The Five Day Detox

A detox helps the body eliminate toxins, chemicals and pollutants, but committing to a lengthy detox can be difficult to maintain. The five-day detox provides similar benefits of weight loss, increased energy and a stronger immune system in a shorter time period. The five-day detox focuses on including a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts to assist the body in removing waste.

Foods to Eat

• Fruits and vegetables: The five-day detox includes eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables for fiber, antioxidants and vitamin intake. Eat organic produce to avoid adding additional pesticides and toxins in the body. Try to eat fruits with the skin because fiber helps push waste through the colon. Also try to eat your vegetables and fruits raw (no cooking) for maximum nutrient ingestion, as vitamin and mineral content depreciates the longer the produce is cooked. You also can include fresh fruit and vegetable juices as part of the five-day detox.

  Grains: Include oats, rye bread and brown rice in your five-day detox.

  Beans: Beans have a lot of fiber and provide protein and so should be included in your detox. For example. kidney beans are a good source of fiber and high protein.

  Nuts: Eat a variety of nuts, especially walnuts, for omega-3 benefits and almonds for vitamin E, but limit your nut intake to two handfuls a day. Nuts are high in fat, and too much fat can slow the detox elimination process.

  Meat and fish: You may include skinless, lean meats like fish or turkey, and also fish such as salmon.

  Fats and oils: Limit your fat and oil intake, but when necessary, you may include olive or soybean oil.

Foods to Avoid

• The five-day detox involves compromising certain foods.

  Beverages: During the five days, eliminate caffeine, tea, coffee, alcohol, hot chocolate and carbonated drinks.

  Grains: Do not include whole wheat, muesli or Weet-Bix during the five-day detox.

  Fats & Oils: Avoid processed fats such as margarine, coffee creamer, shortening and butter. Also avoid canola and sunflower oil. Avoid all fried foods.

  Sugars: Avoid all refined sugars and sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup and Splenda.

  Meat: Eliminate red and cured meats.

  Dairy: Milk, cheese and yogurt are not part of the detox.

What to Expect

• During the first two days, you may experience headaches, nausea, weakness, light headedness or fatigue as the body removes the toxins from your body. However, by the fifth day, or even after the fifth day, you will feel more energetic, may experience weight loss and have a stronger immune system.

Warning

• You should always consult a doctor before going on a detox or any diet to see if it is safe for you.

Sample Daily Menu

• Early Morning: Have a blend of cranberry and strawberry fresh fruit juice and 10 almonds.

  Breakfast: 1/2 cup cooked oats with raw honey and a small banana. Oats have a low glycemic index, helping you control hunger and sustain energy, while providing fiber. Bananas are a good source of potassium.

  Mid-morning: Fresh fruit or vegetable juice.

  Lunch: 1 sweet potato and a salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red and green bell peppers, kidney beans, sprouts, carrots, mushrooms, celery, avacado, green apple and sunflower seeds). For a dressing, use olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and lemon juice.

  Afternoon snack: Herbal tea with raw honey and lemon and any piece of fruit.

  Dinner: Baked fish with side of vegetable medley like broccoli, carrots and squash.