My husband jokes that we don’t need to detox. Our liver does it.
I think he’s right. But, for me it’s more of a reset. It’s a great way to get your body back in balance after a vacation or the holidays.
What it does in theory, is that a detox gives your liver a break from filtering out bad foods you’re eating. Then, it works on flushing out your system of toxins in your body.
When my husband and I go on vacation we turn into foodies. We seek out the best restaurants and try to grab the best things on the menu. But, when we come back we pay for it.
Why Detox?
So, we come home with vacation belly and feel lousy. I never regret eating all that fantastic food. But, when I get home it’s time for the real world. If it’s been an extra long vacay then I go on a detox. Usually, it takes the body about three days to adjust to a “new” way of eating. But, sometimes for me, two is plenty.
Most detoxes really restrict calories. I don’t believe in that. That would just slow your metabolism and throw you off balance as soon as you stop. Which is the same thing as yo-yo dieting. You would be over hungry, cranky and have no energy. That’s just dumb!
You want to have enough energy that you can get back to your workout regime immediately while cleansing your system.
Foods to Avoid
If anything, a detox is as much mental as it is physical. You’ll feel better flushing out the belly. You should be gaining some energy back. So, speaking of, here’s what you need to avoid the next 2 days…
- alcohol
- gluten
- dairy
- refined sugar
- processed foods
- wheat
- red meat
- eggs
- Starches and refined carbs, such as white rice, potatoes, white bread and pasta
- MSG
Do
What you DO want to consume is lots of water with lemon throughout the day. It’ll get your pH levels back to normal. The best way to do this is to fill a pitcher of filtered water with 1 or 2 sliced lemons to have handy in the fridge. If you’re not into lemon water, or it hurts your teeth, try it infused. Mint water is refreshing and you’ll drink more of it than bland tap.
Also, drink Rooibos tea. This South African tea has been a medicinal remedy for hundreds of years. Among one of it’s many benefits is being an antioxidant, which I’m a fan of.
Let’s get down to business. Most recipes I’ve posted are detox friendly. So, I’ll put together a meal plan for the next two days.
Day 1:
Upon waking: Drink a big glass of water with lemon
Before breakfast: Morning Apple Cider Tea (this recipe is from another site, but it works great–definitely drink with warm water)
Breakfast: Banana Kale Smoothie
Lunch: Crunchy Chopped Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
Snack: Chia Pudding
Dinner: Grilled Salmon with Quinoa and baked sweet potato (dry)
Evening: 2 medjool dates with handful of raw almonds and a cup of Rooibos tea (can add tsp of coconut sugar for sweetness)
Day 2:
Upon Waking: Glass of lemon water
Before Breakfast: Morning Apple Cider Tea
Breakfast: Chia Pudding
Lunch: Crunchy Chopped Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
Snack: 2 Tablespoons of Cashew Butter with fruit of your choice
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Thighs with quinoa and grilled asparagus
Evening: 2 medjool dates with handful of almonds and a cup of Rooibos tea
With our busy lives and families to feed that are clearly not detoxing, we have to be reasonable here. So, this is a two day plan. But, if you want to go three….even better! Good luck. It’s only two days!
xo-Megan
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