How to Flush Fat from Your System

Flushing fat is about obtaining and sustaining an overall healthy balance in the body, according to "The Fat Flush Plan," published in 2002 and written by Ann Louise Gittleman, MS, CNS. The "fat flush" diet focuses on improving the function of the liver, a step that Gittleman says will improve the body's ability to detoxify, burn fat and handle stress. The "fat flushing" process calls for dieters to make some drastic lifestyle changes.

Instructions

1. 

   Restrict your diet to between 1,100 and 1,200 calories for two weeks. About 30 percent of these calories can be from protein and 40 percent can be from healthy fats. Eat vegetables like broccoli, zucchini and spinach in abundance, as well as a few fruits that are low in sugar (including apples, berries, peaches and plums). Focus on "flushing fat" out of your system with increased fluid intake: primarily servings of diluted cranberry juice and half of the body weight in ounces worth of water (meaning if you weigh 140 pounds, you would drink 70 ounces of water per day). Alcohol, sugar, oils, fats, starches, grains, and dairy are prohibited in this phase of "fat flushing." You should also be taking supplements such as flaxseed oil and multivitamins, and getting at least eight hours of sleep per night.

2. 

   Perpetuate weight loss and maintain body cleansing, but allow for a slight increase in food variety and caloric intake. In Gittleman's "fat flush" diet, for example, you can start to consume between 1,200 and 1,500 calories, and add in carbohydrates such as brown rice, carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, and frozen or fresh peas. This phase continues until you have reached your goal weight or ideal body size.

3. 

   Do long-term maintenance. This phase is a lifelong process of moderating calorie intake and maintaining a healthy liver. The diet consists of 1,500 calories or more, depending on your body type, and includes 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat. Certain starchy vegetables, dairy products, and oils are introduced slowly into the diet to ensure that no adverse bodily reactions occur.

4. 

   Tweak your habits. Caffeine gets in the way of your ability to burn fat and so it should eventually be removed from your diet. Moreover, alcohol is also considered to negatively affect the liver and so it is not allowed at all in phases one and two. Exercise in the form of brisk walks, jumping jacks, and strength training should also be included.

Tips & Warnings

• Science Matters: Andrea Giancoli, M.P.H., R.D. Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, calls the "fat flush" diet a "fad detox diet," with no scientific basis. Jane Kirby, author of Dieting for Dummies, agrees with that sentiment, saying that no scientific research proves that the liver is like a furnace that burns fat. Finally, AOL Health claims that any weight loss associated with this diet has to do with the restriction of calories rather than improved liver function. While this diet may ultimately cause weight loss, your should consider consulting a physician before trying it because its recommendations may be harmful for some people.