What Is a Detox Diet?

Foods to Eat, Foods to Avoid

Can't handle the maple syrup-lemon water-Cayenne pepper liquid diet? Can't afford organic fruits and vegetables for every meal? Don't know where to buy coconut water? The main problem with most mainstream cleanse diets is that they're unrealistic by design. However, eating a properly balanced diet is a detoxification of the body. So forget magic powders and starvation plans.

"The most effective 'detox' is drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats so that our own detox organs can keep us healthy," says Blatner. "What you do for a few days can't ever make up for how we live and take care of our body the other 365 days!"

If you feel the need to detox, here are some foods to avoid, according to Detroyer:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Excessive sugar
• Unhealthy fats (butter, fried foods, saturated fat, Crisco, fatty meats)
• Processed foods (things that come out of boxes or have chemicals)
• Artificial sweeteners
• Excessive protein (which is hard on the digestive system)

Here's a sample day's worth of food that'll get your body back on the right track, as put together by Blatner:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with unsweetened almond milk, chopped walnuts, and chopped apple

Lunch: Whole-grain pita stuffed with white beans, fresh basil, and chopped tomatoes, with olive oil vinaigrette

Dinner: Salmon with quinoa and kale or broccoli, with lemon and pinenuts

Snacks: A low-fat plain yogurt with berries, or peanut butter and celery

Drinks: Plenty of water, unsweetened tea

Originally published on FitnessMagazine.com, March 2009.