Are you ready for a 30 day detox diet? Different experts advocate different lengths of time for detox programs. Seven days is a good starting point and if this worked for you, why not try a longer detox to shift more of the toxins? Some plans are geared to 14 days, others to 28 or 30 day detox, but they will follow similar rules to the ones already described.

The 30 Day Detox Diet Plan

When you undertake a longer detox, say 30 days, you either have to follow an exact menu plan worked out by a nutritionist or educate yourself very carefully about nutrition so as to avoid deficiencies.

For example, when you are not eating meat, poultry or dairy, you need to work harder to make sure you are getting the amino acids your body needs to grow and repair tissue. Eight of these must come from our food, and they are known as ‘essential’ amino acids. A ‘complete protein’ contains all eight.

Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products and tofu are complete proteins, as are quinoa and amaranth.

Grains, pulses, beans, nuts, seeds and green vegetables are incomplete proteins but if they are eaten in the correct combinations, they can make up a complete protein. Mixing brown rice with beans is a good tip.

Making up complete proteins

Here are vegetarian dietary sources for the eight:

1. L-lysine: potatoes, soya products, lima beans, yeast.
2. Methionine: garlic, onions, lentils, beans.
3. Phenylalanine: almonds, avocados, bananas, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds.
4. Tryptophan: barley, brown rice, soya beans, peanuts.
5. Leucine: wheatgerm, oats.
6. Isoleucine: wheatgerm, nuts, seeds.
7. Threonine: nuts, beans, seeds.
8. Valine: found in most plant foods,

Benefits of a 30 day detox

The advantages of a 30-day detox program are that your body has time to adapt and become used to a more healthy way of operating. You will cleanse more of the toxic load and should look and feel much better when you finish. It is recommended that you follow a structured and healthy detox diet plan to ensure you get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

Once again, the real benefit of the 30 day detox diet will come if you manage to retain lots of the good habits you’ve learned and stick with a fresh-food diet long term.