Easy Detox Diet

Detox diets are an increasingly popular solution for individuals looking to drop a few pounds or improve their overall health without a permanent revamping of their nutritional lifestyle. While some detox diets are downright strange, asking you to consume nothing but lemonade for weeks on end, there are a number of safer, benign alternatives that you can use to jump-start your dieting efforts.

Detox Diet Theory

A detox diet is a plan lasting from several days to several weeks, during which time you will follow a fairly rigorous protocol to "cleanse" your body of accumulated impurities. The idea behind a detox diet is that, over time, your body retains environmental toxins that can eventually lead to health issues. Through addressing the problem with a detox, you proactively remove the threat, resulting in minor weight loss and improved feelings of well-being.

Fruit Flush

The safest types of detox diets are not starvation or wholly liquid plans, but ones that provide your body with adequate amounts of nutritious food. Thus, a good plan to consider for your easy detox is the Fruit Flush plan, which is a short-term detox lasting 3 days that allows your body adequate vitamins and nutrients in the form of protein shakes and fruit.

Following the Fruit Flush

The first day of the Fruit Flush is the pre-detox day. From eight in the morning to four in the evening, you will consume a 6-oz. protein shake once every 2 hours. At six in the evening you will have dinner--a healthy meal consisting of a salad with 3 to 6 oz. of turkey, chicken or fish. On both the second and the third day, you will eat fresh fruit every 2 hours (beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.). For dinner on the second and third days, you will have a large garden salad topped with olive or flaxseed oil.

Benefits

You can expect mild to moderate weight loss after undergoing the 3-day Fruit Flush Detox. You will likely lose anywhere from 2 to 5 lbs. Additionally, expect to feel better as well, as you will be replacing your typical consumption of heavily processed foods with more natural alternatives, which will provide your body a nice break from years of eating unhealthy items.

Considerations

The period following your 3-day detox is the perfect time to begin a full-blown diet. Dietitian Keri Glassman recommends using a detox plan as an "introduction" to healthy dieting. As your body will just be getting used to consumption of healthy, natural foods from the detox, you should continue the momentum and transition to a healthy, balanced diet consisting of lean protein (chicken, turkey, meat or fish), fruits, vegetables, limited amounts of whole grains, and healthy fats (like the olive oil consumed during the plan).