Detox diet to cleanse up your body naturally

GUEST POST: Amanda Kidd

It has now become a habit for most people to grab a bite wherever you can, whatever the food might be. Your fast paced lifestyle hardly leaves any time for yourself. However, it can’t be denied that lack of proper nutrition might result in:

• Excessive weight gain

• Weight loss

• Exhaustion

• Insomnia

• Stress

• Tiredness

• Hair fall out

• Skin problems

It is the unwanted toxins that you intake with your food and drink that causes all of these. We take toxic substances with our food without really realizing how much harm we are causing to our body. It is necessary to sit up and start paying attention to all that we eat and drink. It is of utmost importance to treat our body well and make sure that it does not come to any harm. Only a body that is healthy from the inside can respond to stress and can function properly.
One of the ways in which we can improve our digestion and health in general is by following the natural detox diet. Detoxifying the body naturally involves getting rid of all the toxins that are present in the body. Not only that, it is inclusive of following a specific diet that will exclude any such food product that may contain toxic substances. A detox diet is essential to cleanse the toxins from the organs, tissues and blood of your body. Detox may involve fasting or restricting the different kinds of food that you eat.

But instead of following a strict regime and denying yourself all the food that you love, here are some simple steps that you may follow to detoxify your body and make it healthier:
1. Drink enough water. It is essential to make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Water flushes away the toxins present in our body and cleanses our system.
2. Eat natural carbohydrates that are whole grain instead of refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates carry calories without nutrition. On the other hand, whole grain cereals are rich in fiber and are full of nutrition. They are also easy to digest and expel toxins from your system.
3. Include a lot of fresh fruits and green vegetables in your diet. Do not overcook them as they tend to lose their nutrition when overcooked. Organic green vegetables also contain various vitamins and minerals that are good for your body and health.
4. Eat natural home cooked food as opposed to processed, pre-packaged or pre-cooked food products. Home cooked food contain many nutrients that are absent in the latter. There are many recipes available that involve fresh ingredients and are also easy to prepare.
5. Eat lean protein like chicken and fish that will be easy to digest and will stand for your daily protein intake.
6. Go for a spa that is specially designed to detox your body or opt for a sauna. A spa or sauna gets rid of dead skin, and also opens your pores, thus dispelling the toxins present in your body.
There are things that you should avoid while detoxifying your body, such as:-

• Sweetened beverages

• Beverages containing caffeine

• Food products that contain artificial color and flavor

• Any food that contains trans-fatty acids and saturated fat

• Alcohol

• Cigarettes

• Refined carbohydrate

• Sugar

• Red meat

• Junk food that contains an excess of sodium.

All of these need to be avoided altogether if possible. All these are difficult to digest and also contain unnecessary calories and toxins that may cause harm to your body.
Remember that you do not need to detoxify your body very frequently. Detoxification is not essential or recommended for long periods of time. However, it is absolutely essential for you to detoxify your body at least once a year. Before starting on a detox diet, it is highly recommended that you consult your physician and take his advice on what to do and what diet to follow. Following a detox diet that is meant for you will lead you towards a disease-free, happy life.

About the author: Amanda Kidd is a blogger who believes that healthy living leads to happy living.  Her first aid kit for a safe living includes a well planned dietary chart, regular sessions of yoga and adequate amount of sleep.