TOP 10 FAQs To A Detox Diet

1. What is detox?
Detox is the popular short form for detoxification. It describes a natural process that goes on in your body. The detox process neutralizes toxic wastes which accumulate in your bodies, chemically transforming them into relatively harmless compounds and then eliminating them from the body via stools or urine. Toxins enter your body when you breathe in air full of pollutants, consume junk food, smoke cigarettes or use products that are harmful. The removal of toxins from your body is a crucial process in order to maintain good health.

2. What is a detox diet?

Detox diet is a diet that helps our bodies to eliminate harmful toxic wastes. There are many types of detox diets. In general, many people refer the term "detox diet" to mean a dedicated detox diet plan program that is undertaken to remove toxins from a specific part of the body. For instance, there can be detox diet programs for cleansing of the colon, liver or the GI tract.
Dedicated detox diet programs are short-term diets. Detox diets are also recommended for losing weight. They work by giving your body various organic chemical compounds required for detoxification, such as vitamins, antioxidants and other necessary nutrients. Some of these organic compounds help elimination of waste products from your body by increasing the frequency of bowel movements and urination.

3. Why undergo a detox diet program?

Regular consumption of unhealthy food substantially reduces the natural ability of your body to detoxify and eliminate toxic chemicals. There are certain indications when you have a toxic body. They include feelings of sluggishness, frequent colds, digestive problems, allergies, eczema, etc. The presence of toxins further lead to conditions like hormonal imbalance, impaired immune function, nutritional deficiency and inefficient metabolism. Undergoing a detox diet program can help repair, maintain and maximize the natural detoxification abilities of your body.

4. What are the benefits to adopting a detox diet program?

Some of the benefits of detox diets include increased stamina and energy, enhanced mental alertness, clearer skin, better immune system, improved digestion and lots more.

5. When is a detox diet program not advised?

You should not be going through a detox diet program if you are pregnant. Also, if you are suffering from diseases such as anemia, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lowered immunity, hypothyroidism, low blood pressure, ulcers, epilepsy, cancer or ulcerative colitis, some detox diets may not be appropriate for you. Detox diets are also not meant for children.

6. Are there any side effects to a detox diet?

Yes, there can be a few. For example, within the first few days of starting a detox diet, you may suffer from headaches. Or you may feel extremely exhausted especially if you need to purge a few times. Most side effects or symptoms should disappear after a few days.

You may also experience excessive diarrhea, if you are doing a detox diet program for the first time or if the detox diet program is too harsh for you. Hence it is best that you go under the guidance of a health care practitioner for this.

7. Do I need to consult a doctor before trying a detox diet program?

Yes, you are advised to. Just because you are facing symptoms like tiredness, irritability, acne, weight loss, and hunger, it does not mean that you need a detox diet. Sometimes, there might be other medical reasons that require different treatment. Therefore, do consult a doctor and get a thorough check up done before you start taking detox diet.

8. What foods are normally included in a detox diet?

A detox diet includes high fiber foods and consumption of adequate amount of water. It normally includes fresh and green vegetables like broccoli, spinach etc and other healthy foods like garlic, artichokes, beets, cauliflower, rice, beans, nuts and seeds. It also includes plenty of fresh fruits except grapes.

9. Can I continue medication during a detox diet?

No, you should generally be undertaking a detox diet program during a period when you are feeling well. As such, if you are having your period, do not go on a detox diet program either during this period.

10. What can I eat once the detox diet is over?

Once you have finished a course of a detox diet, you should not be eating unhealthy foods like deep fried

Simple Diet Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Weight Loss!

At an age where we are inundated with conflicting information about what we should and should not eat, it's not surprising that we would encounter some bumps along the road when starting a new diet. Sticking to a weight loss plan long-term is never easy, but by avoiding the common mistakes, you'll be more likely to stay motivated and less likely to throw in the towel.
Whether it's low fat, low carb, fat-free, or no calorie, Americans are so desperate to lose weight that they continually fall prey to the next big nutrition fad or craze. The problem is that many of these "low carb" and "low fat" products may be doing more harm than good.
- Low carb vs. low fat. Low fat foods can play an important role in your diet, but keep in mind that low fat, doesn't mean low calorie! When it comes down to it, all that really matters is that you are cutting calories and sticking with it. Just because something is low fat, doesn't give you license to eat the whole box or have several helpings. The low carb and low fat trends of the past, serve no benefit to you unless you're watching your portions. Eating lots of processed and packaged low carb foods, are not an ideal if your goal is weight loss, because the high sugar content will only make you overeat. Eating natural and unrefined foods are one of the key ingredients to a healthier life and lifelong weight management.
- Alcohol intake. The most important thing to remember here, is that alcohol boosts calories and adds on the pounds. Since you need to cut calories to manage your weight, you should be less focused on the carb-count and more focused on your calorie intake. If you're trying to maintain your weight and be healthy, then drink only in moderation; one a day for women, and two a day for men. (Avoid too many mixed drinks, because they often add sugary soda and juices which jack up the calories.) If you're trying to lose body fat, and watching your calories, then avoid it altogether!
- Artificial sweeteners. In general, artificially sweetened sodas can save you 75-150 calories if you're used to drinking regular soda, which is a nice benefit. However, there is some research suggesting that artificial sweeteners can actually cause overeating by tricking the natural balance of our bodies to count calorie intake. (not so nice) This in turn, forces us to eat more than we are used to eating. Until more research is done, it's better to err on the side of caution and use artificial sweeteners in moderation.
- Mindless eating. It's easy to sit in front of the computer or TV and mindlessly "feed your face" from a bag, bowl or box. Whether it is dinner or "hand-to-mouth" boredom, you're not paying attention to what you are eating. Make it a rule to sit at the table for all meals; eat slowly and mindfully, and really taste the food, savoring every bite. You'll be less likely to overeat, and more likely to feel satisfied sooner.
- Not enough water. Water is vital for burning calories and losing weight. When you let yourself get dehydrated, you slow down your metabolism, which means slower weight loss.The scientific explanation explains it best. The liver has a few impressive functions, one of which is to metabolize fat.The other of its functions is to pick up slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to function properly. When the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver ends up doing both jobs, and can't metabolize as quickly and efficiently, and the end result is that you store fat.
Initially when you start drinking water, you'll be running to the bathroom a lot, which although inconvenient, is a great thing. What's actually happening is that the water is helping rid your body of the unnecessary fluid it's been holding onto, in your stomach, hips, thighs and ankles; anywhere where fluid retention is eminent. You excrete more than you realize because your body, (figuring the water will keep coming) no longer needs to save the excess stores.
- Over sized portions. When you use large plates, you tend to fill them up. The best way to control portions is to serve your meals on smaller plates. When eating out, avoid the "supersize" option and take half of your meal to go. When appropriate, share a dish with a friend or date.
- Out of sight, out of mind. Since overeating is often the result of alluring sights and smells, becoming aware of your environmental triggers (cookie jar or chocolate stash), and removing them from site and reach, can make all the difference in your weight loss success.

7 Tips To Lose Weight Without Exercise

  You’re ready to start your weight loss. You’re tired of your clothes not fitting. You’re tired of getting winded when you go up a short of stairs. There are so many “lose weight diet plans,” supplements, exercise programs, and other diet aids that it can be very confusing on what will work and what is a scam. Here are seven tips to lose weight without exercise that will help jumpstart your weight loss and keeps it moving forward. 
 
1. Diets Don’t Work: Recent studies by UCLA show that dieting is not an effective means of losing weight. Between one third and two thirds of all people that diet regain more weight than what they lost. This yo-yo dieting can be very unhealthy, as it has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, or immune system dysfunction.

2. Fad Diets Don’t Work: Counting calories, fat grams, and carbohydrates is not an effective way to lose weight either. You need a balanced nutritional program, no one that targets only one food group or part of a food group.

3. You Won’t Lose Weight with Just a Pill: It seems like everyone today has a pill that is touted as the latest weight loss miracle drug. Simply take a pill a couple times a day and the weight will fall off. This is not the way to lose weight and it won’t work.

4. Do Not Expect Immediate Results: You can’t lose twenty pounds in a week’s time. The healthiest way to lose weight is to lose one to three pounds a week.

5. Hypnosis Works: Of all the weight loss programs out there today, hypnosis has one of the highest success rates. It’s not the Las Vegas hypnosis show style, either. One of the most successful forms of weight loss hypnosis is usually accomplished through a DVD or CD program. You can use these programs 
 
at your leisure, which makes them even more effective.

6. Don’t eat after Six: You don’t want to eat at least three hours before you go to sleep. All that food is not converted to energy will be stored as fat.

7. Eat Several Small Meals a Day: The key to weight loss is not food deprivation. It’s eating several small meals a day in order to keep your metabolism high, which means you burn more fat stores in your body.

These are not the only tips that will help you lose weight. However, you have to realize that it’s taken a lifetime for your mind to program you to gain weight. The only way to lose weight and successfully keep it off is to retrain your mind and body.

You need to understand why you are living the way you are and why you keep eating. You may find that there are several things that can trigger your weight gain. This is one reason why hypnosis works so well to lose weight. You can finally target the root of the problem and not just the symptoms. This is what you need to learn to know.