Should You Do A Detox Diet?

Should you do the detox? We have been asked this question time and time again. What do you think about juice cleanses? The 48-hour cleanse? Tea-tox? The Master cleanse? Charcoal cleanse? You name it…we’ve probably been asked about it.

Cleanses and detoxes seem to be the hottest thing in the weight loss industry today. But the fact of the matter is: There is no real evidence that detoxes live up to the claims, and when all is said and done, they can be a big hit to your bank account.

The good news is: your body is a wonderland. The body is naturally designed to rid toxins and other harmful substances through these major detoxifying systems.

Here is a rundown of the body’s natural detox pathways:

Kidneys

Take a minute to thank your nephrons. They are two bean looking organs (picture: kidney beans) located in your abdomen. The renal system targets the blood to filter through the toxins and fluids. Basically, they change those toxins and fluids into urine. So staying hydrated is the biggest cleanse you can do for your renal system. Try drinking 8, 8-oz. glasses of water per day to make sure you keep those kidneys in shape!

Lungs

You may not think of the lungs as a way to cleanse the body but they are one of the key detoxers! Toxins might also come in the form of gases, but guess what? Those sponge-like organs take in oxygen and rid the body of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other gases. 

GI Tract

Your gastrointestinal tract is one of the most important systems for cleansing the body. The GI tract differentiates from vital nutrients to be absorbed and what to expel. This finally results in that number two you probably don’t want to talk about. In fact, there’s a ton of new research emphasizing just how important our GI tract is for the rest of our body functions. In order to keep a healthy GI, make sure to have plenty of fiber, pre and probiotics such as fruits, vegetables, yogurt, kefir, fermented vegetables, soy products, and/or beans!

Liver

The liver is an powerful organ that secretes enzymes to process toxins for excretion. It also works to break down fat, maintain proper blood glucose levels, and filter harmful substances out of the blood. Who needs a juice cleanse when you have a liver working for you?

So What’s The Bottom Line?

You don’t need that fancy, shmancy, expensive cleanse or detox. Though some diseases may require avoidance or limitation of certain foods (which should be done with the help of a physician or dietitian), a healthy and hydrated body can rid itself from harmful toxins.

So what does work for enhancing our body’s natural detox systems? Eating your veggies, drinking water, and getting that blood pumping everyday. Plant-based eating allows each of the organs to function properly by providing your beautiful bod with the proper vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other food components that other foods don’t provide in quite the same way that plants do.

• Try to consume two fruits per day. Berries, bananas, pears, apples, oranges, kiwi, blueberries, and the list goes on!
• Aim for at least 3 cups of high fiber vegetables per day such as dark leafy greens, cauliflower, beets, and/or Brussels sprouts.
• Make half of that plate non-starchy vegetables for meals.
• Drink 8, 8-oz. glasses of water per day.
• Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Move! Go for a walk or run, do some yoga, lift those weights. Moving everyday keeps your blood flowing like a well-oiled machine.

Following these healthy eating and living tips will allow your organs to work at maximum efficiency, which (I think it’s safe to say) makes this the best cleanse on the market. Need a little bit of guidance: our 28-Day Plant Powered Health Reboot is perfect way to reboot and get yourself back on track! Have you tried any special detoxes before? Drop a line in the comments section below and let us know what you did and how your experience was. xoxo