How to Do the Cranberry Fat Flush

**The Cranberry Fat Flush is one of many fad diets that focus on "cleansing" the body 12.

The idea behind the cranberry juice portion of the diet is to flush away toxins, remove retained water and help with food cravings 12.

The remainder of the diet focuses on eating very specific foods, getting lots of exercise and sleeping eight hours each night. This diet cuts out sugar, alcohol, grains, fats (except flaxseed oil, an essential fatty acid), breads, starchy vegetables such as potatoes and dairy products during the first phase, which is the most difficult and lasts two weeks. During phase two, you can add one healthy carbohydrate each week.

** Proponents of the diet claim that average weight loss is about 5 pounds for women and up to 16 pounds for men during phase one. After that, weight loss is gradual, usually 1 to 2 pounds a week during the second phase.

Mix 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice with 56 oz. water. This will yield 64 oz. of the cranberry juice/water mixture you will drink throughout the day.

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Mix 1 tbsp. psyllium husks into 8 oz. of the cranberry/water mixture and drink upon waking.

Drink 8 oz. hot water mixed with 1 to 2 tbsp. lemon juice (or juice from half a fresh lemon) before eating breakfast.

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Include in your breakfast a source of protein and vegetables, such as an omelet. Drink 8 oz. cranberry juice/water mixture (no psyllium husks).

Eat a snack midway between breakfast and lunch consisting of a low-GI fruit, such as grapefruit or raspberries.

Have another 8-oz. glass of the cranberry juice/water mixture (no psyllium husks) about 20 minutes before lunch.

Eat a source of protein, low-GI vegetables and 8 oz. of the cranberry juice/water mixture (no psyllium husks) for lunch--for instance, salmon with broccoli and a side salad.

Have a glass of the cranberry/water mixture (no psyllium husks) midway between lunch and dinner.

Snack on another low-GI fruit, such as an apple, a few hours before dinner.

Drink 8 oz. cranberry juice/water mixture (no psyllium husks) 20 minutes before dinner.

Enjoy another lean protein source, such as a chicken breast, with a few low-GI vegetables, such as asparagus or green beans, and 8 oz. cranberry juice/water mixture (no psyllium husks) for dinner.

Have a glass of the cranberry juice/water mixed with 1 tbsp. psyllium husks about 1 hour before bed.

Maintain a daily workout regimen of at least 40 minutes throughout this diet. The exercise should involve cardiovascular activity such as walking, biking or swimming.

Add one healthful carbohydrate (such as sweet potatoes or carrots) into your meal plan per week after the first two weeks of the plan 1. Also, you may substitute plain spring water for the cranberry juice/water mixture, taken at the same intervals.

Keep adding healthful carbohydrates gradually to your meal plan as you reach your goal weight. These include brown rice and dairy products such as low-fat ricotta, hard cheeses and low-fat yogurt.

Tips

Get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep each night while on this diet. Instead of regular salad dressings, use lemon juice mixed with 1 tbsp. flaxseed oil and pepper. Psyllium husks provide fiber; you can purchase it in bottle form, like a vitamin. During phase one, divide no more than 8 oz. lean protein, two eggs and two low-GI fruits among your meals and snacks. You may have as many low-GI vegetables as desired.

Warnings

This is a very stringent and difficult diet to follow. Speak with your health care professional before beginning any type of diet to discuss potential risks. During phase one of the diet, you may become light-headed or dizzy and experience hunger pangs or headaches as your body adjusts to the decreased sugar and caloric intake. Once your body adjusts, you should feel back to normal. Due to diet's strict limitation of various food groups, doing phase one for longer than a few weeks is not advisable. You can maintain phase two until you reach your desired weight, but consult a doctor if you stay on phase two for longer than 6 months. Medical professionals question to validity of "cleansing" and "detox" diets, because they have found no evidence that detoxification actually occurs.