam
vegetables so that the vitamins are retained.
Generally, the addition of draining and antioxidant foods such as lemon, black radish and artichoke are recommended.
Indeed, all fatty foods, especially fatty meats, should be replaced by white or lean meats. Chicken and turkey, for example, are foods that provide the body with more animal protein. But soy and tofu are the sources of vegetable protein. Green leafy vegetables, dried fruit and cereals are also specific foods for this programme.
Excitants such as soft drinks, tobacco, coffee and alcohol are not allowed. It is also advisable to minimise salt intake and fried foods. For an excellent detox programme, the elimination of refined cereals, refined sugars such as white breads are strongly prohibited.
On the other hand, green tea is an antioxidant supplement, unlike coffee. Taking the meal slowly and chewing the food well helps to soothe the intestinal and digestive organs.
Raw foods such as turnips, horseradish, cauliflower, etc. are excellent
for detoxifying the inner body
Artichoke helps to increase the
functioning of the bile while beetroot helps the body on the processing
of toxic waste in the body.
Foods from the alliaceae family such as garlic and onions are essential
for this programme
There are also aromatic herbs such as rosemary,
basil, etc.
Other types of detoxifying foods are also available:
Carrots and grapefruits help to cleanse heavy metals.
Spirulina and onions purify the kidneys.
Thanks to their satiating properties, buckwheat is excellent for calming hunger. They contain antioxidants and anti-cholesterol fibre.
To eliminate cholesterol, apples eaten with the skin are recommended. They are enriched with vitamin C and pectin.
To produce more red blood cells, it is advisable to eat rocket and
watercress. They are rich in chlorophyll.
Avocados help to eliminate
toxins by means of glutathione, its antioxidant component.
To fight hunger pangs, it is important to eat bananas. They are rich in potassium.
Finally, dandelions with their diuretic and kidney draining properties
are good for the body.
Apart from these types of food, there are
classic medicines, which are also indispensable for detoxifying the
body. In pharmacies, there are many types of products that complement
the hygienic-dietary approach.
These supplements are based on sodium, magnesium, arginine, choline citrate, plant extracts, etc. They secrete bile and subsequently facilitate its elimination while consolidating the activities of the liver's suppression. In order not to be disappointed by the choice of the detox supplement, consultation with a pharmacist is recommended.
But if it is a detox programme based on phytotherapy, other types of plants should be used to drain and detoxify the body. This is the case of :
- Burdock, a plant responsible for removing toxic substances from the liver and skin.
- Fennel, excellent for digestion
- Artichoke and black radish, ideal for the liver
- Ash tree
- Elderberry
- Rosemary
- Milk thistle
- Dandelion, excellent for internal drainage
To promote the results of this programme, it is crucial to combine these various products with a detox diet. In this situation, it is best to ask a pharmacist for instructions before using these types of plants. There may be contraindications for people of a certain age and for women during pregnancy. All kinds of misuse should also be avoided.
To eliminate toxins in homeopathy, the plants to be favoured are the strains. However, these must be prescribed by a homeopath. It is even preferable to analyse the individual directly in order to evaluate the quantity of strains and the appropriate dosage for each person.
According to aromatherapy, essential oils are not suitable for children under 6 years of age and pregnant women. For those who are in this situation but are considering this programme, it is essential to seek advice from a pharmacist before using essential oils. But according to the opinions of health professionals, the following products are excellent for a detox programme:
Lemon essential oil, which helps to drain toxins and cleanse the liver. But for this, the advice of a pharmacist is always essential.
Cinnamon essential oil is recommended for difficult digestion and bloating. During the detox programme, it prevents the consequences of fatigue.
Peppermint essential oil, which helps to drain toxins and then purify the liver.
Geranium essential oil, which prevents the desire to eat sweet products.
Rosemary verbenone essential oil is known for draining toxins and purifying the liver.
Products in the form of capsules persist and contain mixtures of important oils for detoxification of the body. However, they are not recommended for pregnant women. That is why it is always crucial to get advice from a pharmacist.
Is detoxification suitable for everyone?
Following a detox programme requires first of all the consultation of a doctor. In reality, this type of programme is not possible for everyone. Again, it is not recommended for pregnant women and individuals suffering from numerous pathologies.
In order to start this programme in a serene way, it is necessary to devote more time, because the beginnings are often complicated. This is why the change of diet can bring fatigue, headaches, mood problems, etc. This is how the body cleanses itself and removes the toxins inside.
Once the body gets used to this situation, the feeling of hunger easily disappears. To keep the body hydrated, drink plenty of water and eat fruit and vegetables instead. To optimise the results of this programme, it is preferable to do some physical activity. For more effectiveness, advice from an endocrinologist, a nutritionist and a dietician is important.
In the end, the return to a normal diet must be done slowly and gradually while maintaining the rules obtained during the detox programme. Apart from the consultation with a doctor, it should be noted that the programme will last a maximum of ten days. Consulting a doctor is essential in order to know the appropriate detox programme for the person's current state of health and the diseases present during the treatment period.
