I have tried plenty of detox methods and purchased some of the celebrity trainer cleanses. They all claim to kick start your metabolism and make you healthier.

You can stop by the grocery and find select teas, drinks, pills. You can even go online and find all kinds of information on foot detox, colon cleanses, and ways you can purge toxins from your body. Is it necessary?

Our bodies were not designed to take in all the chemicals, toxins, and pollutants. We can slow our bodies fat burning efficiency by overloading our liver with processed foods. It is imperative that we have all the organs functioning for fat loss, overall health, and emotional health. If our kidneys are overloaded, they are not flushing toxins out of the body.

So, should you run out and buy pills? You don’t have to. Here are some things you can do to detox your system. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet and always eat at least 1200 calories a day.

1. Drink more water (80 oz for women, 100 for men). Add a squirt of lemon to your water.

2. Eliminate sugar, processed foods, caffeine, and red meat. This doesn’t have to be forever, just try it for a week or two weeks. If you’re a coffee drinker or sugar addict, you will have withdrawal symptoms.

3. Eat vegetables and legumes (beans). Fiber helps!

4. Cut back or cut out animal products ( especially dairy).

5. Cut out simple carbs: white bread, rice, pasta, etc…

6. Make time to relax! Prolonged stress causes hormonal imbalance.

I love the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. Food can be healing. Eating healthy foods helps the body detox itself. Some choose fasting from food to detox the body, but you should use caution with prolonged fasting especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. If you choose a liquid cleanse, drink water and lots of it, and talk to your physician. I’m not here to give medical advice just to share what I’ve learned.

The sugar and simple carb detox I completed last fall was amazing! I had better results and felt better than with any pills. Body fat melted off, and I felt great! Whole foods are good for us! 🙂