The Phases Of The Detox Diet Plan
Detoxification is the process of getting rid of the harmful substances which have accumulated over the years in our bodies. These are products of toxins in the air we breathe, the beverages we drink, and the food that we eat. It also includes harmful by-products even of the medications that we take.
A detox diet plan is a diet that’s designed to flush out these substances that are likely to bring harm to our system. When they are not eliminated, they could become the root cause of diseases as our biological systems break down. Otherwise, the toxins would manifest themselves in minor but nonetheless disturbing conditions, such as bloating, wrinkling, lethargy, and bad skin.
One of the key elements to a detox diet plan is fasting. Because of this, people who plan to go on this type of diet must first secure a go-ahead from their personal physicians as they might not be able to handle the fasting part of the diet.
The person is required to fast for three days, and during this period, only purified water is allowed to be consumed. Despite this, you are still required to go through some minimal physical activity to keep you alert.
After the 3-day fasting stage, there are two main phases to be undertaken. The first is known as the monotrophic phase. This involves eating a single type of fruit for every meal. For instance, for breakfast, if you choose to consume apples, then you should make it a point to eat only apples.
For lunch, you may want to go for bananas. Your entire meal should only consist of bananas. The point is you’ll only eat one type of fruit per meal – the amount or number of servings is irrelevant. This phase lasts for a week.
The second phase of the detox diet plan is known as the raw food regimen. Here, you get to combine different types of fruits for each meal, and you can even have fruit juice. However, the servings are now limited, and this phase lasts for a month.
Many people experience weakness and dizziness at this point. It’s true that you’ll get to experience a drastic weight loss, but you’ll also have a general feeling of weakness because of the sudden removal of important food classes, such as protein and carbs, from your meals. Proponents would say that these reactions are only natural due to the detox process, but clearly, it’s also due to the lack of nutrition you’re putting into your body.
Nevertheless, those who “survive” the detox diet plan report a feeling of well-being and considerable weight loss, and would not hesitate to try it again after several months. However, you should be aware of the repercussions of the detox diet plan even before you start.
In a nutshell, the detox diet plan advocates the intake of healthful food and purified water only, but it is obviously restrictive. And as restrictive diets go, people usually become too obsessed with craving food that they used to enjoy that they inevitably fall back into their old ways.
The weight loss is a welcome side effect to the detox diet plan, but those whose physical makeup cannot endure the rigors associated with it are advised to look for other methods of detoxification lest the lack of substantial food intake weakens them and becomes the cause of illness.