Detox diets are very restrictive, often avoiding entire food groups. That, obviously, is the case with a vegan detox. This plan requires keeping away from all meat and dairy products as well as honey; however, getting the proper amount of calcium and protein is not as hard as it seems. The most important thing to remember is that all concerns and plans should be discussed with a doctor before starting any program like this.
Benefits:
- This meal system tries to clean the kidneys, liver and lymph system by removing excess waste and the toxins in it from the system.
- It also flushes out the intestines. Just like taking a day to eat all fruit and soup, a liquid diet will cause more purges. As long as water is a major priority throughout the day, a liquid detox will rid the intestines of excess waste.
Water and a Multivitamin
Since this is a cleanse, there's no point beating around the big water keg. Water is essential to any detox but especially the vegan kind. Drinking eight to 10 glasses a day will keep the healthy fiber found in fruits and vegetables from turning into the not-so-healthy and not-so-happy constipation. And take a multivitamin so there is a general balance of minerals in the day.
Vegan Liquid Detox
Juice fasts are a very common form of detoxification. Sometimes this plan is carried out for one day, three days or a week while others are undertaken one day a week for as long as participants like, but the duration of the detox should be decided with a doctor.
This is perhaps the most basic detox program. It involves juicing all meals, which usually consist of fruits and vegetables. It involves zero processed foods, absolutely no added sugar and the fruits and veggies should be raw. Those with peels or rinds should be peeled and seeded. Most of what goes into the juice should come from vegetables. Spinach, beets, carrots and tomatoes are among the most nutritious and tasty in blended form.
Vegan Raw Detox
Don't worry -- there are solid food plans as well. Just remember the 75-25 ratio - 75 percent raw food to 25 percent cooked, and the same restrictions listed in the liquid detox apply here too -- no processed foods or added sugar. The food consumed should include: nuts and seeds, vegetables, fruits, beans and grains.
This is essentially a "trial run" at raw-veganism. This is not an "eat salad for a week" weight loss plan. Most types of lettuce have poor nutritional value anyway -- and once the body gets accustomed to a food, it’s no longer going to be a big help with weight loss. Sometimes eating a lot of one type of food – even if it’s “healthy” – can lead to weight gain.
Good Sources of Vegan Protein
Flaxseed, brown rice protein powder, oats, kidney beans, lentils, soy and bulgur are great sources of unprocessed protein that can be eaten raw or cooked and are available at many supermarkets and most health stores.
Warning
As this is neither a diet nor a long-term lifestyle change, a detox should never be dabbled in. Its benefits will vary from person to person, as will any negative reactions, and depend on the health and well-being of the program and person doing the detox. There is also some debate as to the value of detox programs in general, but ultimately the purpose of this plan is to give the body a jumpstart, an awakening.
Sources
The Essential Green You: easy way to detox your diet, your body and your lifeDeirdre Imus. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. 2009.
Jordan Trippeer - I am a senior at the University of Richmond. I have a double major in journalism and biology. I work for the university's independent ...
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