This 7 day detox diet plan is intended to help you flush some of the built-up toxins from your system. This one week detox diet will also help you lose weight. It works by detoxifying the liver, the organ that is responsible for filtering toxins from the blood stream.

We live in a world that is full of pollution. There are toxins in the food that we eat, in the water that we drink, in the air that we breathe. These toxins make their way into our blood, and it is up to our liver to filter them out of our bodies. Most of us have more toxins than our livers can easily handle, however, and these toxins build up and can cause problems. We may feel sluggish, depressed, or congested. We may have various medical problems that don't go away. We may have trouble losing weight. These problems may be due in part to toxins in our system.

A 7 day detox diet can relieve some of these problems. We'll describe the diet in detail in just a moment, but first let's talk about some of the benefits of a one week detox diet.

Following a 7 day detox diet three times a year can help to prevent or reduce your risk of all sorts of health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, digestive problems, and kidney and liver disease. It may also protect against some forms of cancer. If you have any medical problems, though, you should talk to your doctor before going on a one week detox diet.

Follow this plan each day for a one week detox diet.

When you first wake up
Drink two glasses of water. Squeeze half a lemon into one of those glasses.

Breakfast
One piece of fresh fruit and one to two cups of cooked whole grains like buckwheat, brown rice, millet, or quinoa. Avoid barley, oats, rye, corn, and wheat. Many people experience congestion and poor digestion from eating those grains.

Midmorning snack
One to two cups vegetable broth (see recipe following menu).

Lunch
Up to four cups steamed vegetables. Choose four different vegetables of different colors, textures, and flavors. For instance, choose a starchy vegetable like a potato, a sweet vegetable like a carrot, a bitter green like kale, and a crisp vegetable like celery. Steam until just tender.

Afternoon snack
One to two cups vegetable broth.

Dinner
Up to four cups steamed vegetables.

You can substitute a raw salad for steamed vegetables if desired. Use oil and vinegar for a light dressing.

Do not eat after dinner, but you can drink all the water you want. You should drink at least ten glasses of water each day.

Vegetable Broth
Ingredients:
2 cups spinach
2 cups broccoli heads
3 cups celery
2 cups red-skinned potato peels, ½ inch thick
1 small zucchini
2 quarts distilled water

Directions:
Chop all vegetables into very fine pieces. Place in water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and drink the broth. Makes 8 servings.

You can take vitamin supplements while on the one week detox diet. Vitamin C is a good one to take, because it causes the body to produce glutathione, a liver compound that protects against toxins.

You can also take herbal supplements. Dandelion is a good one to take, because it helps flush toxins from the system while supporting optimal liver functioning.