7 Dietary Detox Tips
By Ben Greenfield
Your body is in a battle zone. Constantly bombarded by inflammation, pollutants, toxins, synthetic chemicals, carcinogens, and free radicals from stress, second-hand smoke, and exercise, it's a wonder that many of us even get out of bed in the morning. Of course, this constant struggle places the body in a catabolic state, in which muscle is broken down and fat is stored. In addition to an expanding waistline, other physical manifestations include acne, gas, bloating, fatigue, depression, and a depressed immune system.
So let's say that you wanted to know changes you could make to help fight against this constant barrage. A perfect place to start is the type of fuel that you are constantly pumping into your body. Is it high grade, quality fuel that allows your body's engine to run smoothly and efficiently, capable of operating at maximum capacity? Or is it low grade, synthetically derived fuel that leaves you running about about 75%, incapable of achieving what your body should naturally be able to achieve?
If someone walked into my office, called me on the phone, or wrote me an e-mail and asked me to recommend fuel changes that would eliminate synthetic materials and nasty chemicals from their diet, I'd give them the following ten tips for a "dietary detox":
7. Use garlic in your cooking. Allicin is a natural compound found in garlic, and contains important anti-fungal properties that help to fight against the harmful bacteria that have built-up in your dietary tract from improper nutrition. Try one spoonful of fresh, minced garlic over a salad or stir-fry.
6. Avoid acidic condiments that place a high stress on your gut. This includes saeurkraut, most flavored salad dressings in the grocery store aisle, cooking vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish. Try to use as little "dress-up" on your sandwiches and salads as possible.
5. Eliminate preserved meats and pickled, dried or smoked foods, including packaged lunch meats, hot dogs, beef jerky, pickles, salami, corned beef, etc. The chemicals used to preserve these items should be considered toxic. Choose meats that are as natural and fresh as possible.
4. Avoid high consumption of coffee, tea, and wine, which contain acidic tannic compounds and often contain synthetic additives, toxins, and mold. Try to limit yourself to 1 cup a day of either coffee or tea, and choose light roasts and mild flavors.
3. Eliminate frequent consumption of dense simple sugar sources, whether natural or artificial, including fruits and fruit juices. This means that the majority of your fiber intake should come from vegetables, with only light supplementation of fruits, such as two pieces of fresh, raw fruit per day. Sugar is a breeding ground for bacteria.
2. Use grains sparingly. Choose gluten-free whole grains whenever possible, including quinoa, corn, millet, rye, and spelt. This will also assist in avoiding bacteria build-up in the intestinal tract.
1. Go organic. Whenever possible, choose organic fruits, vegetables, meats, and other products that are free of herbices, pesticides, toxic preservatives, and other chemicals.
An additional beneift of these changes is that your body gradually begins to build up natural chemicals and intestinal bacterias, leaving you with a lower risk of cancer and a super strong immune system. If you want more nutritional advice, you may want to look into a nutritional analysis from Pacific Elite Fitness. You're required to keep a 3 day log of your exact dietary habits, and a diet and fitness expert then analyzes your nutrition to identify changes, substitutions, and habits that will help you adopt healthier eating patterns. This can make a huge difference in achieving your goals more efficiently. To get started today, visit www.pacificfit.net/fitness.html, and click on Nutritional Consultation.
Until next time, train smart,
Ben Greenfield
About the author
Ben Greenfield holds bachelor's and master's degrees in sports science and exercise physiology (University of Idaho), and is certified as a National Strength and Conditioning Association personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach, a Serotta certified bicycle technician and an ISSN Sports Nutritionist. In college, Ben competed in tennis, water polo, and volleyball, and was named as the top student personal trainer in the nation by the NSCA. He has authored multiple books on metabolism, nutrition and fitness (available at www.pacificfit.net and is an expert in holistic wellness management.
With over 9 years experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, Ben is the owner of Pacific Elite Fitness (www.pacificfit.net), an online multi-sport coaching, nutrition and personal training service and is director of sports performance for Champions Sports Medicine www.champsportsmed.com
As an Ironman and top ranked triathlete, Ben specializes in weight loss, metabolic management, nutrition, wellness, endurance sports fueling, coaching, and program design. He is also available as a private wellness coach or to speak at seminars and conferences. E-mail Ben@elite@pacificfit.net from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com
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