Try a Useful 7-days Detox Diet

As a part of alternative medicine treatments, detox diets help our bodies to remove toxins, and hence improve our overall health. However, many nutritionists and doctors recommend avoiding long-term detox diets because it can deprive the body of important vitamins, fats, carbs, etc. To sum up: no harsh detoxification diet is recommended, but an occasional restriction of processed food, caffeine, food additives, etc. is welcome.

Here is a useful detox diet that lasts for one week, and that can be repeated 3-4 times a year (at least 2 months must pass between diets).

Day 1

This is the hardest day to endure, since complete calorie intake is only 600 J. It is advisable to start the diet on weekend, or during a holiday; due to toxin removal, you might feel tired, weak, have a mild headache and go to toilet more often. These symptoms disappear after 2-3 days.

On the first day, breakfast, lunch and dinner are the same: 1 glass of unsweetened freshly squeezed fruit juice, or unsalted vegetable juice. During the day, you can drink up to 3 decilitres of, neutral, low fat yogurt.

Day 2

Breakfast: This will be the regular breakfast for the rest of the week.

One portion of fresh fruit (e.g. 1 apple, 1 orange, a handful of grapes), 2 thin slices of whole grained bread, or toast with fresh cream cheese, 3 decilitres of neutral low fat yogurt, or 3 decilitres of low fat skimmed milk. One cup ofunsweetened herbal tea is also allowed.

Lunch:  1 kiwi, a salad (lettuce, grated carrot, celery) seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil, 150 grams of cooked vegetables of your choice, one cup of unsweetened herbal tea.

Dinner:  50 grams of blueberries (or other berries), unsweetened muesli soaked into orange juice, and 3 decilitres of low fat yogurt. Before bedtime, a cup of unsweetened herbal tea is allowed.

Day 3

Breakfast: Same as the day before.

Lunch:  1 big orange, 150 grams of salad (mixture of tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, green onion, etc.) with lemon juice, and olive oil dressing; 1 big cooked potato, 50 grams of low fat cottage cheese, and a cup of unsweetened herbal tea.

Dinner: 3 decilitres of neutral low fat yogurt mixed with blueberries, cranberries or strawberries, and a teaspoon of honey, a slice of whole grained bread, and a slice of semi-skimmed cheese. Before bedtime, a cup of unsweetenedherbal tea is allowed.

Day 4

This is a “rice” day so precook 225 grams of brown rice. During the 4th day, you should drink only water.

Breakfast: 75 grams of rice mixed with 125 grams of unsweetened apple compote. A little bit of honey, and a pinch of cinnamon can be added.

Lunch: 75 grams of rice and 175 grams of cooked vegetables (carrot or spinach, broccoli, Savoy cabbage)

Dinner: 75 grams of rice mixed with a little bit of drained fruit – apricots, raisins, figs.

Day 5

Breakfast:  The same as the one you had on the second day of the detox diet.

Lunch: 1 apple, a pear, 150 grams of fresh vegetables (carrot, cabbage, cauliflower) seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil, a few Brazil nuts; 1 big cooked potato mixed with 75 grams of cooked spinach, a little bit of olive oil, and a pinch of minced garlic. Instead of coffee, have a cup of unsweetened herbal tea.

Dinner: 75 grams of low fat cottage cheese, 3 decilitres of yogurt, and a fruit salad (of your choice). After the dinner, or before bedtime, have a cup of unsweetened herbal tea.

Day 6

Breakfast: The same as previous day.

Lunch: 1 banana, 159 grams of fresh salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, carrots…) with lemon juice and olive oil dressing, 1 big cooked potato, 75 grams of cooked legumes (beans, peas, lentils) mixed, and flavored, withsunflower oil, and a cup of unsweetened herbal tea.

Dinner: 75 grams of unsweetened muesli mixed with a little bit of lemon juice, a teaspoon of honey, grated apple and 3 decilitres of yogurt, 1 thin slice of a whole grained bread, and a little bit of semi-skimmed cheese. As a dessert you can have 1 thin slice of whole grained bread, with little bit of honey, and a cup of unsweetened herbal tea.

Day 7

Breakfast: The same as previous day.

Lunch: 150 grams of mixed salad (lettuce, spinach, tomato, celery, fresh basil) flavored with olive oil, apple vinegar, a teaspoon of mustard, and strewed with sunflower seeds; 75 grams of cooked potatoes and 75 grams of grilled trout (or other fish), sprinkled with fresh parsley leaves, and olive oil. A glass of white wine is allowed.

Dinner: 1 grapefruit, 2 boiled eggs, two slices of whole grained bread, or toast, with a little bit of butter, and a cup of unsweetened herbal tea.

During the detox diet, drink plenty of water, approximately 2 litters a day- it will help to remove toxins.