The Standard American Diet, or SAD as it is appropriately referred to, is indeed a sad standard to go by. As a nation, our waistlines have been increasing, along with our risk of disease. However, recent trends show that more and more people are jumping off the SAD bandwagon and pursuing a more natural and healthful diet.
Where does one begin though? With thousands of crash diets out there and health experts touting their advice left and right, the journey to health can be a difficult one to begin.
Adopting healthier dietary habits can be a simple process if you take it one step at a time. Some people might benefit from the all-or-nothing approach, but a gradual transition proves to be the most successful application of new habits over the long run.
Here are a few simple and inexpensive things you can incorporate into your transitional diet that promote detoxification, hormone balance, improved energy, and reduced cravings.
Add Some Zest to Your Life
Enjoying a cup of hot lemon water in the morning can be a transformative step in itself. Lemons may be acidic citrus fruits, but they pack a powerful alkalizing punch! Toxins from the environment and processed foods create an acidic pH throughout the tissues in our body, which invites disease from bacteria, virus, and parasites. Lemons counteract this trend, and even improve digestion to boot.
To keep it simple while still reaping all of the benefits, buy a few organic lemons when they are sale. All at once, juice them and grate some zest into an empty ice cube tray for freezing. First thing in the morning, pour a cup of hot filtered water and plop a lemon cube in there.
Bulk it Up
Fiber is your friend when it comes to eliminating toxins and balancing hormones. Soluble fiber binds to toxic gunk and excess hormones released by the liver into the digestive tract, and insoluble fiber is the vehicle that drives regular elimination of that unwanted build up.
Chia seeds and ground flax seeds are super stars of the fiber world, and a little goes a long ways. Aim for 2-4 tablespoons of these fibrous seeds per day. You can sneak them into smoothies or yogurt, sprinkle on salads or over sautéed vegetables. Chia seed pudding is a delightful detox dessert!
Fat Freedom
The low fat and no fat craze is over. Now we know that the right types of fat are essential to feeling full and satisfied, stabilizing blood sugar, reducing cravings, and beautifying hair, skin, and nails. Avoid fats and oils high in Omega 6 fatty acids, like canola and peanut oil, as these are unbalanced and perpetuate inflammation throughout the body.
Adopt 2-4 tablespoons of healthy fats into your routine. Coconut oil, avocado oil, and flax oil are terrific additions to smoothies or drizzled on top of cooked vegetables.
Making just a few simple changes can dramatically improve your health in a matter of weeks! Take baby steps and incorporate one thing at a time until you’ve got it down pat- then expand from there. You’ll be a detoxing machine in no time!