“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.
- 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.
- 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.
- To help your body heal itself, enjoy one or two servings of the Repair recipe and the Rebuild recipe each day.
- 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!
~by Kimberly Olson
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