Detoxing daily supports your liver, which has 500 metabolic jobs to empty out the toxic waste that hampers weight loss and leads to belly bloat. But this does not mean you need to starve. Here’s a simple 24-hour plan to take care of your body and flatten your belly.
Our bodies are detoxing themselves naturally all the time to prevent us from getting sick. However, the toxins present in our modern world put increasing demands on the body’s detoxification pathways. When the system gets overloaded, we can experience one or more of the following:
- Inflammation
- Thyroid issues
- Headaches
- Adult acne
- Belly bloat
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Allergies (chemical or food)
- Poor sleep
- Loss of sex drive
- Mood swings, anxiety, depression
- IBS or constipation
- Diabetes, cancer, or other diseases
Welcome to Your Flat Belly 24 Hour Detox
Take the next 24 hours to improve the quality of your digestion, which will lessen the belly bloat. Along with simple meals that give your digestion a rest, practice dry skin brushing and try a castor oil pack. Taking an Epsom salt bath also helps detox through your skin and up your intake of magnesium, which is needed for good digestion and healthy detoxification, which leads to weight loss and a flatter belly.
Breakfast: Strawberry Kale Smoothie
As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This means choosing a breakfast that is not only healthy, but also one that will help you get through the day with energy. Hydration is also an essential part of detoxing, and that includes starting your day with plenty of water. It’s a good idea to get some light exercise in before breakfast, even just a quick yoga workout. It’s important to not overdo it, but just enough to get your blood flowing.
Once you’re hydrated and energized, this strawberry kale smoothie is a sure way to start your detox day. Not only is kale amazingly healthy, the chia seeds add a much needed dose of fiber and protein. Plus, the strawberries add just the right amount of sweetness.
Strawberry Kale Smoothie Recipe:
Ingredients
1 ½ cup non-dairy milk
½ cup fresh or frozen strawberries
½ cup kale
½ frozen banana
2 tablespoons hemp or chia seeds
Instructions
Blend all ingredients and enjoy!
Lunch: Avocado Salad with Lime Dressing
Lunch is always the time when we start getting really hungry and sometimes close to a midday slump. During a detox, it’s very important to watch what you eat and make sure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs. This is also another great time for a quick exercise, even if it just means getting up and walking around the office or do some desk stretches.
A light lunch like this avocado salad is perfect for filling you up without weighing you down – the main point of detox! Incorporating heart healthy fats, like avocado, is a great way to eat healthy and light. The spinach is also an excellent ingredient during a detox period to fill you up with loads of vitamins and minerals.
Avocado Salad with Lime Dressing Recipe:
Ingredients
2 cups baby spinach
6-8 cherry tomatoes
1 medium cucumber chopped
1 avocado diced
For the Lime Dressing
2 limes juiced
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt
Black pepper
Instructions
Prepare the dressing
Add your lime juice, ground cumin, raw apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Whisk the ingredients until well blended. Set to the side.
Mix the salad
Add baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and avocado to a bowl. Top with lime dressing and serve immediately.
Dinner: Belly Bloat-Busting Salad
Ah – evening, time to unwind. Instead of slumping down on the couch (although tempting), try to do something special for yourself. You’re taking care of your body while detoxing, so take care of your mind, too. Exercise, meditate, hit the sauna, or go for a swim. When it comes time for dinner, don’t take it to the TV. Try sitting at the table so you can better focus on your meal and avoid overeating.
After trying out this delicious bloat-busting salad, it’s time to relax. Take a bath and avoid technology before bed to ensure a restful sleep. Sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our bodies. And, when detoxing, it’s essential to make sleep a priority.
Bloat-Busting Salad Recipe:
Ingredients
3 cups chopped broccoli steamed
1 tangerine peeled with segments separated
Handful of parsley
Fennel slices optional
½ cup grape tomatoes
1 large cucumber diced or sliced
1 avocado sliced
⅛ cup pumpkin seeds
Instructions
Chop the broccoli, fennel, parsley, cucumber, and grape tomatoes.
Then peel the tangerines and separate into segments.
Add the tangerine, avocado, and pumpkin seeds and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar, and lemon.
Toss the salad so it is coated and feel free to squeeze extra lemon for a nice refreshing detox salad.
Favorite Flat Belly Snack: Kale Chips
This is our favorite flat belly snack but you can also have a smoothie, green juice, or 15 raw almonds as a snack.
Flat Belly Kale Chips Recipe:
Ingredients
1 bunch kale lacinato or curly variety
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked OR sweet paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 300° Fahrenheit.
Wash and dry the kale. Rip the kale into bite-sized pieces and place it in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining seasonings and mix well.
Bake the kale for 20 minutes and serve immediately.