The detoxifying of the body has been practiced for many centuries. Many religious groups and even Hippocrates recommended fasting to improve health.
Many detox diets nowadays can help you lose weight, but if you start a low-calorie fasting, your body can starve and your metabolism will slow down because of the important nutrients loss.
Other negative effects a detox diet can cause are dehydration, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, or colon damage.
The Detox System of the Body
Our body has its own internal detoxification system. The liver, the kidneys and the colon are the three critical body organs that are involved.
The liver is the first defense organ against toxins. It functions as a filter and prevents toxins in food to pass into the blood stream.
The colon includes bacteria that create healthy and unhealthy chemicals. The main role of the colon is to remove toxins before they do any harm to your body.
Kidneys are the body organs that filter the blood all the time and eliminate toxins through the urine.
If you want your detox diet work, you need to support your body consuming the right nutrients.
Dr. Oz recommends a 48-Hour weekend cleanse of the body. It is based on consuming certain foods that will help the three important organs function properly. You will need to prepare and consume these meals and snacks two days in a row.
Quinoa with Prunes for Breakfast
Start the day with a bowl of quinoa. Quinoa is a whole grain that is rich in protein, phosphorus and fiber. Add some prunes, which are also high in fiber, and sorbitol. Sorbitol is a chemical that works as a laxative.
Needed ingredients:
- Half acup of quinoa
- 1 cup of water
- 1 pinch of nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil
- 1/3 cup of chopped prunes
- 1/4 cup of rice milk
In a small pot pour the cup of water and add the half cup of quinoa, a pinch of nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of grated ginger. Stir the mixture and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the prunes and rice milk. Then, cover again and cook for another 5 minutes. Before you consume it, add and stir one tablespoon of flaxseed oil.
Detox Drinks as Snacks between Meals
Detox drink with kale, pineapple and ginger
Kale is good for cleanse of the kidneys. Pineapple includes bromelain that helps digestion, while ginger stimulates bile flow in the gall bladder. You will need a juicer.
Needed ingredients:
- Half a cup of pineapple
- 2 large cucumbers
- 1 bunch of kale. Remove the stems
- Half squeezed lemon
- 1/4 inch of ginger
- Half a cup of mint
Put all the ingredients in the juicer and mix.
Detox drink with pineapple, lemon and pomegranate.
You do not need a juicer to prepare this juice.
Needed ingredients:
- 3/4 cup of unsweetened pineapple juice
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup of unsweetened pomegranate juice
- 3 cups of water
Mix all the ingredients in a cup and enjoy it. You will get 4 servings which you can have throughout the whole day.
Veggie snack:
Slice celery, radishes and cucumber, or any other fresh vegetables and mix them. Pour olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. You can have as much as you want of this snack throughout the day.
Fruit Smoothie for Lunch
Needed ingredients:
- Half a cup of plain, unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed or chia
- ¼ cup of frozen blueberries
- ¼ banana
- Half a cup of ice
Add all the ingredients in a blender and mix until you get a smooth concoction.
Blueberries are loaded with quercetin. It is a flavonoid that improves immunity and is good for the liver. Bananas are rich in vitamin B6, which is an important vitamin for detoxification of the liver. Ground flaxseed includes omega 3, which is brain-nourishing, and fiber that helps the healthy elimination.
Vegetable Broth Soup for Dinner
Needed ingredients:
- 2 chopped red onions
- 2 chopped celery stalks
- 1 chopped fennel bulb with fronds and stalks
- 2 teaspoons of caraway seeds
- 2 teaspoons of sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 cup of sliced shitake caps
- 4 large chopped garlic cloves
- 1 chopped cabbage
- 2 quarts of water
- 2 tablespoon of paprika
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh oregano
- 8 sprigs of chopped parsley with stems and leaves
- Half a cup of chopped parsley
Put everything, except the chopped parsley, in a pot and add the 2 quarts of water. Let it boil and reduce heat. Then, let it simmer for an hour. Serve topped with freshly chopped parsley.
Fennel aids bile flow in the gallbladder. Garlic helps the liver and the function of the gall bladder. Cabbage is great for detoxification in the liver and kidneys. Shitake mushrooms improve liver enzymes. You can serve the soup with a side of sauerkraut with sliced apples. Sauerkraut includes probiotics, the good bacteria that defend your GI tract. Apples boost the function of the liver and the kidneys.
Make sure you follow the following rules:
- Do not eat after 7 p.m.
- Epsom salt bath will help you sweat and remove toxins. It also contains magnesium that will help you relax your muscles.
- Before going to bed, have a cup of dandelion root tea. This is a great way for the liver to eliminate toxins from your body.
Additional list of foods that can boost your body’s system of detox:
The Liver
Blueberries and blackberries, or some other dark black berries will help your liver to eliminate certain toxins.
Capsaicin in hot peppers boosts enzymes that are responsible for detoxifying the liver. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin is present.
The Colon
The phosphorus in whole grains is a natural laxative. They also contain fiber to bulk up your stools. Fermented foods and sour pickles are high in probiotics, the good bacteria that protects your colon.
The kidneys
Soy products act like diuretics, allowing you to urinate more often.
Vegetables such as cauliflower, bok choy and broccoli boost kidney’s power to send toxins into the urine and help liver cells recover from detox.
