Detox Diets and Cleansing

I’m sometimes asked if Nutrichef is a detox diet delivery service. The short answer is ‘no’ because I wouldn’t want to appear to be claiming that by eating a set of meals for 14 or 30 days you can remove all of your body’s toxins. However, there is no doubt that by eating a healthy diet you can help the body to cleanse, especially if you’re used to eating a diet that’s high in sugar, fat and artificial additives. What gives me such enjoyment running Nutrichef is that I see and hear about a very wide range of health benefits when I talk to customers – benefits that include increased energy, a lowering of cholesterol, significant weight loss, clearer skin... the list goes on! (Click HERE to read some personal stories about how Nutrichef has transformed people’s lives.)

How do we get toxic in the first place?

The simple answer is that humans have become highly skilled at creating toxins! We pump them into the air from our cars, we spray them over our crops to make the crops last longer or ‘look nicer,’ we add them to food to make it taste sweeter, we allow them to pollute our tap water, and we consume them as quick-fix medicines instead of addressing the actual cause of our ailments.

Most of us have a high tolerance to toxins and, as long as our immune system and cleansing organs are in good nick, we may be able to handle the everyday exposure to toxins. It’s when we’re run down or we’ve been exposed to too many harmful chemicals that the symptoms of toxic overload begin to surface. The most common of these are headaches, fatigue, allergies, skin problems and weight gain. Long-term exposure to toxins is even more serious and is believed to play a part in causing certain kinds of cancer.

How does our body tackle toxins?

Our body handles toxins by neutralising them, transforming them into something harmless or eliminating them all together. We try to cough up toxins that we breathe, while those landing on our skin may be washed away by sweat. Toxins in our food are dealt with by the liver, gallbladder and colon, while those that dare to enter us in liquid form may be partially flushed out by the liver, kidneys and bladder.

Barbara’s Practical Tips on Cleansing

Steer clear of chemicals
- Buy organic food whenever possible.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners (most contain aspartame - a chemical closely linked to cancer).
- Choose produce free from artificial additives: we’re natural beings – we’re not meant to consume man-made chemicals!
- Choose non-toxic household cleaners and personal care products.
- ‘Grow your own fresh air’ by buying plants for your house such as Peace Lilies and Spider Plants.
Exercise. After exercising we tend to look and feel better, we have increased energy levels and our mood improves. One of the reasons for these positive feelings is that exercise helps to release toxins from our muscles, lymph glands and skin.
Get enough sleep. A lot of cleansing goes on while we’re asleep, so give yourself the best chance of having a good night’s rest. Try the following:
- Give yourself enough time to unwind after coming home from work or putting the kids to bed.
- Listen to a relaxing CD.
- Avoid eating just before bed.
Drink plenty of clean water. The majority of people ignore their body’s cry for water and often think they’re hungry when they really need to fill their stomach with a glass of clean water! Aim to drink around 2 litres a day if you suffer from heartburn, rheumatoid joint pain, back pain, migraine, high-blood pressure or weight problems.
Try juicing and sprouting Fresh juice is great for cleansing because it helps flush the digestive system and restore important nutrients to the body. Juicing is especially good for cleansing the liver. Sprouting seeds is another great way of providing high quantities of essential nutrients. It’s easy and cheap and adds variety to salads, stir-fries and sandwich toppings.

If you’re interested in having healthy, weight loss meals delivered to your door, then why not book a Nutrichef meal plan today – you’ll soon be enjoying the health benefits of our delicious meals and saving time by not having to shop for food or do the cooking!