Detoxing for the Holidays

Health
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

“I’m never eating again!” “I feel as if I just gained ten pounds, ugh.” “Guess I will go on a diet tomorrow…again.”

Have these words ever come out of your mouth, especially around the holidays? With all the tempting foods we are surrounded by during this special time of year, we are easily derailed from our good intentions of eating healthy foods and being physically active. Throw in some added stress from cooking holiday dishes, attending parties, and dealing with family gatherings, it is no wonder the average person can gain anywhere between one to ten pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Wondering how you can avoid becoming a statistic? Follow my easy Holiday Detox and you will be back on track in no time.

Let’s first address the difference between dieting and detoxing, because there are many misconceptions out there. The major difference between the two is that dieting does not have an end date on it, and this is why we often throw in the towel after a few days of restricting ourselves. The thought of never being able to have a latte from Starbucks ever again is just too much for most of us to bear. Detoxing, on the other hand, vary in length, but absolutely have an end date. They can be as short as one day, or as long as 30 days, that is determined by preference. So what is detoxing? It does not mean you have to eat grapes and hummus for an entire week, or throw out everything in your kitchen and head to the nearest health food store. Doing a detox just means you will choose to eliminate foods that cause inflammation and toxicity, and replace them with fresh, whole foods that repair and rebuild the body. The end result is a slimmer and healthier version of yourself. So let’s get started!

There are several variations out there, but I created this Holiday Detox because it is realistic, flexible, and inexpensive. Follow these simple steps during or after the holidays, as many times as you like.

  1. Take a look at the items under the “Foods to Enjoy” category, and incorporate as many as possible into your diet. Go for local, organic and whole foods.
  2. On the first day of your detox, pick one item from the “Foods to Avoid” section to eliminate for the rest of the week. On the second day, choose another item to forgo, and so on. Repeat this each day, until you have eliminated seven items by the last day.
  3. To help your body heal itself, enjoy one or two servings of the Repair recipe and the Rebuild recipe each day.
  4. Lastly, enjoy a soothing bath with the Relax ingredients. This supports elimination as your body rids itself of toxins.

Because this is such a gentle detox, you shouldn’t experience too many side effects. However, achy, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and headaches are possible. Don’t worry if you do, this is actually a great sign that your body is eliminating toxins.

So take some time now and decide when you will do your detox. You will feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and so very glad that the word diet can be put to rest once and for all. May you go into this New Year healthier and happier than ever before!

Foods to enjoy-local, organic or whole foods

Filtered water

Fish

Lean chicken or turkey

Fresh vegetables

Fresh fruits

Legumes

Brown rice

Quinoa

Rolled oats

Nuts

Seeds

Herbal tea

Foods to avoid-processed foods

Sugar

Alcohol

Dairy products

Gluten (wheat, rye, barley)

Red meats

Pork

Hydrogenated oils

All flour products

Microwave meals

Repair

Vegetable broth-4 cups

Water-4 cups

Wild rice-1/2 cup

Carrots-20 baby or 2 large

Green beans-2 handfuls

Tomatoes-2, chopped

Raw greens (spinach, mustard, collard, etc.)- 1 handful of each

Green onions-3 stalks, diced

Red pepper flakes-1 tsp

Turmeric-1 tsp

Paprika-1 tsp

Black pepper-1 tsp

Basil-10 leaves

Place all items in a slow cooker or large pot, except for basil. Cook on high for 3 hours. Top with a few fresh basil leaves, chopped.

Rebuild

Whey/rice protein powder-1 scoop

Flax oil or Chia Seeds-1 Tbsp

Ground flaxseeds-1 Tbsp

Ice-1 cup

Filtered water-1 to 2 cups

Frozen/fresh berries-1/2 cup

Place all items in a blender. Add filtered water until you reach desired consistency.

Relax

Epsom salts-2 cups

Baking soda-1cup

Lavender oil-10 drops

Add all items to hot bathwater. Soak for 20 minutes.

*The information on this site is designed for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Thank you!

FitKim FB Mailchimp Logo

~by Kimberly Olson







Leave a Reply