You've all heard of them; the "lemonade diet", "master cleanse", and other detox products which claim to jump start weight loss, eliminate toxins from your body, make your skin shinier and healthier, and give you more energy. Do these products actually work, and are they worth the time, money, and effort so many people spend on them nowadays?
Here's the thing with "detoxes" and "cleanses"; they do succeed in helping you lose weight, and losing it quickly. When using them according to instructions, they drastically cut down calories, which will, of course, make you lose weight. They also flush out excess water weight (due to their laxative and diuretic properties), so your body will feel "tighter" and you will appear smaller.
This kind of weight, however, is not the kind that will stay off; as soon as you begin eating and drinking normally again, the water (at least to a certain degree), and the pounds generally come right back, since the body will take the return to increased calorie intake as a sign that it should store the calories. The detox will decrease your appetite in general, because your stomach shrinks as it gets used to consuming fewer calories; but your metabolism will also decrease in conjunction, especially because people tend to lose muscle weight also during the detox (partly because some don't have the energy to work out, and after fat is burned the body depletes the muscle.
This is not a good effect since muscles burns extra calories!). As for the acclaimed "detoxifying" properties of the products; it is true that you will flush out many impurities (via waste), but your body knows how to rid itself of these toxins on its own.
If you eliminate unhealthy foods from your diet, drink lots of water, and exercise, any normal, healthy body should "cleanse" itself...without any expensive diet products! And if you are in it for the "increased energy" and "healthy, happy" feeling, did you know that your body actually induces a feeling of euphoria in response to starvation and suffering? It is the body's natural response to situations in which it is undergoing unnecessary stress. So why put yourself through an unnatural and stressful situation when your body can take care of itself (with a little TLC and mindfulness from yours truly of course!).
HEALTHY MEALS
Here are a few healthy meals you can enjoy that will nourish your body; meals like these trump
detoxes any day! Just keep a clean, simple diet that includes lots of colors and textures, and your
body will thank you :)
Low-fat, fiber rich, lots of protein, and contains antioxidants that support liver functioning; try Lemon Chicken and Rice with Artichokes for dinner! Serve with a mixed green salad or steamed broccoli on the side.
Ingredients:
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 inch strips
2 1/4 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cups instant rice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (14 ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
2 tbs grated Romano cheese
Preparation
Heat a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add chicken, chopped onion and red bell pepper; saute 5 minutes. Stir in rice, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper and broth; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in artichokes and cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with cheese.
Serves 4. Serving size 2 cups.
Nutrition: Calories: 324. Fat: 2.8g. Protein: 35g. Carb: 40.7g. Fiber: 8.3 g. Cholesterol. : 69mg.
Courtesy of Cooking Light Magazine.
For Dessert try Quick Baked Pears:
Ingredients:
2 large Bosch pears
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried mixed fruit (such as Sun-Maid Fruit Bits)
1/4 cup low-fat granola
1/4 cup apple juice
1/2 cup vanilla low-fat frozen yogurt, divided into 4 small scoops:
Preparation:
1) Peel pears; cut in half lengthwise. Use a melon baller or grapefruit spoon to remove core and seed, creating a hollow.
2) Place pear halves, with cut sides up, in a glass pie plate. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over pears.
3) Combine cranberries and granola; mound into hollows of the pear halves. Pour the apple juice in and around pear halves. Cover dish loosely with wax paper.
4) Cook in microwave on HIGH 6-8 minutes or until pears are tender when pierced with a knife. Let stand in the dish 5 minutes. Use a large slotted spoon to transfer the pears to serving plates.
5) Drizzle juices from pie plate over pears and serve with frozen yogurt.
Serves 4. Serving Size: 1/2 pear w/1 tbs vanilla frozen yogurt and 1.5 tbs juice
Nutritional Info: Calories 176. Fat: 2g. Protein 3g. Carb: 40g. Fiber: 4g. Cholesterol: 16mg.
Courtesy of Cooking Light Magazine.
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