What Is A Detox Diet
A detox diet is essentially a diet that helps the body rid itself of toxins that have built up in the body, while also giving the digestive system a break. The body is very good at doing this by itself, provided you arent pouring in highly processed, unhealthy or sugary foods, which are a common element of many peoples dietary intake. Detox diets have a number of possible effects, which makes them appealing to a large percentage of people.
There is some debate over the efficacy of detox diets, but they are generally considered healthy if you are ensuring you get enough calories every day. A calorie deficiency is common during a detox diet, so they tend to result in some weight loss, although that weight can be easily gained back after the fast.
Detox diets also come in many different forms, including juice cleanses, water fasts, smoothie diets, and heavy calorie-restriction diets. Depending on what your goals are, one of these detox diet options should be ideal. Detox diets can be dangerous for people who have certain health conditions, such as diabetes, and can result in nutrient deficiencies if they arent executed properly. Detox diets also tend to be quite short, ranging from 2-7 days, although they can go on for longer in some situations.
In This Detox Diet Week Article You Will Find:
- Why does the Detox Diet Week Work
- Detox Diet Plan Reviews
- Benefits of a Detox Diet
- The 3 Day Detox Diet vs. The 7 Day Detox
With all of this information you will be well equipped to start your first 7 day detox plan!
If you are still looking for more recipes, as well as 3 other Detox Diet Plans including a one month, 3 month, and longer weight loss detox plans, check out my best selling book Lose Weight By Eating Detox Week.
What Is A 7 Day Detox
As per the NHS website and dietician Amanda Johnson, detox has long been a popular buzzword and focuses around the idea that, after eating particular foods, you need to cleanse your body of certain toxins or chemicals.
Nutritional therapist Chris Barker of The Lifestyle Clinic continues that, while detox originally meant medically supervised withdrawal from drugs or alcohol abuse, somewhere along the line, it transitioned into a term used by the wellness industry. In his opinion, most detox programmes are more focused on preying on your insecurities and making you pay large sums of money for wonder teas, weight loss guides and so on, rather than preaching the things that genuinely boost your health, like drinking more water and moving mindfully.
Detoxes normally promise to cleanse the organs of bad toxins and will encourage you to entirely avoid a combination of food groups like:
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Carbs
Theyll also likely advocate things like fasting, kickstarting your metabolism, overexercising, raw foods, and so on.
But its all a myth, Johnson shares especially the part about toxins. If the human body really accumulated lots of toxins, then you would feel ill, she explains. The concept of detox diets is irrational and unscientific. In actual fact, when you starve your body of calories your body will ultimately start to build up chemicals called ketones which can result in nausea, dehydration, weakness, light-headedness and irritability.
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Preparing For The Cleanse
A little preparation can go a long way, which is why we set you up for success with everything you need to get started on the 21-Day Program including a shopping list, recipe inspiration, FAQs, and more.
When you take time to ease into the Cleanse Diet with a few days of simple pre-cleansing, you will experience better results. The pre-cleanse is comprised of three meals a day based on the Elimination Diet. By the end of our 21-Day Cleanse, you can have more energy, fewer cravings, and see overall improvements in your general wellbeing.
Start our 21-Day Detox today to see how you can benefit from hitting the reset button on your health.
Life doesn’t stop while you’re on a cleanse, and spending time with friends and family is important. By letting others know what you are up to, you’ll get an additional layer of support during your clean diet program.
The Elimination Diet + The Clean Program Pre-Cleanse
Benefits Of A Detox Diet Week
There are so many benefits to a detox diet week! I wrote an entire article about it!! You can find that article in the link below.
Here are my top 5 reasons to try a detox weight loss plan:
- Fast weight loss
- Longer life expectancy
- More energy
There are so many reasons to try a detox for weight loss, the above 5 reasons are just my personal favorite.
Find more benefits to a detox plan below, and more information about the five above in this benefits to a weight loss detox article:
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Level Of Effort: High
You’ll be hungry and may feel weak. Whether or not a detox diet is safe depends on the plan and how long you stay on it.
Most people donât feel good on low-calorie, nutrient-poor diets. Potential side effects include low energy, low blood sugar, muscle aches, fatigue, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and nausea.
If the idea of detoxing appeals, you might try “clean” eating that focuses on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein — basically, whole foods without a lot of processing. That’s good for you and more likely to give you results that last, especially if you make exercise a habit.
Limitations: You’re going to go without a lot of the foods you usually eat. Detox diets are typically very rigid and involve eating the same few things over and over.
Cooking and shopping: Depends on the detox plan you’re following. Because there’s not a lot you’re allowed to eat, you won’t have a long shopping list and prep work should be minimal.
Packaged foods or meals: Some detox plans recommend herbs, pills, powders, enemas, and other forms of colon cleansing. Methods vary and often include products that are only available from the authorâs web site.
In-person meetings? No.
Exercise: Not required, and you may not have the energy for it, because you’re not getting that many calories.
Detox Diet Plan Reviews
This Detox Diet Plan has bee extremely popular! People are losing up to 16 pounds in one week, and they are doing this while eating MORE food than before!
Before you skip this plan simply because the word detox is in it, understand that in this case, you will eat more food while on the detox diet plan, not less!
The idea that a detox is a fast was also Brough up by my on camera pal, Rachael Ray!
Rachael said that when she hears the words Detox Diet she thinks of someone hardly eating anything at all And in the video below you can see that this detox diet plan, is the exact opposite!
Now, I know Im talking about the book here , but it is the same detox weight loss plan that I will review below
The 7 day detox is not only filled with healthy foods, you may actually find you will eat MORE on this 7 day detox plan, than you are now!
Below you will find the Detox Week Plan, lots of Detox Weight Loss Recipes, even a 7 day cleanse meal planner! So keep scrolling
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Find Your Support System And Stick With Them
Truthfully, I was surprised by the number of people who scoffed, rolled their eyes, or had some unnecessary comment to add when I told them I was doing a cleanse. Even after explaining to them that this was not a one-way ticket to starvation and that I simply wanted to do something that my body would actually thank me for, some people were off-put by the idea of it. Frankly, thats their opinion to have, and not to get all yoga-namaste-zen master on you, but its simply bad energy that you dont need lying around. Seek out the people who support, encourage, uplift, and empower you*, and let the others continue to sip their hate-orade. This logic also works two waysif youve got a buddy trying a new eating plan, be that supportive friend to them. Okay, hand-holding in a circle is now over.
Detox Diet Week: The 7 Day Weight Loss Cleanse
This detox diet plan is so effective, and so popular, that its been turned into a book! But dont worry, you can get the full cleansing diet for free!
Most often, people detox to lose weight, but this plan will help you increase energy, look and feel younger, and so much more! See below in the Benefits of a Detox Diet Plan for more reasons to try this 7 day detox plan.
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Big Bowl Detox Diet Salads
The idea behind these salads, make them so big they are hard to finish! Often I can only eat ½ a big bowl salad, I save the other half for a free snack.
The best cleanse for weight loss, is a weight loss cleanse you can stick to! And with the help of these detox salads, you will feel full and satisfied which will make it more likely you will stick to this 7 day cleanse.
Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps
I make 2 servings of this detox diet week recipe, and put out tortillas for my daughter, this way I dont have to make an extra meal for her.
You can also make a few extra servings of this detox plan meal for leftovers, they are helpful if you have a family to cook for on the smoothie diet only days you wont want to cook on those days and you can just serve leftover fajitas in tortillas, atop a salad, or inside a quesadilla to family members not participating on the 7 day weight loss detox plan.
Leftovers are your friend, freeze them in individual servings to avoid snacking on them, and to ensure your freezer will be eventually packed with healthy homemade TV Dinners.
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Distance Really Does Make The Heart Grow Fonder
Youll always want what you cant have is a very real sentiment. If nothing else, this cleanse has reminded me of all the little indulgences in my normal, day-to-day eating that bring me genuine joy. And going without them for 7 days makes them that much greater. You better believe that first latte went down like an oiled watermelon on a slide and that first fried egg tasted like a Michelin-star meal. It sure is good to be back.
*ILY Mom!
Green Protein Detox Diet Smoothie
This detox diet week leans heavily on detox smoothie recipes, and often we need a bit more protein in our diet This recipe is full of protein, and perfect for the all smoothie detox days.
If youre looking to add more protein to your detox smoothies, try this unsweetened vegan protein powder.
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Whats The Best Clean Eating Diet
Combining all those foods and principles into a diet can be a tricky process. However, the Mediterranean diet is one of the diets that has been studied a lot and the consistent results it produces is why its considered one of the best to follow.
It is high in the foods mentioned within the previous section, with a focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, beans, legumes and low-fat dairy.
Many credible organisations suggest following a Mediterranean diet. These include:
It has also been ranked as the number 1 diet since 2018 according to the U.S. News & World Report.
It is ranked so highly because of both how easy it is to follow as well as the scientific research backing its use. This makes it a great choice if youre looking for a healthy diet that youll actually stick to.
In terms of the specific studies that back the Mediterranean diet, a few studies looking at various health factors have been linked to below:
- Lower risk of cardiovascular events, coronary heart disease,
- Lower risk of coronary heart disease
- Lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Lower risk of breast cancer
- Lower risk of obesity
- Better cognitive function
I Tried A 7 Day Detox It Was Hell
Louise*, 27 from Bournemouth, shares why shed never recommend a 7 day detox plan after following one herself.
I first tried a 7 day detox when I was about 18 years old I was desperate to fit into a dress for our end of year uni formal.
I was eating minimal meals a day and, while I got through the first one okay, I soon became addicted to the feeling of losing weight, practicing the detox more often than eating normally. I had no energy, suffered from constant headaches, and was grumpy all the time. I also lost my periods as I wasnt giving my body the nutrients that it needed.
Now, eight years on, I have a healthy relationship with food and see how ridiculous it was to put my body into such a severe calorie deficit. Im grateful that it didnt cause more long-term damage and cant imagine how I functioned with so little energy all the time. Focusing on building genuinely healthy habits into my day-to-day rather than grasping at the latest quick-fix diet has changed my life Im now happy and genuinely healthy, too.
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Symptoms Your Colon Is Toxic
Just like any other body part, even your colon symptoms can turn toxic or it might not function the right way. So, how to know if your colon is toxic? Here are 10 vital signs to look for:
Once you observe the above symptoms, a natural colon cleanse is what you need to do. Though there are many ways you could do this, livealittlelonger.com recommends the greener way. Just follow the natural colon cleansing diet plan for 7 days to get rid of harmful toxins.
Sweet Potato Two Ways
You can have it sweet and savory: We think the sweet potato tastes as delicious prepared with tahini, dates, and pepitas as it does topped with avocado, red onion, and cilantro. Baking the sweet potato the night before makes this quicker to prepare in the morningwarm it back up in the oven and finish with the toppings.
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General Guidelines For Clean Eating
Although its good to know the types, its a good idea to know some basic principles that you can follow to keep your eating as clean as possible.
On the whole, youll want to prioritise eating whole, fresh food rather than canned food. Canned food often has lots more sodium, which can lead to increases in blood pressure.
If youre hungry between meal times, its a good idea to stock up on some healthy snacks. Fruits, berries, nuts and seeds are great choices that are full of fiber. High fiber contents within food help keep you full without consuming many calories.
Youll also want to start experimenting with different herbs and spices rather than using salt all the time to flavour food.
Protein and fiber are both nutrients you should ensure you are getting enough of. Both help you feel satiated, meaning you stay full and therefore, will feel the need to snack less. Protein is essential in preventing muscle loss and fiber helps improve digestion.
A good habit to pick up is to check the food labels. You may be surprised how much sodium/salt or sugar are in particular foods. Certain types of foods are also be high in saturated fats, so its good to be aware how much you are consuming.
Eating a clean diet doesnt mean starving yourself or being overly restrictive with your food choices. This causes nutritional imbalances, which can lead to health problems.
The Diet Detox Basics
Weve put together four days of menus that you can mix and match over the week. The meals are simple to prepare and have few ingredients, so theyll fit into any crazy-busy schedule. Each meal should include a high-quality lean protein and healthy fat sources to keep hunger levels under control while fueling muscles.
As a general rule, aim to get at least five to six servings of fruits and veggies a day, as well as foods that help detox and ensure proper digestion with probiotics and prebiotics. To make it easy, weve included a few recipes that will fit right into your meal prep.
Make sure youre staying hydrated by drinking at least 8 ounces of water at each meal and snack, and time your meals for optimal performance. Aim to work out 2 to 3 hours after eating and have a meal or snack within 30 to 60 minutes of exercise to maximize muscle-building activity.
Follow each days meals as listed below or switch them around to suit your taste. By the end of the week youll have found a few new favorites and be on track for a cleaner diet you can easily sustain.
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Strawberry Shake Weight Loss Detox Smoothie
If you get regular milk shaking cravings try this yummy weight loss shake!
Find more green smoothies, disguised as milk shakes in the Detox Week Cookbook!
Any of the recipes in this smoothie diet plan can be made protein shake recipes for weight loss with a bit of unflavored, unsweetened vegan protein powder.