HOW TO DETOX - PART 2

A detoxification diet can be done twice a year. It is not to be done by pregnant women and, nursing mothers. The eldery, those suffering from any illnesses or life style diseases like hypertension, diabetes, high blood pressure, consult a doctor for a personalized detox diet.

A detox diet requires us to avoid alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats, fast food, restaurant foods, packeted food and juices, cakes, pastries, icecreams, sweets, chocolates, tea, coffee, coke, chips, all processed food, meat, chicken, fish, sausages, flour, butter, oil. 

Detox diet is followed between 7 to 10 days as it takes the body some time to clean the blood.  Fast on liquids for two days (fresh fruit and fresh vegetable juices without sugar, and not packeted ones or what they serve in restaurants), followed by a carefully-planned five-day or eight day detox diet to enable the digestive system to rest. On the third day of the detox diet, you can start light exercises if you feel tired. If you feel energetic enough, exercise for half hour to 45 minutes depending on your physical capacity.

1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice, green salad leaves, fresh fruits and vegetables (raw, boiled or steamed). Lemon, oranges, beetroots, radishes, cabbage, broccoli, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods. You can include potatoes, cauliflower, green leaves, beans, carrot….whatever vegetable you like in your diet. Avoid packeted cereals, cola, tea, coffee, flour,  white bread, meat, chicken, fish, liver during the detox.

 2. Drink green tea (with honey, not sugar) for cleansing the Liver.

 3. Take vitamin C, in form of Oranges or other fruits with Vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.

 4. Drink at 8 glasses of water daily.

 5. Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.

 6. Relieve stress by emphasizing positive emotions

 7. Take a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back, followed by cold water for 30 seconds.  

 8. Sweat in a sauna atleast twice a week so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration.

Calming and toning light exercise like yoga and tai chi enhance the body’s functioning.