This post will share 9 things you should know for a healthy and successful detox or cleanse. Plus give you a list of 12 of the best detox foods.
1. Check with Your Doctor
The number one thing to do before considering a detox diet or cleanse is check with your doctor. This is because he or she can help determine whether a detox or cleanse is right for you. I can’t stress this enough – in fact, I will be working with my doctor in January to start the Longevity Diet to reduce inflammation.
2. Why Are You Doing a Detox or Cleanse?
Next, be clear about your purpose. Once you’re you know this, you’ll be able to more easily stay focused when the going gets tough or help you determine if a detox diet is right for you. For instance, here are some of the most common reasons for doing a detox.
- Lose Weight
- Eliminate Bloating/Digestive Issues/Food Sensitivities
- Boost Energy
- Reduce Inflammation
- Promote Clear & Healthy Skin
- Improve Mood
- Increase Mental Clarity/Decrease Brain Fog
- Eliminate Environmental Toxins from the Body
- Decrease Cravings
3. What is a Detox vs. a Cleanse?
A detox and cleanse serve two different purposes. For example, a cleanse is more like a diet that “cleanses” the digestive tract, where a detox is focused on improving the health of your kidneys and liver – the two main digestive organs. By improving the function of your kidneys and liver, you will then improve how quickly and effectively toxins are removed from your body.
4. How Does a Detox or Cleanse Work?
Here are 5 Basic Steps of a Detox Program:
- Rest the organs – by fasting on certain foods, the detox organs can rest
- Stimulate the liver to remove toxins from the body
- Improve circulation in the blood
- Eliminate toxins through the skin, kidneys and intestines
- Refuel the body with clean and healthy nutrients (see the list of natural detox foods at the end)
5. Common Types of Detox Diets
You probably want to know some of the different types of detoxes, now that you know how a detox cleanse works. So, here’s a list of a few of the more common types of detox diets.
- Sugar Detox (one of my favorites in this category is Dr. Hyman’s 10-Day Blood Sugar Solution)
- Food Restriction
- Juice Cleanse and or Drinking only Specific Liquids (Juice, water, tea, lemon juice)
- Food Sensitivity or Hypoallergenic Cleanse
6. Which Detox Program Is Right for Me?
After checking with your doctor, the next step is to be clear on your purpose for detoxing so you can select the right program. However, this may also work in reverse, you might select a detox plan first, then have your doctor review it. As a side note, there are many detoxification programs, but most follow a 7-day plan because that’s simply how long it takes the body to “clean the blood”.
7. What About Safety?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched friends in gymnastics, fitness competitions, and friends getting ready for weddings follow an unhealthy detox diet. For example, I even remember a friend fainting at work during a cleanse.
So above all, safety is first, according to the NIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health), “the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have taken action against companies selling detox products because they (1) contained illegal, potentially harmful ingredients or (2) falsely claimed they could treat serious diseases; or (3) in the colon cleansing, were marketed for unapproved uses”.
So, as you can see, this keeps going back to checking with your doctor.
8. The Best Detox Foods
What should you eat now that you’ve consulted with a doctor on a detox plan? Next, you’ll find a list of the best foods to eat before, after and during a detox and why:
- Bone Broth – Improves immune health by decreasing inflammation and protects against leaky gut
- Chlorella – Freshwater algae rich with phytonutrients and helps body detox or “chelate” heavy metals
- Grapefruit – Known for increasing liver enzymes involved in detoxification
- Spirulina – Blue-green algae with anti-inflammatory and antioxidants – reduces oxidative stress
- Brussels Sprouts – promote regularity, increase detox enzymes for liver health
- Berries – Full of fiber for regularity, antioxidants to protect liver from oxidative stress
- Beets – Boosts key detoxification enzymes, full of macro and micronutrients that aid in detoxification
- Chia Seeds – Superfood that packs a punch of fiber and aids in better digestion and blood sugar control
- Nuts – My fav – high in fiber, heart healthy fats, protein and antioxidants, can lower risk of fatty liver
- Turmeric – Contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant that helps control inflammation
- Ginger – Stimulates digestion, circulation, and sweating – the body’s three main avenues of natural detoxification
- Leafy Greens – Contains minerals and vitamins B, K, C, E all which aid in detoxification
9. The Bottom Line
In the end, it’s fantastic that you want to take charge of your health because there are many amazing benefits of a detox that improve overall health and wellbeing. And, above all it’s important to talk with a licensed health care provider when you’re deciding whether to do a detox or cleanse.
Have an amazing and healthy week!
