Detox Diets

• Detox diets are specialty diets of elimination and restriction, designed to help your body cleanse itself of toxic chemicals and other threatening situations. According to nutritionist and biochemist Dr. John Berardi, Ph.D., the acid-alkalinity balance of your body is an important issue, and one which deserves your attention. While adherence to a short-term alkaline detox will not "solve" your problem, as the pH level of your body must be constantly maintained over time, it can help teach you what needs to be done in the future to maintain your health.
  
  

Alkaline Detox Theory

• The conflict between your body, your body's pH level, and your diet is this: your body is designed to operate as slightly alkaline (around 7.4 on the pH scale). Unfortunately, most of the foods that make up your everyday diet are acidic in nature. Overconsumption of acidic foods will, over time, shift your body's pH level away from its optimal operating range. This can result in symptoms such as headache or fatigue.
  
  

Sample Alkaline Diet

• The easiest way to detox your body to restore its proper alkalinity is to increase your consumption of alkaline foods while decreasing your consumption of acidic items. Accomplish this by increasing your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with olive oil and whole grains. During the period of your detox (one to two weeks is a fair amount of time), heavily reduce your consumption of meats, chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs, and refined (white) flours, as these are acidic foods.
  
  

Considerations

• While you might just intend to stick to an alkaline detox for a few weeks, you should endeavor to make adherence to this plan a way of life. To successfully transition between a full-fledged alkaline detox and a normal alkaline diet, simply move towards moderation. Consume your normal amount of acidic foods, but remember to balance it out with a serving or two of alkaline items in each meal. A sample meal for your alkaline detox could include grilled chicken (an acidic food) served on a bed of spinach (a highly alkaline food), and a serving of broccoli (a mildly alkaline food) drizzled in olive oil (a neutral food). A list of foods along with their corresponding level of acidity or alkalinity can be found in Resources, entitled "Covering Nutritional Bases."
  
  

Recommendations

• While on your alkaline detox (or even just in general), avoid cooking your alkaline foods at high temperatures. According to the individuals at Dietpulp.com, high-heat cooking can damage the alkalinity of foods, so consume your favorite alkaline foods raw (or lightly cooked) to derive optimal benefits from your detox diet.