Planning a Detox Diet Menu

Most people are not fans of cleanses or detox diets, which can involve laxatives or colonics. However, clean eating programs can help to do wonders for your body. There are plenty of programs out there, some that can take one to three weeks to be completed. A three day detox diet plan that is free of alcohol, caffeine, refined sugar, carbs and sugar substitutes might be just what your body needs to get back on track.

If you try the three day detox diet menu, in just a few short days you can feel better and look younger by eliminating dietary toxins and focus more on consuming natural, whole foods.

Three Day Detox Breakdown

This three day detox will consist of fifteen-hundred calories a day. If you require fewer or more calories, you can easily just alter the portion sizes, but never skip a meal or snack. You need to eat frequently in order to kick start your metabolism into working harder.

Drinking water during this time is essential to your success and usually, the more water the better. Try to consume a gallon a day. Hot water with lemon or green tea can be used by people who are missing their morning cup of coffee. If you have to have your coffee in the morning, try and limit it to only one cup.

The typical detox will consist of steel cut oats for breakfast, with one cup of fresh or frozen berries. A snack mid-morning can involve a cup of non-fat plain yogurt and a piece of fruit such as an orange or banana. Lunch is super easy to do. Make a big salad, using romaine lettuce, spinach, and two teaspoons of olive oil for dressing. Top your salad with a can of tuna or salmon, both of which contain a large amount of omega 3 and protein.  Your afternoon snack should be a piece of fruit, non-fat string cheese, or non-fat yogurt. Dinner can consist of baked chicken or a piece of fish, brown rice and a side salad.

Day two of your detox can consist of an egg white omelet for breakfast, a cup of berries or one piece of fruit such as an apple or orange. A mid-morning snack can be a cup of oatmeal, piece of cheese or non-fat yogurt.

Lunch can consist of five ounces of grilled salmon, one cup of chickpeas or garbanzo beans and half a cup of cottage cheese. For dinner, broil a lean sirloin steak and serve it on whole wheat bread with sautéed veggies on the side.

Preparing for a Detox

Now that you have a better idea of what a detox consists of, you can begin planning by choosing your starting date, preparing a shopping list and ensuring that your cabinets and fridge are free of tempting foods.

 When on this detox, try and keep a food journal, jotting down what you’ve consumed for the day and any recipe ideas you may have. This will help with tracking your progress and the amount of calories you consume each day.

Best Detox Drink Recipes

There’s no specific definition of a detox or cleanse. For some people a detox might be pressed juice only, while for other people, a cleanse can simply mean cutting back on caffeine or alcohol, refined sugars or processed foods, gluten and animal proteins. The best detox drink recipes will consist of fresh organic fruits and veggies, which can provide you with the nutrients and vitamins that are essential during a detox.

Creating the Perfect Detox

While very strict diets for detox are incredibly popular these days, most people feel more energized when they also include lean protein and raw fruits and veggies. A detox is all about cutting out unhealthy eating habits and kick starting your metabolism.

Working out while following a detox can create some unwanted side effects, because a detox will typically not provide you with the extra fuel you need to exercise, or the added raw materials that are essential for recovery or healing. As a result, working out while you’re detoxing can leave you feeling dizzy, lightheaded, sore and nauseous.

When experimenting with new recipes, include mostly green leafy veggies, such as kale and spinach. Green juices will often have a very bitter taste to them, which is hard for most people to tolerate. Adding bananas, apples or citrus fruit can significantly help to improve the taste of these detox drinks, while also providing you with extra vitamins and minerals.

For the first five to seven days, consumer a detox drink for three meals, eating a snack mid-morning and one in the afternoon. After the detox process has been completed, you can choose to substitute a meal or two using the detox drinks, as a great way to maintain your newfound weight loss.

The Benefits of Detox Systems

For most people, the greatest benefit of detoxes is the ability to start fresh and transition to a long term healthier way of eating. These diets are known for their ability to help a person to lose inches and pounds of fat quickly, which helps a person to stay motivated during the process. Finally, a detox or cleanse can help to prevent a person from being able to act on environmental, social or emotional eating triggers, which can be the first step to breaking a person’s unhealthy eating patterns. All the benefits a person will experience when going through a detox can help them to reach healthy goals, like eating breakfast every day, cooking at home and bringing their lunch to work. Detox drinks will not only help a person to shed unwanted pounds, but they will also improve your skin, hair and nails.

The One Day Detox

If you simply just need to jumpstart your metabolism, or you went a little overboard the night before, there’s a one day detox plan that can help to get your body back on track. In the morning of the one day detox, start your day off by drinking hot water flavored with fresh squeezed lemon juice. Lemon and hot water can work to stimulate the digestive track, while also giving your body a big boost of vitamin C. Drink several glasses of water throughout the day. Hydration is very important during a detox.

Most experts don’t recommend working out when you’re on a detox, however, it’s still important in order to keep the blood flowing and the body warm. Before you eat breakfast, give some light yoga a shot. There’s no better way to wake up than with some energizing, gentle yoga moves. This session should last no more than ten minutes and is designed to wake the body while promoting an increase in energy and circulation.

For breakfast, make it a goal to make and eat a meal that will help you to feel full without weighing you down. Make a berry smoothie which is packed with antioxidants. Since it’s loaded with fiber, it will definitely keep you feeling full until the afternoon.

Most detoxes suggest getting rid of caffeine during the process, but sometimes this just isn’t possible. Instead of making your usual pot of coffee, enjoy a cup of green tea.  Green tea has a reputation for boosting the metabolism and it’s also rich in antioxidants. If lunch is still too far away but you’re feeling a little famished, grab a handful of blueberries or a fiber-rich apple to tide you over. You can also enjoy a small serving of Greek yogurt, which is packed with protein and healthy bacteria, which aids in digestion.

Try to move as much as you can throughout the day. If you sit at a desk all day, get up frequently and take a short walk around the office, once every thirty minutes. If you don’t have time to take a quick break this often, then try doing some desk stretches throughout the day. You should also give your eyes a break from the computer every half an hour by looking away from your computer for at least thirty seconds.

Lunchtime has finally arrived. Avoid that typical afternoon slump by having a light lunch that won’t leave you feeling bloated and weighed down. Opt for a thin soup or salad. If you have an hour long lunch, spend thirty minutes walking around outside to burn a few calories. Walking after a meal also aids in digestion and promotes better circulation.

In the afternoon, if you feel like you just can’t make it to dinner without a bite to eat, try drinking some green juice. Green juice is a nutrient dense beverage that can work to instantly boost your energy. It’s also loaded with a ton of essential vitamins and minerals. If you can’t make your own, find a local grocery store that sells cold pressed juice.

Dinner is the perfect time to relax with a plate full of fresh veggies and a small portion of lean protein. Choose a lean piece of fish or baked chicken.

Making sure you have enough quality sleep is one of the best ways to detox the body. Sleep is connected to stress levels, weight loss and your overall health. Before bed, avoid technology and instead take a long hot and relaxing shower. Plan on getting at least eight hours of sleep.