Detoxification: Day 1
Getting Started on Your Detoxification Program
“There is no substitute for daily preparation”
Some of you may have heard this statement before in reference to school, work and home life. But most people have never connected this saying to food and meal planning. However, in order to see a detoxification program through to completion, you must be willing to prepare and plan ahead. In fact, when it comes to detoxification, this saying should more appropriately read:
“There is no substitute for weekly preparation”
In order to complete a detoxification program, the preparation must begin before day 1. It is vital to your success that you get your body ready for the dietary changes that you are going to make over the next 2-4 weeks (depending on the intensity of detox). The most important thing that you need to do before starting is cut back on the foods that will be off limits once you begin the program. In doing this, it will not be a shock to your body when you eliminate them completely.
Days 1-2 of most detoxes will have you saying goodbye to the following foods: refined sugars (this eliminates many food choices right away), anything containing artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners (again, this eliminates practically any processed foods), anything made from corn, all
Day 1: Our lunches prepared the night before
caffeinated products, and alcohol. Some programs will even eliminate animal products (meat, dairy, eggs) and any gluten containing grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt, etc.) in the early days of the detox.
As you can see, you are not left with many conventional, convenient options. That is why you MUST take the time to find unconventional, less convenient options. This is especially true if you are dependent on processed, prepackaged convenience foods. Instead, you MUST discover the many things that can be done with fresh produce, whole foods, and natural spices. If you do not do this, you will more than likely give up two or three days into the process and miss out on the great health benefits that could have been gained.
My future posts on this subject are meant to help you through this process because I want to make completing this program as attainable as possible. I will share some of my favorite cleanse approved recipes, a few of my daily meal plans, tips to get through the hard days, and some great ideas for whipping up smoothies. I believe that anyone can do this. It will require some sacrifice and preparation but I encourage you to consider taking this step toward improving your health both now and for the future.
