A detox can help to repair and rejuvenate your body. Eliminating junk food like chips, soda, sugar, flour, coffee, and alcohol aids in the detoxification process. Consult with your physician before starting a detox diet. Some major benefits of detox are purification of blood, restoring PH balance, losing weight, stabilizing cholesterol levels, reducing inflammation, reducing acne, etc. If you are a beginner, start with a three-day detox plan. In this period, consume alkaline based foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole food-grains, and water. Include wholefood grains like brown rice, quinoa, millets, oatmeal. Start the day with a detox drink made with lemon, ginger, chia, and warm water. Use ingredients like turmeric, ginger, dandelion roots, lemon, beetroot that aid in the purification process. Keep your body hydrated with water or natural beverages like coconut water, fruit juice, vegetable juice, green tea etc. Eliminate meat, seafood, and dairy during the detox period.
Here is a list of some delicious detox recipes that you can make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner –
Apple-Pie Oatmeal Porridge:
Cinnamon is an anti-inflammatory spice that aids in the healing tissues. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins to apples and bake them. Make this delicious oatmeal with almond milk and top it up with baked apples.
Anti-Inflammatory Khichdi:
Add raw turmeric and ginger to make this light khichdi. Use the best basmati rice and moong daal to make this delicious dish.
Beetroot Hummus:
Beetroot aids in blood purification and detox process. Roasted beetroots add a depth of flavor and taste to regular hummus. Serve it with cucumber, carrots and celery sticks.
Carrot & Ginger Smoothie:
Blitz orange juice, carrots, raw ginger, papaya, coconut water, coconut flesh and mint in a food processor to make this anti-inflammatory, vitamin C and beta-carotene rich smoothie.
Green Cleanse Juice:
To make this detox juice, add kale, baby spinach, mint, lemon in a juicer. This juice is packed with nutrients and best for the detox period.
Root Vegetable Roast:
Roast a medley of baby beets, carrots, parsnips, purple potatoes with garlic, thyme and spices. This veggie roast is best served with steamed long-grain basmati rice and daal.
Fragrant Lentil Broth:
Make this lentil broth in an aromatic blend of lemongrass, galangal, ginger, kaffir lime, and coriander leaves. Add more water to make it the consistency of a broth. Serve it with steamed quinoa or brown rice.
Carrot Soup:
This beta-carotene rich soup is made with roasted red carrots. For extra flavor, add ginger and roasted cumin seeds. Serve this warming bowl of soup with oats croutons.
These recipes are delicious and easy to make with seasonal ingredients. You can take health supplements like vitamin C, Calcium, etc. during the detox. Remember that detox is not a fix to go back to unhealthy eating habits. Stick to healthy food to sustain the benefits of a detox cleanse.
