Foods To Avoid For Teens Who Want To Detox

Do you know that there are certain foods that can help your body get rid of toxins? Detoxification, commonly known as detox, is a term used to describe a process in which the body gets rid of toxic or unhealthy substances. Your body is an expert at getting rid of toxins no matter what you eat, but it's important to know that following a certain lifestyle, consuming certain foods and overall clean eating helps maintain a healthy liver thus making sure it can do its job well.

There are various ways one can help the body detox:

• Include plenty of vegetables and herbs.
  
• Fast with only water consumption
  
• Fast with only juice consumption
  

Fasting with or without food is one of the common ways to detox. One can fast by consuming only certain foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, juices, smoothies, etc.

Fasting is one of the ancient forms of treatment in Ayurveda and naturopathy for diseases of the gut and it also the rejuvenates the liver. If done under supervision and in a correct way, it can be beneficial for the body.

Consuming wholesome, fresh and raw fruits and vegetables is one of the ways to detox. However, avoiding certain foods can make your detox plan foolproof.

1. Meat and dairy products: They take longer to digest and are low in fibre thus not ideal for gut health during the detox phase. Even if you are not lactose intolerant, digesting dairy products places a heavy burden on our body's detoxification system, so avoid consuming milk, cheese or other dairy products during your detox.
   
2. Added sugars: High fructose corn syrup is one food item that must be avoided. Studies indicate that its chemical structure encourages overeating and triggers the liver to pump more triglycerides into the bloodstream raising your risk for heart disease.
   
3. Coffee: Caffeine is a stimulant and can increase the blood pressure or lead the heart to work harder.
   
4. Packaged food and MSG: Avoid eating anything that contains MSG (monosodium glutamate), also known as modified food starch, carrageenan, glutamic acid and hydrolysed vegetable protein. MSG is one of the worst food additives on the market, which causes cell damage or even cell death. It is widely added to Chinese foods, but it is also often found in packaged foods such canned meats, canned soups, crackers, frozen dinners, salad dressings, seasoning packets and much more.

   Don't eat packaged foods such as such as cereals, sodas, canned soups, cookies and crackers. They are laden with sweeteners, salts, artificial flavours, factory-created fats and preservatives, and stripped of healthy nutrients.

5. Starches and Refined Carbs and Trans fats: Avoid eating refined carbohydrates and starchy vegetables like white rice, pasta, potatoes and white bread. They tend to increase the sugar levels and give sudden rush and drop. This can lead to insulin resistance. Avoid trans-fat during and after your detox. Trans fatty acids impede your body's ability to burn fat, hinder detoxification, increase fatty deposits within the liver and thicken bile. Trans fats have been shown to be twice as dangerous for your heart as saturated fat.
   

Though most of these foods should be consumed in moderation for a healthy life, cutting them out totally during the detox period can have a positive impact on your health.

Should detox be done regularly by teens?

Most detox diets are an extreme type of lifestyle which should be considered once in 15 days. Also, one should keep in mind teens are still in growing age and may not want to hamper any of their growth parameters.

Is your child a junk food addict who loves to eat burgers and pizzas? Junk food can seem appealing for many reasons such as taste, convenience, and price. However, this has a negative impact on health. Read the below article to know more.

Each diet or lifestyle has pros and cons and it's important to balance the positive and negative. Making sure one is following it under expert guidance is a must.

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