Detox Your Body

Start Now Wise Women!

Feeling under par ?

Now that all the parties are over and the demands on your social life have decreased, why not consider getting your body (and mind) back in shape with a detox.

Why do People go on a Detox Diet?

A growing body of research suggests that many of the chemicals we ingest daily through food, water, and air can become deposited in fat cells in our bodies. A diet that lacks certain nutrients may also impair our natural ability to detoxify chemicals, which further leads to their build-up in the body.

The cumulative load, called the "body burden", is thought to lead to illness and has been linked to hormonal imbalance, impaired immune function, nutritional deficiency, and an inefficient metabolism. Signs are thought to include indigestion, bad breath, fatigue, poor skin, and muscle pain.

Benefits of a Detox Diet

People often report improved energy, clearer skin, regular bowel movements, improved digestion, and increased concentration and clarity after a detox diet.

Who Shouldn't Try a Detox Diet?

As with any diets, anyone considering a detox diet should consult a qualified health professional and/or their medical doctor first.

Pregnant or nursing women or children shouldn't go on a detox diet. People with anemia, eating disordeas, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, terminal illness, certain genetic diseases, and other chronic conditions shouldn't try this diet or should do so only under the supervision of their primary care provider. It is not intended for alcohol or drug detoxification.

Side Effects

One of the most common side effects is headache within the first few days of starting the detox diet, often due to caffeine withdrawal. For this reason, practitioners often suggest gradually decreasing the amount of caffeine prior to starting a detox diet. In addition, some people opt to take time off work to begin a detox diet or start the diet on the weekend.

Other side effects include excessive diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte loss. Constipation may occur if people consume excess fibre without also increasing their fluid intake. Other side effects can include tiredness, irritability, acne, weight loss, and hunger. Any worsening of symptoms or new symptoms that occur during a detox diet should prompt a visit to a qualified health professional.

If a detox diet is continued for a longer time, it may result in nutrient deficiencies, particularly protein (some detox diets omit animal products) and calcium.

Let’s Get Started On Our 3 Day Detox Plan.

SORRY - the ciggies, caffeine, dairy products and alcohol have to go!

REMEMBER – you will feel the wonderful benefits soon.

Fill your fridge with fresh, healthy, unprocessed food.

Get rid of the naughty munchies that may be tempt you.

Clean your house before you get started so that you can just totally relax.

Avoid social outings and try to limit your physical activities to a walk in the park, yoga, a swim or some simple stretching.

Stock up with your favourite magazines, books, movies and don’t forget that luxurious bath oil, detox face masks and creamy body moisturisers.

Book yourself in for a steam or massage to help get the circulation going and encourage the removal of toxins. WARNING - if you have never had a professional body massage before, you may find it addictive.

At home, light some scented candles or burn your favourite oils to create a relaxing environment.

Day 1

Saturday

Rise early, smile.

Do some gentle stretching to ease yourself into the day. Remind yourself that you are doing your body a big favour.

Start the body detox process by drinking a glass of purified warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Saturday Breakfast

Try this delicious and healthy -

Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients

- 2 mangoes, peeled

- 1 nectarine, peeled and stoned (optional)

- 1 peach, peeled

- 2 apricots

Saturday Lunch

Fresh Vegetables

Prepare a large plate of raw vegetables and drink a carrot and beetroot juice. The fibre in the raw vegetables clears the bowel and stimulates sluggish digestive juices. They are also filled with anti-oxidants (these nutrients are especially high in carrots, beetroot, onions and garlic.) Other vegetables to include in this salad are raw broccoli, radishes, lettuce and rocket. Tomatoes should be avoided at this stage as they sometimes aggravate skin problems due to their oxalic acid content.

Saturday Afternoon

Juice or Vegetable Sticks

During the afternoon, drink carrot and beetroot juice alternated with fresh orange juice mixed with pineapple juice and lemon juice. These juices clear out the fatty residues in the liver and stimulate the liver to work more efficiently in its detoxing role. We suggest 40 per cent orange juice, 40 per cent pineapple juice and 20 per cent lemon juice. If you are hungry, you can munch on raw food such as celery and carrot sticks with some capsicum for variety (capsicum contains high amounts of vitamin C.) Note that cucumbers can cause bloating.

In Between Meals - Water and herbal teas should be drunk frequently on this regime. The best herbal teas are: dandelion tea, red clover or Petal tea and Triple E tea. Triple E contains liquorice and aniseed which work as bowel cleansers.

Saturday Night Dinner

Vegetable Broth

Ingredients

- 2 brown onions

- 3 carrots

- 3 sticks celery

- 1 small bunch of parsley

- 1 clove garlic (optional)

Method
Place all the ingredients in a large saucepan and cover with 6 to 8 cups of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink anytime during the detox. Be sure not to consume any fresh juice one hour before or after drinking the soup, to optimise the nutrients. If you are feeling in need of extra sustenance, leave the vegetables in the broth or eat them separately.

Day 2

Sunday Breakfast

Purified warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice upon rising.

Papaya Anti-Oxidant Tonic

Ingredients

- 1/2 papaya, peeled and deseeded

- 1/4 rockmelon, peeled

- 1 mango, peeled

- juice of half a lime

Method
Blend all the ingredients in a blender. Substitute any of your favourite orange fruits in this tonic, as a combination of these will give you the maximum anti-oxidant benefits.

Sunday Lunch

Chicken and Ginger Skewers with Rice (small serve)

1 x 110g skinless organic chicken breast, cubed

2tbsp plus 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp plus 1 tsp lemon juice

small clove garlic, peeled and crushed

1/2 tsp fresh ginger, grated

Soak four wooden skewers in water for 10 minutes. Put the chicken, 2 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp lemon juice, the garlic and ginger in a small bowl and stir to coat the chicken in the marinade. Leave to stand for 15-30 minutes.

Preheat the grill to high. Skewer the chicken and grill for 3-4 minutes on each side, until cooked through and golden.

Steam ½ cup of brown rice.

Sunday Afternoon

1 orange

Sunday Night Dinner

Steamed Veggies

A large plate of steamed vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, potatoes (only one or two of medium size) and spinach or peas.

Before Bed

Detox herbal tea

(serves 1)

1 part roasted dandelion root

1 part burdock root

part ginger root

part clove bud

1 part horsetail herb

part dried orange peel

2 pieces of cinnamon bark

Method

Pour 570ml cups distilled or purified water into a stainless steel pot. Add 2 tbsp of the tea herbs to the water, cover the pot and let the mixture soak overnight. In the morning bring the mixture to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Using a strainer, pour the tea into a mug and drink while hot. Put the strained, wet herbs back into the pot and keep them in the refrigerator. You may reuse the herbs for up to 3 days.

Day 3

Monday Breakfast

Start the day with warm purified water with lemon and ginger

Enjoy a bowl of fresh mixed summer berries.

Monday Lunch

Roast Salmon and Beetroot Salad

2 small beetroot, unpeeled

½ medium red onion

1x 110g organic salmon fillets

1 tbsp plus 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

2 large handful of watercress

1 tsp cider vinegar

Method

Preheat the oven to 200C. Put the beetroot on a flat baking sheet and roast in the top of the oven for 30 minutes. Add the onion and roast for a further 30 minutes. Add the onion and roast for a further 30 minutes, until tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.

Monday Dinner

Three-Bean Chilli with Avocado Salsa (makes 2 serves)

3 tbsp pinto beans

3 tbsp black beans

3 tbsp black-eye peas

small onion, peeled and finely chopped

1 large stick celery, finely chopped

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp ground cumin

tsp paprika

1 fat clove garlic, crushed

fresh red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

Method

Put the dried beans into a large bowl and cover with plenty of cold water. Leave to soak for 12 hours, or overnight. They should roughly double in volume.

Drain the beans and rinse well, then put them in a large saucepan. Cover with fresh cold water. Put over a high heat and bring to the boil. Boil rapidly for 10 minutes.

Put the onion, celery and olive oil in a large saucepan and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the cumin and paprika and cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and chilli and cook for 1 minute.

Drain the beans and rinse them again, then add to the onion mixture. Pour over the vegetable stock and add the bay leaf. Place over a medium heat and bring up to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 1 hour, until the beans have softened. Add a little extra stock in the beans become dry. By the end of cooking there should be 2-3 tbsp of liquid left.

You’ve Done It !

At the end of the detox you will be feeling much better, less bloated, clear eyed and full of energy. You may also notice that you’ll feel lighter and happier and that your sleeping patterns may improve. You will even notice an improvement in your skin tone and texture. Many will notice a wonderful sense of well being.

Try to keep up healthier eating habits and enjoy regular exercise for life.