I need DETOX...

     Good evening, Fam...  A few days ago I mentioned that I needed to DETOX.  Why?  Because after being unable to get out and get my normal fresh fruit and veggies due to my surgery, and sitting around eating things I do not normally eat, I just feel like I have some stuff in my system that should not be there.  DETOX...  What the heck is detoxing anyway?  Well, the simple definition is a way to rid the body of toxins.   Detoxing can involve your your liver or colon.  Many people think that detoxing is a way of handling weight loss, but at the end of the day, you WILL gain the weight back unless you maintain that type of nutrition process daily and some of the detox methods are just not healthy enough to do ongoing.  

     Most diet detox methods involve strict liquid intake for days that eventually progresses to soups, then solid foods...  Many of you may be familiar with the Master Cleanse diet that Beyonce used to lose 20 pounds for her iconic portrayal in the movie, "Dreamgirls".  She consumed lemon water that was mixed with maple syrup and cayenne pepper...  Hello.  I haven't tried it yet, but in my mind, I would probably last about... ONE day. 

     Detoxing will help the liver eliminate toxins if you feed your body "clean" foods, like raw veggies/fruits.  The Global Healing Center suggests cleansing the liver should incorporate bitter greens like dandelion greens and other veggies/fruits like carrots, celery, limes, lemons and beets. Spices that offer cleansing effects on the liver include turmeric, rosemary, cayenne, cumin and curry.  You also need to let go of coffee, milk and sodas, and use purified water and fresh apple juice.   Most detox methods also suggest using some type of laxative tea in the evening and and salt water flush in the morning, once again to help eliminate the toxins--literally.  Colon cleanses also incorporate fresh fruit/veggies, nuts, legumes and less meats, dairy and processed foods and of course drinking plenty of water and taking some probiotics.  There are also "oxygen colon-cleanse" products on the market as well.  Some of these involve taking a powdered supplement with lots of water and apple-cider vinegar and some type of laxative product.

     "Diet Detox" by Elson Haas, MD, "Fat Flush for Life" by Ann Louise Gittleman, "Clean" by Alejandro Junger are just a few books to take a look at if you are planning on trying detoxing for any length of time.  I may try that Master Cleanse and let you know how it goes.  Now the suggestion is 10 days.................................................Let me try it, one day at a time and I will honestly attempt 3 days...  But I am a muncher with a need to always be crunching on something, so I can't gaurantee a thing.... If you try detoxing let me know how it works for you.   SMOOCHES...