The Hay Diet for Good Health

Dr. William Howard Hay introduced food combining in 1911. After 16 yrs of medical practice his own health began to deteriorate, and he developed high blood pressure, Brights disease (now more commonly known as acute or chronic nephritis, a kidney disease) and a dilated heart. There being no treatment available for dilated heart at the time, Dr. Hay was inspired to treat his own symptoms. His basic premise is that there is one underlying cause for health problems and that is the wrong chemical condition in the body (also sometimes caused by toxic load).

Chart from How to Always Be Well, Dr. William Howard Hay (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He did this by eating 'fundamentally' as he called it; taking foods in a natural form and not mixing proteins and starches at the same meal. The wrong chemical condition is acidity which is caused by the manufacture and accumulation of acid from the products of digestion and metabolism in amounts greater than the body can eliminate. 

Along with dietary changes, Dr. Hay also advised fresh air, exercise and general lifestyle changes. The basic rules of this diet are: starches and sugar should not be eaten with proteins and acid fruits at the same meal; vegetables, salads and fruits should play a major part in the diet; proteins, starches and fats should be eaten in small quantities and only whole-grain unprocessed starches should be used; and finally at least 4 hours should elapse between meals of different food groups. It is also known as the "food combining" diet. 

Acid foods are protein rich, meat, fish, dairy, etc., and alkaline the carbohydrate-rich starch foods like rice, grains and potatoes.

Following the simple rules of the Hay Diet has shown great potential in reversing chronic and degenerative conditions such as constipation, indigestion and arthritis. It can be beneficial to asthma and allergy sufferers. It can also stimulate natural weight loss, thus reducing the health risks linked to obesity, such as diabetes, gallstones and coronary heart disease. 

 To Learn More About the Hay Diet, Consult These Resources:

   

 

The Potential Risks and Dangers of Detoxing

If you’ve been considering a detox diet or a detox plan you may have come across some alarming information. Many experts consider detoxing to be extremely dangerous. Detoxing does offer some powerful health benefits. However, it’s not a strategy to take lightly. Detoxing isn’t for everyone and it’s important to know the potential risks and dangers before you start. And above all, be sure you are following a safe and natural detox plan that works with your body to help it detoxify and heal - stay away from extreme diets and weird detoxification supplements if you're not sure what's in them or what they do.

Always choose a safe, gentle cleanse that works with your body, not against it.

Existing Health Conditions

If you have an existing health condition, detoxing may not be right for you. For example, if you’re pregnant, do not detox. If you have diabetes, an immune deficiency, or compromised organs then detoxing should be approached with extreme caution and the guidance of an educated health professional.

If you have kidney disease, liver problems or heart disease, do not detox. If you’re unsure if a detox plan is right for you ask your doctor. It’s always a good idea to get a doctor’s approval before you take any significant steps in this arena.

Detoxing for Weight Loss

Many detox plans are designed specifically for weight loss. They work by essentially starving the body of calories over a period of days. Some even add laxative measures so you’re purging your body of existing material. This can cause dehydration, digestive problems, headaches, dizziness, and extreme fatigue. Yes, you’ll lose weight because you’re not consuming many, if any, calories. However, as soon as you begin eating normally you’ll often gain most if not all of the weight back.

If you’re going to detox for weight loss, choose a safe, healthy long term plan. For example, drink organic juices for breakfast and lunch and eat a solid meal for dinner. Choose organic foods without pesticides and eat a healthy and well balanced meal. You’ll lose weight naturally and gradually while you also detoxify your body. (For an example of this type of plan, see the Total Wellness Cleanse.)

 (Photo credit: sillydog)

Serious Side Effects

Some detox diets come with a handful of unpleasant side effects. They include dizziness, diarrhea, headaches, mood swings and insomnia. These side effects are generally caused by withdrawal.

For example, if you normally consume sugar or sugary substitutes and you suddenly stop, your body is going to miss them. Caffeine, white flour and other food elements can cause similar effects. (This is called a food addiction, and it's so common almost everyone has at least one.)

The good news is that these side effects generally go away a few days into the detox diet, as you break your unhealthy addictions. Most people then feel energetic, clear headed and extremely healthy. However, it is also important to pay close attention to your body. If the side effects are severe or are making your day to day activities difficult then modify the detox diet and approach it more gradually.

It is important to take care when detoxifying. It can be a great first step to improved health. However, it’s not a strategy to take lightly. Follow a proven and trusted detox plan that is gentle and works naturally to detoxify and heal your bodily systems. Pay careful attention to your health and listen to your body!

Detox & Weight Loss with The pH Miracle Diet

One of the biggest touted benefits of The pH Miracle Diet besides detoxification is weight loss. Many people have turned to this diet to lose weight as well as to improve their overall level of health The pH Miracle Diet is very efficient at removing extra weight.

Illustration of obesity and waist circumference.Source: Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2000. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Obesity is a nationwide epidemic. According to recent studies, over 59 million adults over the age of 20 in the U.S. are obese (30 or more pounds overweight). One in three Americans have a some degree of being overweight that puts them at medical risk for many different conditions, including heart disease, heart attack, diabetes and hypertension. Even more startling is the number of children that qualify as overweight and obese. In the early 1990s the National Center for Health Statistics found that 15 percent of children between 6 and 19 were overweight, which was twice as much as the results found in the early 1980s. The numbers have grown even more significant. Today, 9 million children are at least 15 pounds overweight with many millions qualifying as obese.

What is to blame for these alarming obesity rates? The environment of highly acidic foods and high levels of stress have made for a disastrous combination. The more acidic a body becomes, the more fat the body will store. Overweight conditions result from too much acid in the body. Eliminating acid from the diet with The pH Miracle Diet will help most people lose weight.

The accumulation of fat is actually the body’s attempt to deal with the high levels of acid waste. Many people think that fat is bad and that fat is the enemy that needs to be attacked. Fat is just a symptom of a larger problem – acidity. You may be surprised to find out that your fat is saving your life. Fat is actually protecting your body from rising levels of acidity. When you eat massive amounts of sugar, starches, red meat, dairy products and other acidic foods, your body uses fat to bind to the acid to protect your cells.                           

A graph showing the rate of obesity in adults and the rate of being overweight in both children and adults in the United States from 1960 - 2004. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The acidic cycle in your body functions in the following way. When you eat foods that produce acid when they are digested, this acid builds up in your body. When the acid is not eliminated in a timely fashion, it can disturb other cells and get in the way of their functioning. Pretty soon, many cells in the body are being negatively affected by the presence of acid. However, the body has a line of defense in the form of fat. Dietary and body fat are both used to neutralize the acid. The acid bound fat is either eliminated or stored, depending on how much there is. The body can only rid itself of so much acid bound fat, so when you eat a lot of acidic foods you will store a lot of fat.

So people who are overweight and obese are actually showing signs of being too acid. Their diets are too much for their body to handle, so body fat is being used as a line of defense against the toxins. Fat is a symptom, not the main problem. Many people begin to think that eliminating fat from their diets is the key. However if they are still eating acidic foods they are actually robbing their bodies of the ability to protect themselves. Low-carbohydrate and high protein diets have high levels of fat, but the people on these diets need that fat because their diet is highly acidic (animal protein has acidifying effects).

The dietary solution for weight loss is to follow a program that is high in alkaline foods. The pH Miracle Diet balances out the acidity that you have been developing in your body, reduces your toxic load, and may help restore you to your ideal weight.

More Info On The pH Miracle Diet:
 

Does Detoxing Help You Lose Weight?

If you want to lose weight you might be considering a detox plan. Although usually the main goal of a cleansing/detoxing program is to remove toxins from the body and restore healthy function, in recent years, many celebrities have touted detox plans as a quick weight loss strategy, and many people have found great success detoxing for weight loss. However, there are some facts to consider before using a detox program to lose weight.

(Photo credit: fantasyhealthball)

How Does Detoxing Help you Lose Weight?

Most detox diets require significant dietary restrictions. In fact, the Lemonade Diet or Master Cleanse diet limits you to drinking a lemon, maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper concoction throughout the day. You don't eat anything. When you reduce your caloric intake like this your body begins to burn its fat stores. The result is that you lose a lot of weight quickly.

However, there are repercussions to this type of weight loss. You regain the weight as soon as you begin to eat normally again. Studies have also shown that dieting like this can slow down your metabolism.

There is good news, though. Not all detox plans have these same harsh side effects. Some detox diets and plans - such as the Total Wellness Cleanse - can help you lose weight naturally and gradually. Detoxing helps purge the toxins from your fat cells. This process can help you lose weight faster once you start a diet and exercise program. A detox diet doesn't have to mean starvation. And you can also detox (or enhance your detox diet efforts) with tea, massage, saunas and detox baths. Purging the toxins from your body can help you get a clean slate before you begin a diet and fitness program.

Additional Dieting and Detox Benefits

Detoxing can also help you lose weight in a number of other surprising ways. One important example is the renewed energy that you’ll likely have once you’ve completed your detox program. Most people who have detoxified state that they have more energy and more mental clarity when they finish. This energy will help you get and stay motivated to stick to your diet and exercise program.

You may also sleep better. Studies have shown that quality sleep helps boost weight loss. It also helps you keep the weight off once you’ve lost it. Finally, when you have completed a detox program you’re going to feel healthier. You will have eliminated sugary foods and processed foods from your diet. This process essentially reprograms your taste buds and your metabolism. You won’t have the same cravings or desire for junk food. This helps you stick to your diet program and lose weight.

When detoxing for weight loss keep your long term goals in mind. Starvation detox programs don’t always offer the best solution. However, there are quality detox plans and programs that help you get healthy and lose weight naturally. Find the plan that is right for you.

We do review various detoxification and cleansing programs here on this blog, but so far our favorite has been the Total Wellness Cleanse - a gentle method that has you eat lots of whole, fresh natural foods, to help support your body's own natural detoxification systems without starving you or subjecting you to all kinds of crazy supplements and pills that may actually be hard on the body.

Why Water Is Important To Your Detoxification Goals

When undertaking a detox plan, regardless of the method you choose, water will play a very important role in your success. Water will help you detoxify more quickly. It will also reduce or alleviate detoxification side effects.

Here are three compelling reasons why water is important to detoxification.

Alpine water fountain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#1 Water helps you eliminate toxins more quickly. Water helps accomplish several things in your body. It keeps your vital organs hydrated and functioning properly. We’re talking about your kidney, liver, bladder and digestive tract. These organs are an important part of the detox process. When they’re functioning optimally you’ll detox faster.

Additionally, water helps you flush the toxins from your body. Sweating and urination both help remove the toxins from your body. The more you drink, the more you’ll urinate thus sweeping the toxins from your body quickly and easily.

#2 Water helps you lose weight. Water helps you lose weight in a number of ways. First and perhaps foremost, it helps your metabolism function optimally. The better your metabolism the easier it is for you to lose weight and keep it off. Secondly, water helps you feel full. In fact, many health and fitness experts recommend drinking a glass of water a few minutes before you eat any snack or meal. Studies have shown people consume fewer calories when they drink a glass of water first.

#3 Manage side effects better. When you detox you’re going to inevitably have a few side effects. These include dehydration, headaches, diarrhea, insomnia and mood swings. You may also experience a bit of mental fogginess during the first few days of detoxing. Drinking water helps reduce many of these symptoms.

Not only will you experience them for a much shorter time period, they’ll also be less severe. Of the symptoms, dehydration is the most serious and potentially risky side effect. It’s absolutely vital to your health and well being to stay hydrated.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You may also experience a few cravings when you’re detoxing. Drinking a glass of water, or a glass of water with lemon or a dash of fruit juice, will help you manage those cravings.

Detoxing is a wonderful way to achieve a number of health benefits. Drinking water when you detox is absolutely essential for success. Consider creating a checklist to make sure you drink enough during your detox. Try to drink a glass of water every three hours or so – when you’d normally be having a meal or snack. If you're at work, keep a glass or bottle of water beside you on your desk - you'll be surprised how much you'll drink without even thinking about it.

You may be juicing or drinking tea during your detox. Drink a glass of water with each glass of juice or tea. If you notice your urine is yellow, you’re not drinking enough. Drink water and stay healthy during your detoxification process.

For More Helpful Detoxification Tips, Visit www.totalwellnesscleanse.com.

Tips For How To Start A Detox Cleansing Program

This week, we've got some helpful articles for you on cleansing and detoxing your body safely and effectively, bringing you back to your optimal health and weight, and getting all your systems functioning properly and efficiently. We're starting off with a guest article from one of our favorite health & fitness experts. Enjoy!

How To Start A Cleansing Program
By Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN & Amy Coates, RHN, BSc.

Fresh vegetables are important components of a healthy diet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A colon cleansing program is the best way to jump start any weight loss routine. This process allows the body to be cleansed of waste that is being stored in the digestive tract. By removing this waste your body is able to better absorb nutrients from the new healthy foods you will be eating. Colon cleansing is also beneficial to people who are regularly fatigued or experience consistent acne problems. The waste that is trapped in our tissues causes bacteria to build up in our skin cells, which leads to acne. The general bogged down feeling comes from the processes in our body being slowed down due to the lack of vital nutrients being absorbed. There are some easy steps to follow before starting any cleaning program.

For someone who can handle jumping right into a new diet plan the first step is a 24 hour fast. By drinking only water and 100% fruit juices for 24 hours you condition your body to begin the journey of detoxification. After the 24 hours you should begin by following a colon cleaning meal plan.

Most people will need to wean themselves off of the current bad addictions they have before starting a colon cleansing program. 

English: Diet Coke Products (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The first steps are to slowly cut out sweets, processed foods and alcohol. Replace sweet foods with fruit. The natural sugars in fruit help curb sweet cravings and they are low in calories and full of vitamins and antioxidant properties. Processed foods can be replaced with freshly made foods. If you are a coffee and soda drinker, begin to replace coffee with non-caffeinated herbal teas and coffees. These will help your body restore its natural energy supply back to a healthy level. Soda should be cut out completely. Even diet sodas contain harmful toxic ingredients. One of the main ingredients in diet soda turns into formaldehyde when it mixes with stomach acid! Removing soda completely is one of the best ways to help detoxify your body - it's one of the most unhealthy things you can consume. If you can not handle jumping into a new diet plan then this option is best for you. By weaning your body off of the old foods and onto the new ones, you slowly condition your body to crave healthier foods without shocking it with sudden diet changes. 

Any colon cleansing program can be aided with colon cleaning juices or supplements that are widely available these days. While participating in a wellness cleansing program it is also important to drink lots of water and stay away from any artificial or heavily preserved foods.

To help enhance the results of the plan you need to enhance your digestion. You can do this by taking a good probiotic, eating at regular times throughout the day and by chewing food slowly. It takes approximately fifteen minutes for a body to realize it is full. By eating slow you will be less likely to over eat and will not fill your stomach to the point that it takes a long time digesting. After eating, enjoy a twenty to thirty minute walk. This will also help enhance the digestion process.

Click Here to Learn More About Yuri's Gentle Cleansing Detox Program....

Why The Raw Food Diet Isn’t Really A Diet

I've been wanting to do a raw food series for a while. Eating raw can really be a great way to cleanse and detoxify your body in a way that is gentle and healthy, and it can even become a way of life if desired (which you may once you feel how good it makes you feel). I can't think of a better time to try going raw than in the summer - after all, who wants to slave over a hot stove when it's 90+ degree outside anyway? So that's why I'm doing a 2-week series on raw foodism, from benefits, to detoxification uses, to recipes - starting with today's post on why raw foodism is more a way of life than it is a diet, even though it can be used for "dieting" purposes (i.e. losing weight).

Our busy lives can sometimes make it difficult to stick to our dieting plans when we’re trying to lose weight. We’re either keeping track of our fat intake, our sugar intake, our carbohydrate intake, or our caloric intake. With all that counting, it’s no wonder most of us become discouraged and ‘fall off the dieting wagon.’ Add to that the surplus of convenient diet foods that are out there that are chock-full of preservatives and additives that we choose when we’re tired from a busy day and don’t have the energy or time to prepare a nutritious meal, and we’re headed down a wrong-way street trying to navigate our way through our weight-loss journey.

English: A close up of a fresh raw food dish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Enter the raw foods lifestyle. Not only are raw foods full of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals our bodies need to perform optimally, they provide enzymes for proper digestion, and will also result in the purging of toxins and the cleansing of your body systems. 

The best part? You can eat as many fruits and vegetables as you like…and you will lose weight.

In addition, the natural high fiber content of most raw foods will help you feel fuller, thereby reducing your food intake. They’ll assist in turning up the thermostat in your body, helping to melt away that excess fat and nourishing your body’s cells to continue with the fat-burning process. 

Most raw foods are naturally low in calories, and obviously much lower in calories, fats, sugars, and carbohydrates than the dieting convenience foods we’d been reaching for in the past. Add the extra bonus of increased energy, regulated blood sugar and blood pressure levels, sharper vision and improved mental functionality, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t become a ‘raw foodie’ sooner! 

And, once you reach your weight loss goals, you’ll realize how healthy you’ve become in the process, and how good you feel, and the raw food lifestyle may just become a way of life.

The Joy of Juicing

Juice can actually be considered a natural water source and provides the body with protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that can be absorbed quickly and efficiently. Fresh juice also contains necessary enzymes, and pigments such as carotenes, chlorophyll, and flavonoids.

A worker preparing fresh pomegranate juice from these pomegranate fruit at a market in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables provides numerous nutritional advantages that are extremely important to weight loss. In addition, diets containing a high percentage of uncooked foods are significantly associated with weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and lower blood pressure.

Your body actually finds a raw foods diet more filling. Cooking can cause the loss of up to 97% of water-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Since uncooked foods such as juices contain more vitamins and other nutrients, they are more satisfying to the body, so it does not feel starved for nutrients. This means the metabolism will keep running efficiently and keep your weight loss efforts headed in the right direction

Juicing kick-starts your body's digestive process and enables quick absorption of high-quality nutrition, which can result in increased energy. This is one of the great advantages of achieving weight loss through improved nutrition. Fresh juices, combined with a well-balanced diet will provide you with the energy needed to burn more calories, fat, and provide you with the fuel you need for physical activity.

However, juicing does remove the fiber from these nutrient-dense foods. So be sure to include an appropriate amount of fiber-rich foods in your daily diet. Juicing should be a complement to a well-balanced healthy diet, not a substitute.

So with a little planning and creativity, juicing could enhance your well-balanced diet and add some zest. The internet is a great resource for juicing recipes and information, and with the realization that raw foods and juicing is a great health boost, books and magazine articles are touting the benefits and offering recipe ideas. See below for some great examples.

   

Video - CNN Interview On The pH Miracle Diet

Here is a short CNN interview with the author of the pH Miracle Diet for Fat Loss. Dr. Young shares some tips for alkaline foods to eat, acidic foods to avoid, and what type of exercise is best for alkalizing your body and removing toxins, thereby encouraging fat loss. This short video gives a brief overview of what the pH Miracle Diet is all about, but for further information, be sure to check out the resources below.

pH Miracle Diet Sheds The Fat Fast
pH Miracle Diet is the most natural way to lose fat fast alkalizing the body by eating mostly alkaline foods.


More On The pH Miracle Diet: 
   

Super Foods That Encourage Weight Loss

Experts say there are two basic categories of foods that can be considered "keeping it off superfoods" because they fill your tummy without piling on the calories: fruits and vegetables.

Image via WikipediaAnd the nutrient that gives fruits and vegetables that ‘staying power?’

Fiber. 

So, if fruits and vegetables are the "keeping-it-off superfood groups," fiber may well be the "keeping-it-off super-nutrient."

Protein is another super-nutrient. It's becoming more scientifically accepted that protein may help to curb appetite. Protein also offers staying power, and can slightly boost your metabolism in the process. But it’s imperative that you choose your proteins wisely, because like all other foods, if you’re eating more than your body needs, it’ll show up on the scale as a gain, instead of a loss.

The following superfoods are smart, low-calorie choices that will benefit your weight loss efforts: 

Green Tea - Researchers suspect that the catechins (helpful phytochemicals) in green tea may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and mildly decrease body fat. So indulge in either a hot cup or a nice tall iced glass of green tea.

Broth- or tomato-based soup – Soups can help reduce hunger before meals and increase your feeling of fullness.

Low-calorie green salads - Having a low-calorie salad – which is not defined as one that’s loaded with croutons, high fat dressings, and cheese - as a first course can help you feel full, thereby reducing how much you eat with your main course. Wisely choose your ingredients, and its high fiber content can be the key to helping you fight cravings later in the day.

Yogurt – Including dairy products as part of your healthy diet may promote your weight loss efforts. Choosing a yogurt may help you fight off hunger pangs due to its combination of protein and carbohydrate.

Beans – A great combination of fiber and protein, beans help you feel full longer, which means they may work to curb your between-meals appetite.

Water – Water is your body’s lifeblood, and you should be drinking it throughout your day. It’s a great no-calorie beverage, and you can get it by drinking unsweetened tea, flavored unsweetened mineral water, regular water with lime or lemon, or even with cucumber. In addition to helping flush toxins from the body, it can also help you feel full. So when those hunger pangs strike, try drinking a glass of water before grabbing that snack.

Image via WikipediaHigh-Fiber, Whole-Grain Cereal - Whole grains in general help boost fiber and the nutritional value of your meal. One of the easiest ways to give your daily diet a whole-grain boost is to have a bowl of higher-fiber whole-grain cereal as breakfast or a snack. However, don't be tricked by the sugary cereals on store shelves - even Fruit Loops and Lucky Charms boast "whole grain!" on the label these days, if you can believe that. (Don't believe me? See picture to the right.) You might as well drink a bowl full of high-fructose corn syrup! Instead choose a low-sugar high-fiber choice such as grape nuts, or other all-natural cereals that are unsweetened. One of my recent favorites is an organic whole grain cereal from Trader Joe's which you cook like oatmeal, but it contains several whole grains, and the result is a nutty, chewy, and tasty treat. Combined with a ripe banana and some whole milk, and sweetened with a bit of maple syrup, it's a great balanced breakfast that will fill you up for quite a while.

For more healthy tips to help you balance your body and life, including fun ways to exercise, where to get the freshest and most nutritious foods, cooking healthy and tasty meals from scratch, and more, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/holisticwellness.html.

 

Video - What Is a Detox Cleanse Program?

You may have heard of different cleanse programs, such as the "Master Cleanse," and other weird diets that sound pretty challenging and unrealistic for you to incorporate into your life. These types of extreme diets or cleanses are unsustainable, and may even be harmful to your body in some cases. That's why I love the Total Wellness Cleanse - it is a step-by-step, gentle approach to help your body do what it's made to do, and cleanse itself naturally. Check out this short video for a straight-forward explanation of this program, and how it works with your body to help it detoxify naturally and rid your body of toxins and excess fat, and improve your overall health dramatically in just 30 days.

Want to learn more? Just click the link below the video for a more in-depth explanation of the system.

Total Wellness Cleanse and Detox Program-Explained
Total Wellness Cleanse is a 30-day diet developed by a team of registered holistic nutritionists - Yuri Elkaim, Amy Coates, and Adam Elkaim. This is a time-proven detox and cleanse diet plan that will get rid of toxins and other wastes clogging your ...

Click Here For More Info On The 30-Day Total Wellness Cleanse...

Tips To Get Started With Detoxification

Detoxing can be a real challenge. However, it can also be extremely rewarding. Detoxing can help you achieve several health and lifestyle goals. In order to achieve those goals it’s important to start your detox plan off right.

Cover of Detox (Natural Care Handbook)Tip #1 Set a detox goal. Why do you want to detox? Do you want to cleanse your system? Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to stop your addiction to sugar and/or processed foods? Choose your goal first, your reason or purpose for detoxing. If you don’t have a goal it’ll not only be difficult to choose a detox plan, it’ll be difficult to stick to it.

#2 Choose the right plan. Now that you have a goal for detoxing, choose a plan that supports that goal. Consider your lifestyle. Also consider the time you have to detox and take the potential side effects into consideration.

For example, most detox plans will have some side effects. You may feel tired or irritable. You may also experience headaches and have some digestive issues. This is your body purging the toxins. You may also experience some withdrawal symptoms if you have a diet that is high in sugar and caffeine. If you plan accordingly, you can experience these side effects during low stress times – like the weekend.

Choosing the right plan also requires you to be honest and realistic. Juicing or eating only vegetables may be more realistic than a program that has you drink only detox tea for three days.

#3 Prepare yourself. The potential side effects have already been mentioned. Managing these side effects can be challenging. However, if you prepare for them this short period will be easier.

You might rent movies or grab a couple of books and plan to simply rest during the challenging part of your detox. You’ll also want to make sure you have all the supplies you need. For example, if you’re juicing then you’ll need juice recipes, a juicer or blender, and tons of produce. (See our previous article on juice detoxing here.)

#4 Consider other methods of detoxing. Epsom salt baths, saunas, and even massage can help you detox your body’s tissues. They can also be relaxing and help you transition through the challenging part of your detox plan.

Health (Photo credit: 401K)#5 Reward yourself. Celebrate success. In addition to taking great care of yourself during the detox, plan to reward yourself once you’ve completed it. Now, that probably doesn’t mean binging on junk food! However, you might do something nice for yourself. Take a new fitness class. Take a day and spend it doing something you love.

Once you’ve completed your detox program set another goal to continue improving your health. For example, if you detoxed to purge the junk food habit, you might choose a new fitness program to begin. You might also take a healthy cooking class or begin eating healthier. Your health is important. Detoxing is a great way to move forward toward good health. Choose the right program for you. Be smart and safe when you detox and treat your body well.  

For a comprehensive, gentle, and natural detox program that we recommend, click the banner below. You'll also get a FREE Report on The Toxic Side of Food.

Why Detox? What Are The Benefits?

Considering detoxing? If you want to improve your health, it may be a great place to start. But before you choose a detox plan, make sure you understand the risks and benefits of detoxing. Have a goal for your plan and choose your detox program accordingly.

Top Three Detox Benefits

There are many benefits from detoxing. It doesn’t matter what type of plan you use, the benefits are all basically the same. They’re consistent and powerful. When you detox you will likely:

weight loss tracker week 2 (Photo credit: The Shed1)1. Lose Weight

One of the primary reasons many people detox is to lose weight. Detox diets are often very restrictive and weight loss is a natural result. For example, the Master Cleanse diet that many celebrities rave about is extremely limiting. You’re essentially drinking water, lemon and some spices for several days. Of course you’re going to lose weight. You’re consuming very few calories (and this process is fairly hard on your body).

However, once you stop detoxing, you’ll gain the weight back. That being said, many chemicals and toxins are stored in your fat cells. When you cleanse and detox, your fat cells are better able to metabolize. You will likely find it easier to burn fat and lose weight - even on a more normal diet - once you’ve detoxified your body.

2. Have More Energy

Most people who go on a detox diet or program find that they have much more energy both during and after the detox. Chemicals and toxins stored in your body affect your energy levels. They slow down your metabolism. They can interfere with sleep. Toxins can also stress your immune system making it work extra hard to fight germs and infections. Detoxing removes these chemicals from your body. Thus your body is better able to function. You’ll feel more energetic, sleep better and even have more mental clarity - see next benefit.

3. Experience Mental Clarity

Many toxins create a foggy mind. Artificial sweeteners and sugar both tend to affect your thinking processes. When you detox, you cut sugar and artificial sweeteners from your diet. You’ll feel as if a fog has lifted. Or as one woman said when talking about her own detox plan, “It was like someone put glasses on me and suddenly I could see everything clearly.”

A good, healthy detox program.

Other common benefits include:
* Improved complexion
* Better breath
* Improved digestion and regularity
* Stronger immune system – fewer colds and illnesses
* Improved sense of well-being
* Better sleep
* Better stress management

Now it’s important to note that while there are many powerful benefits, you may also experience some less pleasant effects during the process. There are many side effects that you’ll likely experience in the first few days. Most are mild, and include headaches, stomach aches, mood swings and irritability and insomnia. Plan your detox during a time when these side effects won’t have a significant impact.

For example, you might start a detox plan on a Thursday. The withdrawal symptoms and detox side effects will occur over the weekend. By Monday you’ll likely be feeling much better and more energetic.

Consult with your alternative healthcare provider to see if detoxing is right for you. If you’re pregnant or struggling with an existing health condition detoxing isn’t a good idea. However, if you’re relatively healthy and your doctor gives the go ahead, detoxing can lead you to improved health.

Top 5 Detoxing Mistakes

Detoxing can be a good way to improve your health. You can reset your taste buds and metabolism. You can lose weight. You can get the toxins out of your body, blood and organs. With all of the benefits of detoxing, it’s also easy to make mistakes. These mistakes can derail your detoxing plan. However, knowing the mistakes in advance helps you prepare for them and avoid them. You can have a safe, effective and well managed detox.

Cover of Detox (Natural Care Handbook)Mistake #1: Choosing The Wrong Detox Plan

There are a wide variety of detox plans and programs. Some are designed for weight loss. Others are designed to help you eliminate a dependency on sugar, caffeine or gluten. Others are simply designed to help you purge toxins from your body. When you choose the right program, it’s much easier to stick to it. It’s also easier to recognize the benefits of detoxing and to celebrate the rewards.

Mistake #2: Not Preparing For The Side Effects

Most detox programs have side effects. They include headaches, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia and mood swings. There are a few common reasons for the side effects. Most of them are caused by withdrawal. If you include sugary foods in your daily diet, going “cold turkey” can cause withdrawal. Eliminating caffeine and starchy carbohydrates can also cause withdrawal symptoms.

The other commonly held theory behind the side effects is the release of toxins into your body. When you detox you’re experiencing a sudden release of toxins from your tissues into your body. Your body will need to work to get them out of your system. Drinking lots of water helps.

Mistake #3: Bad Timing

Detoxing can be incredibly challenging. It’s best to detox during a weekend or a low stress time. That way you can take care of your body and manage your side effects without additional outside stress. If you cannot time your detox for a weekend or a vacation, consider choosing a gentle detox plan. There are plans that last a week or two but don’t require a sudden elimination.

Mistake #4: Not Drinking Enough

You’ll likely experience diarrhea when you’re detoxing. This is part of the purging your body of toxins. Make sure you drink plenty of water. The water will help you stay hydrated. It will also help the toxins get out of your body more quickly. Drinking water, and green tea if the diet allows, will also help you prevent headaches.

Image via WikipediaMistake #5: Not paying attention to your body

It’s very important to pay attention to your body during the detox process. It is possible to detox too fast. It’s also possible that detoxing can be bad for you. It’s not right for everyone. If you have compromised health or are fighting an illness, it’s not the right time to detox. Pay careful attention to how your body is reacting. It is okay to stop detoxing or to take it more slowly.

Detoxing can provide a number of powerful health benefits. Choose a plan that fits your needs, goals and lifestyle. Pay close attention to your body and prepare for the detox well and always remember to consult your doctor before starting. To your great health!

Flush the Fat With Smart Food Choices

If one of your New Year's Resolutions is to lose some weight this year, this resource may help flush some of that stubborn fat from your body.

Flushing the fat? As crazy as the concept might sound, The Fat Flush Plan can help you reshape your body while detoxifying your system. This low-carbohydrate, three-phase diet regimen was created by nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S.

Cover of The Fat Flush PlanPhase 1 of the plan, called The Two-Week Fat Flush, lasts 14 days and is designed to jump-start weight loss. Phase 2, The Ongoing Fat Flush, helps you continue to lose weight, and Phase 3, The Lifestyle Eating Plan, focuses on maintenance.

The Fat Flush Plan was designed to increase metabolism, flush out bloat and boost the fat burning process. At the core of the plan is the commitment to promote a balanced lifestyle and encourage simple healthy habits that seem to have gone by the wayside in our modern and hectic everyday life. Every aspect of each phase of the plan is focused on accomplishing this goal: helpful essential fats, amounts of protein, antioxidant-rich vegetables, moderate amounts of fruits, calorie-burning herbs and spices, cleansing diuretic beverages, exercise, journaling and even sleep are addressed.

The Two-Week Fat Flush is based on an average of 1,100 to 1,200 calories daily, and is designed to jumpstart weight loss for dramatic results. It will transform your shape by accelerating fat loss from your body's favorite fat storage areas - your hips, thighs and buttocks.

The Ongoing Fat Flush is the next step for those individuals who have additional weight to lose but who also want to pursue a more moderate cleansing program and enjoy a bit more variety in food choices while still losing weight. This part of the program is designed for ongoing weight loss, with approximately 1,200 to 1,500 calories each day. This is the phase that will be followed until you reach your desired weight or size.

The Lifestyle Eating Plan is your maintenance program for lifetime weight control. This phase offers over 1,500 calories daily, providing a basic lifelong eating program designed to increase your vitality and well-being for life. You’ll add up to two dairy products and up to two additional friendly carbs. Phase 3 friendly carbs include more choices from a variety of starchier veggies and nongluten hypoallergenic grains. Foods are always introduced one at a time to make sure there are no allergic reactions and you’re your body tolerates the food well.

If you've had trouble losing weight and want to get on a healthy plan that will help you get started, but also provide ongoing support to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, you may want to check out Louise's program. Several resources are listed below, and you can also find more at Amazon.com.

The Fat Flush Plan: