A post-vacation detox diet plan is the perfect way to lose vacation weight, increase energy, and snap your body back into balance.

This summer I ate my way through Europe. I’m talking Spaghetti alla Carbonara. French pastries. German bread. Swiss cheese. I hardly walked past a bakery or pizzeria without popping in for a quick 300-calorie nibble. I saw it. I wanted it. And I ate it. No guilt or regrets. Everything tasted so good.

But now I’m back and my jeans are tighter. I certainly packed on a few pounds while blissfully stuffing my face in Italy. I thought that when I got home the pounds would magically fly off. And I’d somehow just pop back into my pre-vacation shape. But I still craved sugar and tasty carbs. My vacation mentality was still guiding my eating habits. But I’m not walking five miles a day like I did in Europe. I’m sitting eight hours a day at a desk.

It wasn’t just the weight that bothered me. I felt sluggish. My tummy was funny. And I started to get grouchy. My whole body was just off. I needed something and it wasn’t another croissant. More like a health kick in the pants.

I needed a post vacation detox diet plan.

Every detox takes focus and commitment. Although there’s no magic formula, I found the results I was looking for from a combination of (mostly organic) short term cleanses, teas, and supplements.

Here’s what worked:

Two Short-Term Cleanses

To lighten up and shed a few pounds, I tried the Project Juice Weekend Recovery Kit. It arrived in a chic mini cooler bag with an icepack that made it easy to bring the juices with me on the go. Combined with a diet of fresh salads and light protein, it definitely cut my cravings for sugar as I didn’t want to “ruin” the fresh light feeling I had going on in my belly.

The Kaeng Raeng 3-Day Cleanse was a bit more intense. Three days of shakes and only raw fruits and vegetables took focus and commitment. But the results were worth it. I felt full and nourished and actually didn’t crave sugar. Half a banana, coconut water, and fresh squeezed orange juice made the shakes pretty darn tasty. The Daily Green Energy Pacs helped me away from heavy carbs.

Teas

Quick and easy, teas assisted with my after-vacation detox to restore my body’s balance. I kept a few servings of different teas in the fridge ready to drink. Three of my favorites that I experienced greats results with are Organic Dandelion SuperHerb® Tea Bags, organic PUKKA Detox Tea, and Dragon Herbs’ Spring Dragon Longevity Tea with the digestive aid Gynostemma that has been used in China for centuries.

Supplements

If you don’t mind the occasional niacin flush, Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare Elevate vegan supplements gave me a boost. I couldn’t tell if it repaired my DNA as it said it might on the bottle but sure I did feel an increase of energy, a few pounds slid off, and I slept really well. I also started taking the probiotic Florastor to kickstart my digestive health and help with after-vacation bloating.

After detoxing and the pounds came off, I wanted to keep up that good feeling. So I went to the experts for their advice. Moniqua Plante Real Food/Real Life expert says, “If you’re craving sugar, try sweet vegetables like beets and carrots. They soothe your internal organs and energize your mind. Sweet root vegetables are energetically grounding, which helps to balance out the spaciness you often feel after eating processed and sugary sweet foods.”

Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM, ROHP and author of “Weekend Wonder Detox” (DaCapo) advises to “start every day with a big glass of pure water with the fresh juice of one lemon squeezed in it.” She also suggests daily large green salads a with berries, nuts, seeds, and an olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing.

The verdict?

Success! My after-vacation detox diet plan wasn’t that hard to do. With focus and commitment, I stayed the course and the pounds slid off. I have my energy back and I feel like I’m where I was before my eating tour through Europe.

Related on EcoSalon.com 

Sugar Addiction and Nutrition Labels

4 Reasons Your Green Juice Recipe is All Wrong 

How to Detox Your Skin 

Image of Time to Detox via Shutterstock

The post Do You Need a Post-Vacation Detox Diet Plan? How to Say Bon Voyage to Vacation Weight! appeared first on EcoSalon.

You eat well and exercise, hoping that these efforts will effectively “detox” your body and mind. However, let’s not forget toxins are looming in the objects around you, especially those in the comfort of your own home. You may feel warm and cozy and go the extra mile to make sure that everything is relatively sterilized and clean, but if you are using harsh household cleaners, not letting air circulate throughout your home or forgetting to pay attention to silent “killers”, you might be doing those body cleanses no good. Here are 5 ways that show you how to detox your home. It’s simple!

1. Let it Breathe

It may be a good thing that houses are insulated so well as to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but they are so tightly sealed, air does not have the opportunity to circulate throughout. Imagine the kinds of bacteria that are hidden in carpets, the walls, couches, and  personal items. Inside air can be up to five times more polluted than outside air. Open your windows and let fresh air indoors for just 5 minutes per day, even in the winter. That’s all it takes to keep the air alive and not stale.

2. Clean Out Your Cleaning Products

Even cleaning supplies contribute to the toxic environment; they may disinfect, but they are in and of themselves harmful chemicals. The ingredients in cleaning products are nothing to write home about. They often contain chlorine bleach and ammonia, which can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, lungs and heart. Paired with other toxic materials, exposure to cleaning supplies can lead to negative long-term effects such as cancer. Other harmful ingredients include DEA, TEA, preservatives, fragrances, phosphates and APE. Such chemicals interfere with proper hormone function and agitate the skin. Most household cleaners are also not readily biodegradable and can destroy plants and animals on land and in the sea. Make your own homemade all-purpose cleaner, which can be effective way to clean up without putting your health at risk.

3. Get Rid of the Pan

Getting into the grittier details, have you ever thought about the pans you use? Non-stick pans contain teflon, silverstone and other coatings that give off perfluorochemicals, which are considered to be carcinogenic (read: cancer causing!) by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

4. Detect Carbon Monoxide (Before it’s Too Late)

Carbon monoxide is dangerous and can be deadly. Even a small leakage can make you suffer from headaches and fatigue. If you notice these symptoms, have a professional look at your gas system. Carbon monoxide is completely odorless, so there is no way to detect it unless you pay attention to your body or regularly check up on your home system. Install a detector to protect yourself and your health before it’s too late.

5. Quite Smoking (Indoors)

The so-called reality of “third-hand smoke” has reached the masses – we are now away of particles and gases that stick to surfaces long after a cigarette has been burned out. The smoke sets into the walls, the carpet, the sofa, and virtually anything with surface area. Don’t let smoke set into your belongings, ultimately affecting you and your family beyond comfort. Keep smoking to outdoors.

Related on EcoSalon

Link Love: Winter Tea from Trees + Love Hacking + The Best Detox Books

EcoMeme: Non-Smoking Section Expands

20 Unusual Uses for Baking Soda

Photo Credit: MicheleM_

The post How to Detox Your Home in 5 Easy Steps appeared first on EcoSalon.