The notion that you can live
whatever lifestyle you choose and then undo any damage by detoxing for a
few days is not a new one, though it has never been proved to be either
medically necessary or even effective. But, according to research
reported by the Linus Pauling Institute, fruit may offer more health
benefits than previously known. No fruit blend is a magical detox
cure-all, but an occasional fruit blend as part of a healthy diet and
active lifestyle can help you feel your best.
Detox Facts
Detoxing
in the sense that most people misuse the term is not physically
possible, according to experts at Harvard medical School. Your body is
equipped with it own detoxing system which includes your kidneys, liver
and lungs. They scour toxins from your body, process them and eliminate
them. No diet or combination of foods can make this process go faster.
But, common sense dictates that if you stop putting harmful substances
into your body you will give it a chance to clean itself out.
Vitamin C Blend
Vitamin
C is a powerful antioxidant. When you breathe or metabolize food,
substances called free radicals are released into your system. They are
also released when you smoke, or are exposed to environmental toxins
like air pollution. Free radicals are thought to cause certain kinds of
cancer, and also to contribute to some of the physical difficulties you
face as you age. Vitamin C helps your body fight free radicals. Citrus
fruits like oranges and grapefruit are high in vitamin C, Apples also
contain high levels of vitamin C. Blueberries, blackberries and
pomegranates also contain powerful antioxidants, so mix and match them
for snacks, desserts or blended into smoothies.
Fiber Blend
Fiber
helps fill you up and also aids in healthy elimination. Constipation is
one symptom of eating fatty foods that don’t move through your system
as they should. Apples contain high amounts of fiber, especially if you
eat them raw. Watermelon and cantaloupe contain soluble fiber, which
helps keep you feeling full. Soluble fiber also helps lower the levels
of low-density lipoproteins in your blood. These are associated with
increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Soluble fiber
helps remove LDLs from your system, so in that sense they can be
considered beneficial to detoxing.
Warning
It
is not possible to speed up your body’s internal methods of detoxing,
nor is it possible to undue weeks or even days of unhealthy eating with a
juice fast. But, occasionally drinking nothing but fresh juices and
eating whole fruits for one to three days should not harm you and can
help you break bad habits. Plan your detox for a quiet time when you
don’t have to do much and make sure that you take in enough calories to
keep you nourished. Aim for 1,200 calories for men and 1,500 calories
for women.
What kind of fruit detox are you planning? You need to be careful if you're planning on doing a pure-fruit diet for any length of time. The sugars in the fruit can really screw up your blood sugar level. You can add vegetables to balance yourself out. I'm doing a juice fast starting on the 25th. Let me know if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteOOoh, Im not doing one, I just thought it was interesting to share. Right now Im just trying to eat better and count calories. I was just on your blog today though checking out your recent posts and pictures. You look great! Im so jealous. Give me some information and motivation lol
ReplyDelete