What Should I Eat During A Cleanse Detox?

Does your body ever feel kind of gross, like it just needs a hard reset and a good cleanse? With the amount of sugary, processed food and drink we consume on a daily basis, it is no surprise that many of us feel the need to deep cleanse our gut. 

Other substances contribute to this feeling of “ick,” too, including alcohol and drugs. While detoxing from alcohol and drugs is a different process than detoxing from sugar, for example, the concept is the same – it is putting effort into cleaning out toxins from your body so you can start fresh. 

I want to do a cleanse detox 

Maybe you have never done a detox and are just feeling like your body would benefit; possibly you are feeling symptoms like bloat, fatigue, mood swings and overall sluggishness that you would like to reverse. Detoxing your body can be as simple as drinking copious amounts of water and adjusting your diet to flush out the toxins and replace them with nutrients.

The timeline for detoxing is person dependent, meaning those who have more toxins in their body will require a longer or more routine detox process to keep their body healthy; on the other hand, someone who has a relatively healthy routine might not need to cleanse as frequently. 

There are countless toxins floating around in our body system stemming from a variety of sources, including chemicals, airborne toxins, plastic and mold that we can detox from, but today we want to primarily focus on how we can naturally detox from the things we consume.

Note: It is important to mention that detoxing from substance and alcohol abuse with a healthy diet is not the only way detoxing should be done – nutrition is a crucial aspect to supporting detox and maintaining sobriety, but the initial detoxing from substance abuse should be completed under close medical observation due to the risk of withdrawal symptoms. 

How to detox your body

There are numerous ways to detox, but we want to pinpoint some of the natural, easier ways to help get you started. 

Limit alcohol

Because 90 percent of consumed alcohol is metabolized in the liver, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to scarring, inflammation and fat buildup in the liver; and since the liver is the primary detoxification organ in the body, this significantly decreases its ability to successfully eliminate other toxins from the body, which can lead to a buildup and that feeling of sluggishness. 

One way to easily detox is by cutting alcohol out of your diet. If alcohol consumption is not a regular part of your routine, then this elimination should not be very harsh on your body – if, however, you have struggled with alcohol abuse or binge drinking, consider a medical detox program to help you navigate any potential withdrawal symptoms. 

Increase your water intake 

This cannot be stressed enough – replacing sugary drinks like soda, energy drinks and highly processed coffees with water is a huge benefit to your health and a crucial part of detoxification. 

Not only that, but water has dozens of functions in the body, including regulating temperature, helping in digestion and absorption of nutrients, moving waste through the body and providing lubrication to the joints. 

A good way to make sure you are getting enough water throughout the day is to calculate your daily water needs based on activity level, age and gender and then purchase a water bottle that can help you track, based on required ounces, the amount of water you have and need to consume throughout the day. 

Focus on antioxidants

“Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells in your body from free radical damage that can occur from exposure to certain chemicals, smoking, pollution, radiation, and as a byproduct of normal metabolism.” Antioxidants are ideal to consume during a detox cleanse because they work to reduce inflammation in the body. 

There a countless natural sources of antioxidants to include in your diet, including: 

• Sweet potato
• Bell peppers
• Avocado
• Berries
• Kale
• Poultry
• Beef

Ensure that you are purchasing natural meats and produce to avoid unwanted chemicals, pesticides and hormones, and your cleanse diet will be well on its way to providing you with all the vitamins and minerals you need.

Incorporate prebiotics 

Prebiotics help to reset the gastrointestinal tract, an important goal when it comes to detox. Numerous issues can upset the balance of healthy gut flora, including frequent medication use, diet quality and poor dental hygiene; adding prebiotics into your diet can help reverse damage and reset the gut. 

Naturally occurring prebiotics include: 

• Bananas
• Oats
• Chicory root
• Garlic
• Onions
• Artichoke
• Apples
• Seaweed
• Flaxseed

Of course, you can find prebiotic supplements in the grocery store to add to your diet, but it is important to remember that 1) supplements are best added only under the recommendation of your doctor and 2) the best sources of any vitamin or mineral are from the natural food source itself. 

Need more than just a diet detox? 

If you need additional detox support, such as medical care during drug and/or alcohol detox, October Road is here to help. To get in touch with our staff and begin your recovery journey today, contact October Road by calling 888-201-5086 or contact us online to learn more.