Overview
Most of the foods you consume as part of the standard American diet, in addition to the environmental toxins to which you are exposed on a daily basis, create an accumulation of irritants in the body, according to Alejandro Junger, M.D. When the body is constantly exposed to irritants, the digestive system remains in a state of high alert, writes Dr. Junger in his 2009 book "Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restores the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself." This steals energy from other bodily functions, leaving little for healing or detoxification. A diet for a complete detox may help to eliminate toxins and treat chronic disease, but you should take care to detox safely and avoid vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
Benefits
By allowing your body's digestive system to rest and the detoxification system to engage, you give your body the opportunity to eliminate toxins that have accumulated in your tissues. According to Dr. Junger, this can bring about the relief of health conditions such as constipation, allergies, depression, irritable bowel syndrome and general puffiness. He reports case studies of patients who have lost stubborn weight, resolved hormonal imbalances and healed skin conditions, such as eczema.
Elimination Diet
For a detox program to work, it must eliminate foods that contribute to the formation of mucus, including wheat, dairy products, refined sugars and excessive red meat. It must also eliminate common allergens such as eggs, peanuts, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. Dr. Junger recommends excluding bananas, alcohol, caffeine, coffee, soy, potatoes, raw fish, pork and beef. The focus of the detox diet is on organic whole fruits and vegetables, gluten-free grains, lean animal protein and monounsaturated fats, found in foods such as olive oil, avocados and nuts.
Functions of Detoxification
Some popular detoxification methods, such as water or juice fasting, may fail to supply the body with the necessary nutrients to help it eliminate toxins. A successful detox program should reduce the burden on the digestive system, restore the balance of intestinal flora, provide essential nutrients to the liver, facilitate the elimination of toxins and provide the body with a 12-hour window to enter into detoxification mode. Dr. Junger reports that the human body typically needs eight hours to digest a meal and four hours to do a deep cleaning.
Method
For an effective detox diet, Dr. Junger recommends eating one solid meal and two liquid meals daily. Consuming a healthy smoothie for breakfast, a solid meal for lunch, and a liquid meal -- either pureed vegetable soup or juice -- for dinner eases the strain of digestion normally placed on the body. Allowing at least 12 hours between dinner and your breakfast the next day gives your body more time to enter into detoxification mode and clear out toxins. Northwestern Health Sciences University recommends taking supplements during a detox period, such as broad-spectrum antioxidants, probiotics and a formula to support liver function.
Considerations
Detox diets can have harmful side effects, including dehydration, fatigue, dizziness and nausea, reports MayoClinic.com. Talk to your doctor before making any major dietary changes. Do not attempt a cleansing program if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are in the advanced stages of a serious illness, or are taking a medication that requires a stable blood concentration.
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