GirlsGuideTo | Detox Your Way to Summer

Pools across the country are officially open for business this weekend. Can we all send up a celebratory cheer?!? And while I love lounging by the pool with my favorite glossy (and sunscreen, of course) I don’t always love how my diet makes me feel. Chips and cookies are probably not the best pre-lounging foods am I right? And after a long winter of heavy foods and a few extra treats, I need a kickstart this week to feel my best. But I’m so not a fan of shelling out big bucks on a juice cleanse or going on an extreme deprivation diet. Luckily there are ways to detox safely and naturally before we hit the poolside.

1. Stop Eating Junk Food
I know, this seems so obvious. But if you’re like me, this is probably the hardest to do. Foods filled with sugar and fat are a fast ticket to weight gain, irritability, and low energy levels. And nobody wants that. To make this happen, take a pause before you eat anything to make sure you’re really hungry and that what you’re about to shovel in is worth it. When you stop eating junk food, you quickly start to lose your cravings for it. In fact, if you can cut out the junk for 21 days, you might just lose the cravings for good. It’s only a few days of willpower!

2. Banish the Bloat
No one wants to feel puffy and gassy when they pull on their bikini. If you already eat pretty well, try cutting out foods like beans, artificial sweetener, alcohol (yes, bummer), and anything salty to flatten your tummy.

3. Hydrate the Right Way
Now is the time to get rid of the empty calories found in soda and alcohol. Focus on hydrating with water or metabolism-boosting green tea. If you think water is super-boring, check out these fun ways to add a little flavor. You can also try this secret from Jillian Michaels!

4. Keep it Fresh
Stick to all natural whole foods that are as close to nature as possible. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants of fruits and veggies will make you glow from the inside out as they help eliminate the toxins you let in over the winter. Not to mention, fresh foods help to maintain your energy levels and promote healthy sleeping habits, which help you stick to your beach body workouts!

And go the extra mile by…

5. Choose Foods with Detoxing Properties
You already cut out the junk for a few days and are picking fresh, whole foods, but you can go an extra step and pick foods full of natural detoxing powers. They decrease belly bloat, aid in healthy digestion, help to alkalize the body, and more, so you're sure to feel lighter after eating these good-for-you foods. Check out watercress, lemon, any dark leafy green, any fresh fruit (but especially berries), cabbage, artichokes (but not in a cheesy dip!), beets, ginger and garlic, green tea, oatmeal, and salmon.