What is a DETOX🥦
I see the word Detox misused so often and used for weight loss plans, vegan plans, juice fasts….A detox is to help get rid of toxins from your body.
Your body is well-equipped to eliminate toxins but for many people their liver is not performing 100%. And genetically some people (like me) do need extra help. Our liver is supposed to do over 500 things a day so we should be supporting it every day.
If you are looking for a good detox programme to give you that extra support here are things that you should look for. The programme should –
1. Include quality protein – our liver needs protein to function properly. Phase 2 of our liver detox system require dietary amino acids. So a fast or ‘juice detox’ or just fruit and vegetables will not help the liver. In fact when a diet is lacking in protein your body starts to draw on protein in your liver, to its detriment.
Good choices are eggs, fish, poultry and to a lesser extent beans and pulses. Beans and pulses can be difficult to digest so may be better eaten later on in a detox plan.
2. Get in a good supply of B vitamin foods which really help to flush out toxins. Especially Folate rich foods such as Asparagus. Eat 2 cups green leafy vegetables a day.
3. Avoid sugars, alcohol and caffeine, burnt foods and smoked foods.
4. Pre and probiotic foods – fermented foods, soluble fibre, stewed apple. These can help regular elimination (constipation can lead to the reabsorption of toxins).
5. Epsom salt baths, dry skin brushing, exercise and saunas to assist with toxin removal.
6. Include iron rich foods – iron deficiency may affect Phase 1 detoxification.
7. Avoid pesticides so ideally eat organic. See my clean 15 and dirty dozen list on my website. Many dried fruits like dates are sprayed with pesticides. Eat small amounts of fresh fruit instead. Avoid bananas which are high in sugar and many people are intolerant to.
8. Vegetables good for your liver – artichokes, Asparagus, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, kale, dandelion, fennel, garlic, leeks, onions, parsley, coriander, radish, rocket, watercress.
