Several people have asked if we chose to do this as a type of fasting. Our intentions were merely health-minded. This piqued my curiousity about fasting, however. I always thought fasting meant to replace all meals with prayer. I've heard of a "juice fast" and a "water fast". After researching, I learned that there are several levels of fasting. Many people do not choose an extreme fast (eliminating all food). I've learned that a popular kind of fasting is to eliminate from our diet the unnecessary, unhealthy foods that we frequently crave in order to detoxify our bodies and, in the process, help remind us to depend on God for our needs. It helps us practice self-discipline when we are overcome by cravings. I understand that now! I was so hungry for any kind of sweet snack that first day. Coffee and red meats were huge sacrafices for me as well. The patience and endurance it takes to follow through with these sacrafices is meant to be symbolic of overcoming life's challenges and keeping our focus on God throughout. Frequent prayer is a part of fasting, helping us connect with God on a deeper level through the process. This detox plan could easily be fashioned into a fasting plan. There are many website resources that offer fasting suggestions.
7 Day Detox Plan
A safe and sensible detox plan by Weight Loss Resource's Dietitian, Juliette Kellow.
Juliette’s 7-Day Detox Plan
By WLR Dietitian
Juliette Kellow BSc RD
Rather than following an extreme detox plan that limits just about every food except fruit and veg while at the same time getting you to down a nasty ‘detox’ drink every day, this plan is safer and more sensible and shouldn’t leave you short on nutrients if you follow it for just one week.
Foods to include in the plan
Your plan can include:
Fruit – your plan can include any fruit including fresh, frozen, dried or canned in natural fruit juice. This includes apples, bananas, pears, oranges, grapefruit, satsumas, sultanas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, nectarines, peaches, melons, star fruit etc
Fruit juice – either make homemade fruit juices or smoothies from fresh fruit, or drink ready-
made juices. Make sure ready-made juices are labelled as being ‘pure’ or ‘unsweetened’.
Vegetables – eat any vegetables including fresh, frozen or canned in water (without salt added). This includes carrots, onions, turnip, swede, sprouts, cabbage, peppers, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers, leeks, courgettes, broccoli, cauliflower, salad, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions etc
Beans and lentils – eat any beans, including those that have been dried or canned in water. This includes red kidney, haricot, cannellini, butter, black eye, pinto, red lentils, green lentils and brown lentils
Tofu and Quorn
Oats – sprinkle oats over fresh fruit or use to make porridge, sweetened with honey and fresh fruit
Potatoes – all types
Brown rice and rice noodles
Rye crackers, rice cakes and oatcakes
Fresh fish – eat any fresh fish including cod, plaice, mackerel, salmon, lobster, crab, trout, haddock, tuna, prawns, Dover sole, red mullet, halibut, lemon sole, monkfish, swordfish etc. Canned fish in water is suitable too eg salmon or tuna
Unsalted nuts – eat any including Brazil, peanuts, almonds, cashew, hazel nuts, macadamia, pecans, pine nuts, pistachio, walnuts etc
Unsalted seeds – eat any including sunflower and pumpkin
Plain popcorn – without sugar or salt
Live natural yoghurt
Extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Garlic, ginger and fresh herbs
Ground black pepper
Honey
Water – at least 2 litres a day. Tap or mineral water is fine.
Herbal or fruit teas
Foods to avoid during your detox
Red meat, chicken, turkey and any meat products like sausages, burgers, and pate
Milk, cheese, eggs, cream
Butter and margarine
Any food that contains wheat including bread, croissants, cereals, cakes, biscuits, pies, pastry, quiche, battered or breadcrumbed foods, etc
Crisps and savoury snacks including salted nuts
Chocolate, sweets, jam and sugar
Processed foods, ready meals, ready-made sauces and takeaways
Alcohol
Coffee and tea
Sauces, pickles, shop bought salad dressing, mayonnaise
Salt
Fizzy drinks and squashes, including diet versions
Detox Plan Breakfasts
Banana porridge
Porridge made with water and topped with natural yoghurt, banana, raisins and sweetened with honey.
Fruit salad with yoghurt and oats
Fresh fruit salad with natural yoghurt and a sprinkling of oats.
Fresh fruit smoothie
Fruit smoothie made from fresh fruit, natural yoghurt and honey to sweeten if needed.
Muesli and yoghurt
Homemade muesli made from oats, seeds, nuts and dried fruit served with natural yoghurt.
Fresh fruit and yoghurt
Fresh fruit and a pot of natural yoghurt sweetened with honey.
Detox Plan Lunches
Vegetable soup and oatcakes
Large bowl of vegetable or lentil soup (either homemade or supermarket ‘fresh’) with oatcakes.
Tuna and sweetcorn jacket potato and salad
Jacket potato topped with tuna (canned in water) mixed with sweetcorn and natural yoghurt and served with salad.
Mediterranean salad with rice cakes
Rice cakes served with rocket, avocado, tomatoes, fresh basil and black pepper. Plus a handful of unsalted nuts.
Guacamole with crudités
Homemade guacamole made from avocado, lemon juice, fresh chilli, tomatoes and garlic served with vegetable crudités and oatcakes.
Tzatziki with crudités
Homemade tzatziki made from natural yoghurt, garlic, cucumber and lemon juice served with vegetable crudités and oatcakes.
Avocado and prawn salad
Fresh avocado served with prawns, salad, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice.
Jacket potato with grilled cod
Grilled cod fillet served with jacket potatoes and lightly steamed vegetables.
Detox Plan Dinners
Chinese vegetable stir fry
Stir fry a selection of vegetables such as bok choi, spring onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and beansprouts in a little olive oil with garlic and ginger. Serve with brown rice.
Baked salmon with jacket potato
Bake a salmon fillet and serve with a jacket potato and steamed vegetables.
Tuna and prawns with noodles
Gently fry a selection of vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, peppers, courgette and leek in a little olive oil. When lightly browned, add a handful of prawns. Cook for a few minutes, then add canned tomatoes, tomato puree, black pepper and tuna canned in water. Bring to the boil and simmer until the sauce thickens. Serve with rice noodles.
Sweet and sour stir fry with rice
Gently fry a selection of chopped vegetables such as onions, peppers, baby sweetcorn and mushrooms. Add canned pineapple (in fruit juice), canned tomatoes, tomato purée, white wine vinegar and honey. Bring to the boil and simmer until the sauce has thickened. Serve with brown rice.
Potato and bean casserole
Gently fry a selection of typical casserole vegetables such as onion, carrots and parsnip in a little olive oil with garlic. When browned, add diced potato and fry for a few minutes. Add fresh vegetable stock, black pepper and your favourite beans. Bring to the boil and simmer until the casserole thickens.
Detox Plan Snacks
Fresh fruit or fresh fruit salad
Natural yoghurt mixed with honey
Plain popcorn
Handful of unsalted nuts or seeds
What Detoxing Can Do for Our Bodies
Eliminate from our bodies dead or dying skin cells, unwanted fatty tissue, trans-fatty acids, hardened coating of mucus on the intestinal wall, toxic waste matter in the lymphatic system and bloodstream, toxins in the spleen, liver, and kidneys, mucus from the lungs and sinuses, imbedded toxins in the cells and deeper organ tissues, deposits in the microscopic tubes responsible for nourishing brain cells, excess cholesterol. Positive effects of detoxing can be: mental clarity is improved, rapid, safe weightloss, nervous system balanced, energy level increased, organs revitalized, cellular biochemistry harmonized, skin becomes silky, soft, and sensitive, greater ease of movement, breathing becomes fuller, freer, deeper, digestive system is given a much-needed rest.
Further Information:
Detox Explained and what to do during your 30 day programme - Detox Yourself
Detox Products from Health Monthly, very good value due to tax free prices - view products
Herbal Help for detox, a set of four preparations (calendula, fragula, milk thistle, solidago) for symptoms such as constipation, bloating, indigestion and fatigue - Bioforce Vogels Detox Box
