What is a Detox Diet?

Next time you step into the super market, take a look around as you stand in line to pay. Every magazine will tout a new cleanse or detox diet sure to supercharge your energy and help you drop 10 pounds…

Even the newest diet books are focusing on the next best detox or cleanse.

Yet, there has been a slew of doctors and professionals asking us to stay away from these type of diets.

Why does it matter?

So why even continue writing about the detox diet when many claim they are risky or even dangerous to our health?

That’s because I believe that you can detox your diet and cleanse your system. *you may now be shocked*

There are many different definitions of a detox, but it usually refers to ” a short-term diet, often 3- to 21 days, focused on removing toxins from the body” (according to Cathy Wong, ND, CNS).

I’m not usually a proponent of diets as I believe healthy eating is a way of life and not a short term fix. However, when it comes to cleansing our bodies of toxins, chemicals, and artificial additives, I believe this is something we all need to focus on more often and stringently monitor for short periods of time like a detox.

What I mean when I say “Detox”

Now before you start to click out of this post, I’d like you to know that I’m not suggesting you drink nothing but lemon water all week and starve. Heck no! That would completely go against everything that I stand for and write about here on Eat on the Run.

When I say detox, I mean to focus on whole foods. Starting to sound familiar? However, during the time of a planned cleanse, you should commit to eating only the freshest of foods…nothing from a box.

I heard this on a pod cast last evening: “If you can’t pick it, pluck it, milk it, or shoot it, then don’t eat it”. That pretty much applies to my definition of a detox.

Your menu comes from the produce aisle, the meat case, and even the bulk foods. Think fruits, veggies, beans, legumes, grass fed beef, organic chicken, organic milks…etc. Choose foods that have been minimally touched by man for the duration of your detox plan. I would steer clear of even normally healthy choices like yogurts, cottage cheese, cheese, veggie burgers, etc, because they are all modification of the original food. Yogurt is a modification of milk and veggie burgers are a modification of vegetables. Take a step back and think about the root food, and then go back and purchase that food instead.

Why Detox?

There are many benefits to detoxing your diet

Weight Loss is one touted benefit. It’s hard to overeat fruits and vegetables, and I sure as hell haven’t heard anyone overdosing on chicken. Please don’t go out and prove me wrong and eat your body weight in bananas tonight. But most of the time, a well planned and executed cleanse will result in weight loss.

Better digestion is a main reason to detox. The foods that will be the bulk of your diet will be high in fiber and low in chemicals. This in essence will help your system run smoothly and jump start you back to regularity J

Possibly, a decrease in the risk of chronic illness. Decreasing the amount of chemicals and additives in your diet may also decrease your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. There are still many studies that need to be conducted to confirm this benefit, but eliminating chemicals during your detox, and then minimally consuming them during your typical diet can help.

Why you shouldn’t detox…

Yes, certain people shouldn’t start a detox, and talking with your physician and working closely with a registered dietitian is strongly encouraged. If you’re pregnant, have a chronic condition, and even certain genetic conditions may actually be at risk during a detox.

Tools to detox!

To increase my intake of fruits and veggies even when I’m not cleansing my system, I rely on my Ninja Kitchen System.

A quality blender (I just own a Ninja and find it extremely reliable and powerful) will help you create delicious smoothies incorporating both fruits and vegetables.

A juicer is another way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake. There are many websites and blogs that will give you recipes for both smoothies and delicious fresh juices.