Health Topics
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Healthy Living
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| Detox Diet |
| Dr E Suneetha |
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Detoxification is the body’s natural, ongoing process of neutralising or eliminating toxins from the body. To detox and cleanse the body of toxins, one needs to follow a very special diet that gradually cleanses the body and also revitalises and nourishes it with adequate nutrients. |
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Why Detox
- Plastic contains a toxic chemical, Bisphenol- A, that Canada is now banning, and major bottle manufacturers are removing. But we’ve all been exposed to it day in and day out for years.
- Industrial wastes are indiscriminately released into water bodies without proper treatment which is polluting water and lands.
- Air pollution may trigger cancer, according to new animal studies from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Fine particles like those found in diesel soot may just switch on tumor genes.
- Over 600,000 tons of lead is released into our atmosphere from industry and leaded gasoline.
- Mercury can be found in dental fillings, contaminated fish, and fluorescent light bulbs, and makes its way into the environment and then our bodies.
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Why Not Detox
- Pregnant or nursing women should not do on a detox diet as they need all the strength they can get from a regular diet.
- Children shouldn’t go on a detox diet.
- People with anaemia, eating disorder, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, terminal illness, certain genetic diseases, and other chronic conditions should not try this diet.
- Before starting a detox diet one must always consult with their doctor to check to see if it is suitable for them.
- This diet is not intended for alcohol or drug detoxification.
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How to Detox
Proponents of detox diets generally recommend once in six months to a year depending on how bad your eating habits are.
Fasting Method:
Begin with the introduction of partial fast where you replace dinner with fruits on the third and on the sixth day. A balanced diet should be followed on the rest of the days of the week. Once you are acquainted with partial fasts, try a mini fast — even half a day (as long as you have no blood sugar issues). Drink hot water with honey and lemon to cleanse your digestive system and liver, and give your body a break. A complete fast which includes fresh vegetable juices, fruit juices, coconut water and lime juice with honey in warm water can be followed once in six months.
Food Combination Method:
The most healthful foods for the body are the easiest foods to digest - leaving the least amount of residue. There are four basic categories of foods for our purposes: (1) starches, (2) fleshes, (3) nuts/dried fruit and (4) fresh fruit. The time required for the digestion of these foods differs and therefore ideally they should not mix with one another in the stomach. The first three categories may be mixed with unlimited amounts of raw vegetables. The first two categories may be mixed with cooked vegetables as well. Fresh fruit can be mixed with raw vegetables but, for best results, should really not mix with anything else.
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Simple Detox fasting Menu
Early morning:
- 1/2 lemon squeezed into a glass of warm water (add honey if necessary)
Breakfast
- Breakfast smoothie made with veggies
- Coconut water
Mid morning
- Apple juice diluted with water
- Water
- Vegetable broth
Lunch
- Vegetable soup made with your choice of vegetables
- Salad with mixed greens, beetroot, carrots sprinkled with lemon juice
Evening
Dinner
- Ashgourd juice with lemon
- Vegetable salad with dressing of garlic, lemon juice and olive oil
Before bed
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds in a glass of water
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| WARNING: A detox diet can be harmful if carried on for longer than the suggested time. |
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Some Detox Drink Recipes:
- Orange, Ginger, Mint Tango
- Fruit and Vegetable Sharbat
- Apple and Tomato Mocktail
- Lemon with Carrot Slush
- Strawberry and Pomegranate Mocktail
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