This spring I decided to get my skin in order and signed up for a two-week detox, the results of which I already wrote about in one of my posts. In addition to the actual improvements in skin condition and new habits, which I still adhere to, I made a bunch of new acquaintances who, at some point, like me, became interested in changes in diet and lifestyle.
“Sect!” my friends sometimes call us names, seeing me take a smoothie out of my cooler bag for lunch, instead of throwing in a sandwich with everyone else, as happened before. However, the changes in me are so obvious that even my colleague Marluz, a cheerful fat woman and a hater of diets, asks the question with a heavy sigh: “Okay, tell me what kind of smoothie you have!”
Sect or not, communication with people who share your interest in change makes it possible to receive a wide variety of information and ideas, which you can independently evaluate for adequacy and adopt or discard.
I learned about the three-day detox program from one of my “colleagues in the sect,” an American who has been living in Amsterdam for a very long time, but at the same time constantly reads various American sites - this program was introduced to the losing weight American community by a certain Dr. Oz.
You hardly know about him, although he is quite popular on American TV - he is a doctor who makes his own show about a healthy lifestyle and popularizes the right ideas.
And despite all the skepticism towards such programs, he often has quite interesting ideas.
Beet therapy
Detox drinks have become incredibly popular lately. What is it, what are they made from? These are cocktails made from natural ingredients that help remove toxins, toxins and other food “waste” from the body. According to nutritionists, one of the most effective products in this regard is beets. This root vegetable improves the functioning of the digestive system and promotes its comprehensive cleansing. To prepare a detox drink, mix the juice of 1 beet, 2 apples and 4 celery stalks. This vitamin mix is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach and before meals, 100 ml. If necessary, it can be diluted with water or added 1 tsp. honey
What is detox water: benefits of the drink and effectiveness
The term “detox water” usually refers to clean (preferably spring) water to which fruits, vegetables or herbs are added. This drink is easy to prepare, and the ingredients can be combined in the proportions and compositions you need.
The main differences of the drink: environmental friendliness, complete naturalness, minimum calories, pleasant taste and beneficial properties for weight loss and cleansing. With a fantastically pleasant taste, the drink is absolutely sugar-free, ideally replaces juices and soda, and helps you lose weight with taste!
What does detox water do?
- Speeds up metabolism.
- Reduces appetite.
- Improves the general condition of the gastrointestinal tract and accelerates digestion.
- Replenishes fluid deficiency.
- Removes toxins and impurities.
- Promotes weight loss.
- Increases immunity.
Efficiency is achieved thanks to useful vitamin components added to the water. Of course, there is no point in waiting for results if you wash down cakes and chips with detox water on the couch.
In addition, detox water is recommended to be used in courses, combining its use with a certain diet, sports and other components of a healthy lifestyle. Detox water goes well with detox programs for weight loss and cleansing the body.
Green harmony
The benefits of green vegetables are recognized by many scientists. In particular, their ability to remove waste and toxins from the body, protect the liver from heavy metal salts and pesticides. Cabbage juice is of particular value. The sulfur, iodine and chlorine compounds it contains cleanse the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. Organic acids improve digestion, improve protein metabolism and slow down the absorption of harmful carbohydrates. Avocado makes a worthy pairing with cabbage. It contains L-carnitine, which burns subcutaneous fat and speeds up metabolism. To prepare a detox drink, mix 200 g of cabbage leaves, 3 small broccoli florets and 150 g of avocado pulp, add a chopped bunch of spinach, puree it with a blender and add 50 ml of water.
Which cocktail should you prefer: vegetable or fruit?
Here it is worth considering for what purpose you decided to support the detox program.
- To normalize intestinal function, make smoothies and juices from green vegetables, apples and lemon. Ginger and cayenne pepper will also come in handy.
- To lose weight, it is better to use lemons, oranges, grapefruits and pineapples along with cranberries, mint and celery.
- Beets, carrots, white cabbage and cucumbers cleanse the liver. Apples, lemons and limes with milk thistle also have a beneficial effect on this organ.
- Dill, parsley (root only), spinach and nettle cleanse the kidneys and urinary tract. For the best effect, use cranberries and lemon balm leaves.
Apple Elixir
Apples are no less effective in cleansing the digestive tract. And this is entirely due to the pectins they contain. These organic substances improve intestinal function, fight free radicals, remove waste and toxins, and at the same time prevent the formation of kidney stones. Peel a large apple, cut into slices, pour 500 ml of boiling water, then add 1 tsp to the cooled drink. honey, 2-3 cinnamon sticks. By the way, this spice enhances the cleansing effect due to the fact that it activates metabolic processes at the cellular level. Let the drink brew for 20–30 minutes, strain, and you can drink it throughout the day.
Lemon purity
Lemon also helps the body cleanse itself. Vitamin C makes waste and toxins water-soluble, and they are completely washed out with excess liquid. In addition, with regular consumption of this citrus, blood vessels become more elastic and durable. This lemon detox drink recipe, also known as hydromel, doesn't require any special tricks. Pour 2 tbsp of warm water into a glass. l. lemon juice, add 1 tsp. natural honey and a pinch of grated ginger. Remember that the water temperature must exceed 40 °C, otherwise the detox will be absolutely useless. To enhance the effect, you can add a pinch of red pepper.
Berry vigor
Fruit and vegetable smoothies are another powerful weapon for cleansing the body. Their main advantage is that the vitamins and microelements contained in fresh fruits are preserved in full during cooking. Add more berries to your smoothies, because they have a diuretic effect and saturate the body with antioxidants. Mix in a blender ½ cup of black currants, raspberries and strawberries, half a banana, 1 tsp. flaxseed oil and a piece of ginger root. Pour the ingredients into ½ cup of natural yogurt and whisk. This detox cocktail will become a delicious healthy breakfast if you add 2 tbsp. l. oatmeal.
my impressions of the program
Honestly, any short-term “diets” scare me, so at first I was wary of the idea - if it weren’t for several of my friends who recommended it, I wouldn’t even read about it.
However, when I got into the theory of the issue, this theory seemed quite solid to me - every component was in its place, and it was clear how the program solved problems. I was a little confused by the recommendation to take 50 million units of probiotics (good bacteria), but I consulted with my doctor, sent her the program and she practically blessed me. Hooray!
Having stocked up with everything I needed, I prepared for a serious test - not eating for three days, horror! What can’t you do to be beautiful, slim and die healthy. I decided to start the program itself on Saturday morning, so as not to drag myself to work for three days with cocktails. On Monday, I made a lunch smoothie in advance and took it with me to the office - it survived perfectly well in the refrigerator until lunch.
On Saturday morning I drank green tea (I’m actually a coffee person, but after the first detox I try to drink as little coffee as possible - it really has a very good effect on skin health), and made myself a smoothie. There were no problems with the smoothies - I really love such cocktails, and often make them for myself, but this time the portion turned out to be huge, I barely finished it.
Tasty.
I lived until lunch absolutely calmly; there was no feeling of hunger or desire to snack on cookies. I liked the cocktail for lunch less, I’m not a fan of celery, but overall it’s really okay, and compared to other diets it’s absolutely gorgeous.
The problems began in the late afternoon: about an hour before dinner I started getting a headache, but the doctor warns that this is possible on the first day - and this is even good, as it signals that the process has begun. After drinking half a liter of smoothie for dinner (I’m telling you, the recipe makes a large portion), the headache went away.
The second and third days were very easy, there was no feeling of hunger, and the smoothies themselves are actually delicious, I’m not lying - if you like fruit smoothies, then you will go through this program with pleasure. My feelings after the third day: lightness, a noticeable increase in energy, I slept well, the dark circles under my eyes disappeared, and I lost a little weight (I got into good shape since the spring, so I was satisfied with the result; I think that if there is noticeable excess weight, then more will be lost).
What next?
Next - a healthy lifestyle, what else. There is no point in returning to old habits; if you are not going to change anything in your menu and lifestyle, then going through the program is pointless - it starts processes that need to be maintained further.
The doctor gives a list of 9 products that support the body’s self-cleaning mechanisms, and which are recommended to be included in your menu after finishing the program, replacing sugar, bad fats and other pizza-sausages that we all love so much.
The root of health
Ginger is a faithful ally of everyone who wants to get rid of extra pounds as quickly as possible. It stimulates digestion, starts metabolic processes and removes excess fluid. This miracle root also relieves stomach cramps and has a general strengthening effect. Cut off 3–5 cm of ginger root, peel and cut into thin slices. Fill them with a liter of boiling water, cook over low heat for 10 minutes and strain. You can enhance the cleansing properties with a slice of lemon, a pinch of cinnamon or red pepper. Natural honey will help to pleasantly highlight the taste. This spicy detox is drunk 100–150 ml on an empty stomach and before meals.
Herbal energy
The rating of detox drinks would be incomplete without teas, primarily herbal ones. They cleanse the intestines of toxins, have a choleretic and diuretic effect, have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and improve complexion. There are many recipes for herbal teas. We present to your attention one of them. Mix dry herbs of chamomile, St. John's wort, immortelle, strawberry leaves and birch buds in equal proportions. Take 2 tbsp. l. of the resulting herbal mixture, pour 500 ml of boiling water into a thermos and leave to infuse overnight. You need to drink 100 ml of herbal decoction per day half an hour before meals.
Don’t forget, before you seriously engage in cleansing your body with detox drinks, you need to consult your doctor and choose recipes that will not harm your health.
How to prepare for a charcoal detox?
One thing to keep in mind is that before you start detoxing, you need proper preparation. Thanks to it, the body's ability to remove toxins increases. A few days before detox you need to:
- Reduce the amount of foods that consume a large amount of energy so that the body cleanses itself better.
- Restore acid-base balance in the body.
- Providing a 12-hour break between dinner and breakfast will activate the elimination of toxins and support this process.
- Cleanse the liver as it is the main driving force in eliminating toxins.
- Increase your consumption of fiber-rich foods.
- Introduce regular physical activity.
- Get plenty of rest and sleep.
- Increase the amount of water you drink (at least 2 liters per day)
