The detox diet consists of limiting one's diet to plant products only, juicing or otherwise, for 7 successive days. This diet consists, not only in losing weight, but also helps to eliminate waste from the body and to be in its ease. You have to be careful though, as detox is very controversial.
Features of detox:
- Food based on fruit, vegetables or juice
- For 1 to 7 successive days
- Slimming and detoxification
- Very restrictive diet
- Unlimited lemon juice, water and tea
The sources of the detox diet
The detox diet can be done from many aspects. For example with lemon, from a juice, or simply whole fruits and vegetables. The aim of this diet is to keep the organs cleansing the body and to validate the detoxification.
How does the detox diet make you lose weight?
The detox diet brings a strengthening of the physical and mental well-being and causes an increase in the level of energy. It helps to reduce appetite and to have a good sleep. It also gives you glowing skin and a stronger immune system. Detox diets measure the human body with a car engine that gets polluted over time, absorbing waste and toxins that cause fatigue.
This causes a negative change in skin tone and hair, a softened immune system and difficulties with digestion etc. It is the body itself that causes this waste, but it could also be pollution, medication, smoking or alcohol. At times, the body can no longer expel all these wastes, which is why a detoxification cure is useful.
The organs most targeted during a detox are the liver, kidneys and intestines. By doing this detox, it allows these organs to work well and strengthens the metabolism. In the end, it helps to burn more calories.
It should be pointed out that the main key organs for detoxification in the body are the liver and the kidneys. The body produces waste products and these organs that take care of excluding them naturally.
The liver is involved in building up urea before it is excluded from the body, and in getting alcohol and drugs out by working with the kidneys, to destroy fatty acids. Later, the kidneys are involved in clearing the blood and removing waste products. If the kidney is still functioning well, there will be no worries about the quality of the blood.
How long does the detox diet last?
The detox diet lasts from 1 to 7 days, and it is not recommended to exceed this period. This diet is above all very restrictive and if there is a continuity beyond 7 days, it could cause serious deficiencies. There are several ways to do the diet: a few days in a row, or once a week etc. The duration is one of the keys to the success of the detox diet.
Allowed foods
The foods or drinks to be listed on the "detox" day are generally:
- Green tea
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Beetroot
- Artichokes
- Carrots
- Citrus fruits: lemon, orange, grapefruit
- Red fruit: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries
- Foods rich in chlorophyll: asparagus, dandelion, avocado, kiwi, kale, watercress, chives, mint, basil, thyme, parsley, etc.
During this time, it is generally recommended to drink at least 1. 5 litres of water during the day. Some diets also ask you to drink lemon water when you wake up in the morning, or green tea throughout the day.
In all the foods suggested in the detox menu, there is usually an excess of antioxidants. It should be remembered that antioxidants are very important in the elimination of the main actors that destroy the body. These major players are indeed the waste products that the body accumulates, such as internal and external waste products, i. e. smoke, chemicals, dust etc. The mixtures that are found in the antioxidant are vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and carotenoids. These are generally available in all the foods suggested for a detox.
Foods to avoid
During the detox cure, certain foods should be avoided to avoid adding more toxins and polluting the organs. The following list is not complete:
- Caffeine
- Cigarette
- Alcohol
- Refined sugars
- Fats
- Processed food
- Animal products: especially red meat and sometimes dairy products
It has been scientifically proven that certain foods that should be eliminated during detox periods have negative effects on health, such as red meat and alcohol. It is therefore not recommended to take them on a daily basis, and not only during the detox.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of detox?
Positive points of the lemon detox diet
- Fiber intake
- Rich in antioxidants and micronutrients
- Very short term
- Feels good
- Requires little cooking
- Easy to understand and make
The negative points of the detox diet
- Very complex and low calorie
- Lack of protein
- Frequent feelings of hunger
- Monotonous and difficult to follow in the long term
- Not compatible with an active social life
- Risky for sensitive people as it can lead to monomaniacal eating behaviour
Advice and precautions to take
Are there any risks?
Most of the foods recommended on the detox diet are usually filled with vegetables and fruit, which are likely to be low in calories to provide the required amounts of vitamins and minerals. It has been shown that women need at least 1200 calories in a day, and men need 1800 calories. Apart from that, a diet that consists of less than 1600 calories per day is not enough to get the required amount of nutrients, namely vitamin C, E, calcium and magnesium.
It is therefore best to avoid doing this diet for a long time. Most of the weight used during the detox is water as the body ejects from its glycogen stores. Finally, there is a sharp drop in protein in the body (about 30g/day) which also causes muscle weakness.
Can anyone follow the detox diet?
In general, and regardless of life condition, it is not advisable to do the lemon or juice detox diet for an excessive amount of time. On the other hand, doing a detox day would be very beneficial to the body if it needs it. For example, it is necessary to eat very light meals after a heavy meal so that the organs can recover and cleanse themselves of all waste products (after the Christmas holidays for example).
Can athletes follow this diet?
Yes, no worries. This kind of diet is anyway short term. The ideal is not to practice too much sport during the detox day. On the other hand, you should do some sport on the following days. Sport helps the body to reject toxins and to stop the muscle loss caused by strict diets.
How to avoid weight gain after a detox fruit juice diet?
If the detox has been well executed, there is no need to put on weight again. It is important to know that the detox diet is not a weight loss diet. It should not be adopted for more than 2 successive days and should be accompanied by light food and no more vegetables for a few days.
