The 1 Week Detox Diet Plan for Cleansing and Well-Being

The 1 Week Detox Diet Plan for Cleansing and Well-Being
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Benefits of Detoxification

Detoxification benefits the entire body. It encourages the natural removal of waste, which may have been stored in fatty tissue and other places for long periods of time. The food that we eat and pollution in the environment around us contribute to this accumulation. The more natural our diet and surroundings, the better; still in today’s world we are all exposed to toxins. This waste can contribute to a host of problems, affecting digestion, over-burdening the liver and skin, building up in joints and causing inflammation, polluting the colon, and even affecting blood circulation. Completing the 1 week detox diet plan, or even a one or two day cleanse, prevents the collection and eventual storage of harmful substances.

What can be expected after a healthy detox? The skin will clear up of blemishes, extra weight will be shed, digestion will improve, and energy levels will increase. Problems such as insomnia, migraines, eczema, joint pain, constipation, asthma, chronic fatigue, abnormal body odor, bad breath, and depression will all improve. After a detox, it is important to eat a healthy diet, with a plentiful amount of fiber-containing foods, fresh juices, and water. Making detoxification a part of a healthy lifestyle can truly transform well-being.

Grocery List

During a week long detox normal everyday meals are not consumed. Instead, juices, broths, and teas are taken throughout each day. Be sure to have plenty of fruits and vegetables, which can be easily made into juices, or infused into a broth. Also, look for fresh apple, carrot, and cranberry juice at the store. Cucumbers, watermelon, berries, pineapple, and papaya, can all be used to create fresh juices with a blender. Carrots, onions, parsley, celery, and cabbage can be simmered together to make a mineral-rich broth to be drunk during the detox. Stock up on green tea, as well as herbal teas such as peppermint and dandelion. Also be sure to have fresh lemons and honey. Foods that are ideal for nutrition, but will not burden the digestive system during fasting include yogurt, seaweed salads, and miso soup.

Sample Detox Diet Plan

Any detoxification plan includes nutrient-rich fluids and plenty of water. Herbal teas and even nutritional supplements may be included as well. It is very important to be sure that the body is still receiving nutrition, especially for a fast lasting as long as one week. Food can be consumed if necessary. Detoxing is about health and well-being, not starvation and deprivation. Only do what is comfortable, and then focus more on fluids the following time.

The night before beginning, eat a green salad and drink plenty of water to begin cleansing. Do not eat a heavy meal the day before a fast. Also, directly after the end of the detoxification period, eat foods that are easy to digest, such as fruits and vegetables.

  • Start the day with a cleansing mixture of fresh lemon juice, honey and warm water.
  • Drink fresh juices for breakfast, such as apple, papaya, or pineapple, your choice.
  • One or two hours later drink green tea or vegetable broth.
  • In the middle of the day have a cup of miso soup, yogurt, or a seaweed salad.
  • Two hours later have fresh carrot, cucumber, or tomato juice.
  • In the early evening have an herbal tea or vegetable broth.
  • Drink more broth, miso soup, or eat a green salad with lemon juice for dinner.
  • Have a cup of tea before bed, such as oatstraw, chamomile, or mint.

Repeat this menu for the entire week, finishing the fast with a cup of tea and a salad. Drink eight glasses of water every day throughout, and make an effort to relax the body as much as possible. Breathing exercises, light walks, and soothing baths are all excellent cleansing activities to supplement the 1 week detox diet plan.

If you feel it is too difficult, there are two ways to alter the plan — consume more calories from fruit, vegetables, yogurt, even brown rice, or shorten the diet to only two or three days. As a seven day cleanse is intense, consider starting with a shorter period. It is important to take care of the body during a detoxification. Be flexible with personal needs and enjoy both the purification process and the results.

Resources

Balch, Phyllis A. " Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Fourth Edition (Penguin Books, 2006).

Page, Linda. “Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone, 11th Edition” (Traditional Wisdom, 2003).

Photo credit

photo by: Real Smiley (CC/flickr) <flickr.com/photos/realsmiley/3444207913/>.