Detoxing is a very popular Health and Wellness buzz term.

Everybody is doing it!  Everybody needs it!  Everybody should be doing it!

The opinions on how to detox, when to detox, how often to detox, and exactly who should detox are as varied as there are nutritionists, dieticians and holistic health practitioners.

I do believe in detoxing and I use my line of nutrition products to achieve my results for day to day health.

I also am always looking for healthy lifestyle changes in my diet to achieve comprehensive results.

I came across an online article from MSN Health, 6 Healthy Ways to Detox, that lists foods to add to or eliminate from our diets to achieve detoxifying results.

Eliminate Added Sugars

Eating too much sugar in any form can increase the problems of inflammation, heart disease, certain cancers, and feelings of being unfocused & tired.

High fructose corn syrup is in an alarmingly huge variety of foods.  The article claims that HFCS can alter the hunger and fullness signals we get from the hormone leptin.

Eliminate Bad Fats

Choose foods that are baked or broiled, not fried; and choose lean meats rather than high fat marbles meat and whole milk.

The article sites a study that suggests eating foods high in saturated fat (that is the solid fat like in butter or fat you see on a steak) may interfere with your body’s ability to respond to feelings of fullness.

This lady can eat 2 to 3 times a normal serving of a perfectly bar-b-qued steak with that yummy “juice” (aka FAT)!

Evidently, oleic acid, an unsaturated fat found in olive oil, avocados and nuts can help curb hunger and improve fat digestion!

Time to throw out the Crisco and buy only olive oil.

Increase Proteins In Your Diet

Diets higher in protein have a greater effect on stabilizing blood sugar so you feel full longer.

Keep the meats higher in saturated fats at a minimum (like that yummy bar-b-qued steak!).  I have cut down to indulge 1 to 3 times a month and my cravings are satisfied with that ratio.

It is suggested that we add proteins from non-animal sources like whole grains, tofu and beans.  These food sources are high in fiber, something we all need more of to reduce our chances of heart disease and colon cancer.

Drink Red Wine, In Moderation

Red wine has long been recommended for its antioxidant health benefits.  My dad loves it!

Not just any alcohol will do!  Hard liquor is high in carbs and very tough on the liver and blood sugar.

One glass of red wine a day is the recommended consumption to take advantage of the antioxidant resveratrol.  Resveratrol is thought to help prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and reduce inflammation.

If you don’t like wine, like me, I suppose you can mix it with a low sugar juice or sugar free 7-Up.

It is important to consult your doctor first before starting a red wine regimen, especially if you take medications like Simvastin (a cholesterol lowering drug that requires no alcohol intake).

Increase Fiber in Your Diet

The article refers to a study that suggests when we eat 34 grams of fiber a day, our bodies absorb 6% fewer calories a day.

If the thought of eating fiber makes you think of those dry rice cakes, relax.  Soluble fiber is found in a lot of yummy foods.  It is just a slow process in adding these foods to your diet so you eat them as a matter of habit and not “I have to & I hate it”.

High fiber foods include oats, beans, berries, fruit, potatoes and edamame.

I enjoy the high fiber Diet Appetizer Cookie I sell through my company.  It comes in

1. chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin,
2. is less than 150 calories,
3. contains 8 grams of fiber and
4. 5 grams of protein.

I like them best when I have one of those overpowering craving for sweets, or when I get a grumbly tummy before dinner.

Eat on a Regular Basis

Most women who have lived their lives seriously overweight have convinced themselves that eating less means eating less often.

This habit creates in us the starvation mode we always hear about.  Our body misses the calories when it needs them, so the body slows the metabolism to conserve energy.

Of course, the result is that we do not lose weight.

Eating on a regular basis is important in keeping our bodies fueled and our metabolism going at a higher rate.

Eat breakfast within 90 minutes of waking up and eat every 3 to 4 hours.

Rather than having 3 main meals a day, divide that same food into 5 or 6 smaller meals spaced out evenly throughout your day.

This is Detox?

I’ve been thinking while writing this post that these six “detox tips” don’t sound like what we usually hear about as detoxing.  No colon cleanse sold here.

However, these tips are actions we can implement as Lifestyle changes that will keep our bodies in a healthier, nontoxic state.

This is good.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but whenever I’ve done a juice fast, I am starving afterwards and feel like eating anything not nailed down.  Changing daily habits is much more effective and long lasting.

Believe In your Success, I Do!
Karen
mentor.karen.imnotfluffy@gmail.com