A 10-Day Bridal Detox That Won't Leave You Hangry

When it comes to your wedding day, you probably want to look and feel like your very best self. So, why not try a bridal detox that will make your skin glow and your energy levels soar? Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels We talked to nutrition expert, Kara Stout, who's sharing the best detox plan for your big day. It's like a reset button for your bod, and according to Kara, it won't cause those tired and "hangry" moments that come hand in hand with many other cleanses. Are you ready? Because Kara is about to give you the lowdown on the before and after, and even share some go-to recipes with a sample three day menu. Prepare yourself for a plan is all about clean, whole foods, and will give you energy, decrease toxins, provide lots of nutrients, promote clear, pretty skin, and give you the perfect jumpstart to a healthier lifestyle (even after the "I dos"). Photography by Charla Storey Photography/Be Inspired PR. Prepping for your detox Begin to decrease your caffeine, sugar, alcohol, dairy, and gluten a week or two prior so it’s not such a shock to the body. Also, begin to include more green leafy veggies, vegetables, and water. You also want to mentally prepare to help you stay motivated, encouraged, and feeling positive. Before you begin, I recommend writing down why you are doing this detox and your top three detox goals. It’s also important to enlist an accountability partner or, better yet, a partner to do this detox with you…ahem… your fiancé (I mean you’re in it together for all things right?) or your MOH could also be a great buddy. Check out the lists below for must-have foods to add to your detox and what you should absolutely avoid. What you're adding in Warm water with lemon and cayenne pepper Green leafy veggies Abundance and variety of veggies Clean protein Healthy fats Gluten-free whole grains Fruit Water, water, water (drink half of your body weight in ounces per day) Apple cider vinegar Dandelion tea What to avoid Alcohol Added refined sugar Artificial sweeteners Caffeine and coffee Dairy Fried foods Gluten Refined carbs Try not to focus on what you can’t eat or drink, but rather all the variety of foods you can eat. You want to focus on fresh whole foods that are clean. The concept of "clean eating" gets thrown around a lot especially in marketing, but what it means is: free of artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, trans fat, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, GMOs, etc. It means eating real, whole foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed and that are as close to how they come in nature as possible. Some detoxes don’t allow meat, however this one does. If you enjoy meat, then you can consume it during this detox. Just make sure it’s clean protein (organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed, fresh-caught). You want to eat a small portion, no bigger than the size of your palm, and enjoy veggies in abundance with any animal protein you consume. Fruit has gotten a bit of a bad name lately, but we're all for it! It’s a whole food that’s an excellent source of vitamins and antioxidants and has many benefits. During this detox, you want to choose mostly low-glycemic fruit like strawberries, blueberries, grapefruit, watermelon, oranges, and plums, to name a few. Or halve the fruit that is a little higher in sugar such as bananas or apples. Ideally, try not to snack in between meals during this detox. However, if you find yourself really hungry, you can snack on options such as sliced cucumbers and half of an avocado, fresh vegetable juice, gluten-free toast with almond butter and strawberries, or homemade hummus and veggies. Here are some example days and recipes to get you started: Day 1 Rise and Shine Start your day with a cup of warm water with lemon. Squeeze fresh juice from half of a lemon in one cup warm water. Also, sprinkle a dash of cayenne pepper for an extra metabolism boost. Breakfast Vanilla chia seed pudding (see recipe below) Pre-Lunch Drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a full glass of water Lunch Avocado toast on gluten-free bread with baby arugula, lemon, sea salt, hemp seeds, and tomatoes Mid-Afternoon Drink dandelion tea plain (do not sweeten) Pre-Dinner Drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a full glass of water Dinner Shiitake mushroom lettuce wraps Day 2 Rise and Shine Drink warm water with lemon and a dash of cayenne pepper Breakfast Scrambled eggs with lots of fresh veggies, half of an avocado, and The Honeymooner juice on the side (see juice recipe below) Pre-Lunch Drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a full glass of water Lunch Summer Shrimp Salad (minus the honey in the dressing and only half of a mango). Mid-Afternoon Drink dandelion tea Pre-Dinner Drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a full glass of water Dinner Quinoa and vegetable stir-fry (using coconut oil). Day 3 Rise and Shine Drink warm water with lemon and a dash of cayenne pepper Breakfast Something Blue smoothie (see recipe below)   Pre-Lunch Drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a full glass of water Lunch Zucchini noodle salad with grape tomatoes, avocado, fresh basil, sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon, sea salt, and pepper Mid-Afternoon Drink dandelion tea Pre-Dinner Drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a full glass of water Dinner Jalapeño stuffed grass-fed burgers with baked sweet potato fries and a side kale salad with olive oil and lemon dressing Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding Ingredients 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1/4 cup chia seeds 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ½ tablespoon pure maple syrup grade B 1 teaspoon cinnamon Directions 1. Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir well. 2. Cover the bowl with Saran Wrap. 3. Place in the refrigerator overnight. 4. In the morning, take out your chia pudding, top with fruit, berries, nuts, seeds, or unsweetened coconut flakes, and enjoy! The Honeymooner Juice Ingredients ½ cup pineapple 1 cucumber 1 lemon 1 small apple (or ½ large apple) 2 large handfuls baby spinach 1 handful broccoli 5-6 sprigs cilantro Directions 1. Juice the pineapple, cucumber, lemon, and apple first 2. Next, juice the spinach, broccoli, and cilantro 3. Stir and serve Something Blue Smoothie Ingredients 1 cup unsweetened almond, coconut, or cashew milk ½ banana 2 handfuls baby spinach 1 cup frozen blueberries 2 tablespoon hemp seeds 1 tablespoon flaxseed 1 teaspoon cinnamon Directions Blend all ingredients together in a blender. Cheers! Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash Make sure and check out Kara’s blog and Pinterest for more recipes! Additional detox practices to add in Sweat it out: Exercise for 30-60 minutes at least 4-6 days out of the 10 days Go for walks: Get some sunshine and fresh air Take a Dead Sea salt or Epsom salt bath: You can also add in some lavender essential oil Sleep: Aim to get 8-9 hours of sleep Results: Your results will depend on how healthy and clean your diet was prior to beginning this detox and how much caffeine, sugar, and alcohol you consume on a regular basis. Side effects: With this being a gentle detox full of whole foods, you shouldn’t experience too many negative side effects. However, you may experience headaches due to caffeine or sugar withdrawal. If you do get a headache, drink lots of water, drink peppermint tea, dab peppermint oil on your temples, or you can drink white or green tea to give you a little caffeine to help. If you “mess up”: If you deviate from the detox for one meal or even one day, don’t beat yourself up, stay positive, and just get right back on track. Don’t feel like you’ve ruined the whole thing, because you haven’t. After you’ve completed the detox: Don’t indulge in everything you haven’t eaten all at once. Trust me, you do not want to do this. You will not feel great! Slowly begin to add back in some of the things you enjoy, and if you find that you loved how you felt without, let’s say, gluten or added sugar, then continue leaving that out or eating a lot less. If you have any medical conditions or are taking certain medications, make sure to check with your doctor before starting this detox. CREDITS Detox and Recipes: Kara Stout Photography: Charla Storey Photography Florals and Styling: Wedfully Yours Stationery: Pink Champagne Paper Get more wellness tips: A Pre-Wedding Circuit Workout You Can Do With Your S.O. Right Now 7 Stress-Busting Apps That’ll Help You Stop Dreading the Wedding 4 Pretty Waters For Pretty Nearlyweds