Detoxing can help kick start the diet
Most people would benefit from a Detox after the hectic festive season. As well as helping you lose any weight you gained, it also helps to support your body’s own elimination systems after a period of excess.
Detox is especially helpful for those who feel stressed, run down, tired all the time or have a tendency towards recurrent infections, headaches, poor concentration or digestive discomfort.
Detox doesn’t have to involve fasting, colonic irrigation or fad foods. It should be a pleasurable routine in which you adopt a healthier diet and lifestyle that can continue long-term.
This means mainly eating fresh or dried fruit, raw or lightly-steamed vegetables, home-made juices, smoothies and soups. For protein, eat more pulses such as soy beans, chickpeas and lentils. If you want to eat meat, select fish and lean (skinned) chicken. Wholegrains such as oatmeal and brown rice provide fibre and energy. I usually add cottage cheese to my list of detox essentials (delicious with chopped pear and flaked almonds) along with probiotic yoghurts and drinks. These help to repopulate the bowel with bacteria that aid digestive health and play a role in boosting immunity. The yoghurt drink, Actimel, for example, contains the probiotic Lactobacillus casei which has been shown to boost cellular immunity in young, healthy women as well as middle-aged adults. This can be particularly helpful when winter bugs are around.
You can eat as much or as little of these foods as you like, and do not necessarily have to lose weight if you are within the healthy weight range for your height. Ideally, fruit, vegetables and meats should be organic and locally grown or reared so they are as fresh as possible.
What you don’t eat is just as important as what you do. Avoid caffeine, added salt (sodium chloride), artificial sweeteners and alcohol. If you have previously consumed more than three caffeinated drinks per day, cut back gradually a week or two before starting a Detox so you do not experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms of headache, jitteriness and irritability.
For fluids, drink water (usually mineral or filtered) and non-caffeinated herbal teas such as mint, camomile or rooibos. While following a detox, it helps to take a daily probiotic to boost immunity and digestive health.
Other popular supplements to support a classic Detox include antioxidants, supplements to support liver function (eg milk thistle, globe artichoke) and supplements to aid digestion (eg psyllium, Aloe vera).
3 Simple Steps to Detox by Dr Sarah Brewer:
Step 1: Select a wholefood diet supplying fresh fruit, vegetables, pulses, wholegrains and lean protein sources.
Step 2: Drink water, juices, smoothies and herbal teas.
Step 3: Take supporting supplements such as probiotics, antioxidants, milk thistle and globe artichoke.
A classic detox is traditionally followed for ten days before adding in other foods you enjoy. To maintain the benefits long-term, continue to eat a diet that is as healthy and balanced as possible. In particular, continuing with a daily probiotic such as Actimel helps to provide an on-going immune boost.
Dr Sarah Brewer, is a medical nutritionist and author of The Total Detox Plan (Carlton Books)
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