It is January. Holidays are over and it is time to face the reality. You overdid it throughout the festivities. Hey, don’t feel ashamed. You are not alone. I did the same. Too much to drink, too much to eat, not nearly enough exercise.
Now, it’s time to get back on track and I have a PLAN. We are going to DETOX. Alright, calm down! Not what you are thinking. Just listen to me.
First things first. What is Detox anyway?
According to Dr Google, “detox is a process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances.”
It doesn’t seem too hard. For how long are we doing it?
Let’s try one week? I can definitely cut stuff for a single week.
Ok. How?
First, let’s clean up our diets. This means eliminating anything that could be toxic or unhealthy. And I have a list for you.
- Sweet biscuits, cakes, desserts
- Processed meats and sausages
- Ice cream, lollies and chocolate
- Meat pies and pastries
- Crisps, chips, and other salty snacks
- Cream and butter
- Margarine
- Soft drinks, fruit drinks, and sports drinks
- Alcoholic drinks
Anything processed needs to go (It’s just a week. You can get back to it next week if you want). This also means preparing food at home, cooking from scratch using wholesome ingredients.
So, what foods can we eat? Well, we are looking for highly nutritious foods. Think vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals (phyto what???). Fruits and vegetables should cover that. Think colour and variety. Oh, and minimally processed is always better since cooking can reduce nutrients in foods.
We also need fibre, lots of fibre. Why? Because fibre acts as a filter in our guts. It helps (and speeds up) elimination of waste and toxins from the body. You don’t want rubbish hanging around your kitchen bin; then, why would you want it inside you! Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and pulses are all great sources of fibre. Fruits and vegetables are better when consumed raw and whole (cooking and juicing break down fibre and we don’t want that).
To preserve our lean mass (muscles) during the process, we need to consume enough protein. Good sources are lean beef, chicken breast, pork loin, fish, eggs, and low fat dairy.
Don’t forget to include healthy fats. Those can be found in olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds.
And, of course, water to wash us down and facilitate the cleaning process.
Still confused? Here is a list of superfoods to include:
- Lean red meat
- Salmon
- Eggs
- Low fat plain yogurt
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower)
- Mixed berries
- Oranges
- Mixed beans
- Quinoa
- Whole oats
- Mixed nuts
- Avocados
- Olive oil
- Flax seeds (ground)
- Green tea
That’s it. Our bodies should do the rest.
This is not exactly a detox plan. It is how we are suppose to eat on regular basis. If you follow those simple guidelines throughout the year, I guarantee you will not need a detox plan. Ever.