What are good "detox" foods?

[thunderbug84]

I'm just finishing up a 3 month vacation and I've had a LOT of great food. The food I've eaten is a lot heavier than what I'm used to and I'm definitly feeling the drag. I'm not interested in a diet, but I feel like I need to clear out my system. Does anyone know of certain foods that I can eat for the next 2 weeks or so to help achieve this? If you have a nutritional reason why certain foods are good, I'd love to hear it. Thanks!

[dinnerbell]

I always enjoy aloe juice as a detox drink. Especially after a night of too much to drink. It may be in my head but if feels especially hydrating, and I love the little chunks of aloe flesh.

[Freida]

Some of our favorite meals for hitting "reset" after a lot of serious eating and drinking are all variations on: lean protein, green vegetable, water. Salmon with broccoli, garlic shrimp on a big salad, lean hamburger with sauteed chard, or a vegetable stirfry with or without brown rice, and either green tea or mineral water. I can't take it for more than a couple days usually, but it does the trick. If we can keep it up for a week, we lose weight, too.

[Arcane]

A couple of additions to already lengthy thread:

Ginger is really great for breaking up and cutting through mucus in our bodies. Juice, shred or slice then consume. rinse and repeat.

kimchi is great for the digestive system as well...good bacteria that aids in the elimination process.

[Spiritchaser]

Make sure you include pomegranate juice in your routine regardless of what other items you use in your "detox".

[Moka]

A glass of good water with a healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice in it. I drink this first thing in the AM and whenever I feel like it during the day or evening. It's refreshing and tastes good, but beyond that, lemon juice is a traditional liver cleanser and it stimulates the flow of digestive juices and helps in the elimination of toxins. Lemon juice has antiseptic properties that help to gently cleanse your system.

[ctscorp]

Great ideas here -- I especially like the spinach soup -- and I have to add: I just had a crazy weekend of tailgating with ALL that that entails, and then yesterday and today I went to yoga. I love cardio, love exercise in general, but there really is something about the internal massage that yoga gives. Don't forget it!

[soupkitten]

a cauliflower curry, heavy on the garlic, ginger, & turmeric, is a great detox

miso soup

[Redhohoho]

meant to add this to the recipe I posted... this link explains what kitchari is and does..
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/888

[lexpatti]

lemon juice is a very good cleanser, lots of herbal teas are good, lots of liquid but stay away from caffeine and sugar (at least minimize it). Lots of nuts, seeds, beans, vegies and fruit.

I love and swear by psyllium husk to cleanse the colon/intestines of toxin and poisons that harbor for way tooo long causing headaches, low energy, etc. google it.

[TBird]

artichokes!

[Redhohoho]

Kitchari - to improve your digestive fire and eliminate ama, consider a dietary cleanse.

BASIC RECIPE

Prep time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3

1 cup basmati rice
½ cup mung beans (whole, soaked overnight)
6 cups boiling water
¼ teaspoon turmeric
1 pinch asafoetida (a spice also called hing—available at Indian groceries)
1 cup chopped vegetables, such as zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, or anything you choose (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cumin, coriander, or any other spices you choose (optional
1. Combine the rice with the mung beans and wash twice.

2. Place rice and beans into boiling water, adding the turmeric and asafoetida.

3. Cook over medium heat until the water is mostly absorbed.

4. Add one more cup of lukewarm water, vegetables, and optional spices if you're using them. The final dish should be a stew with a very moist and soft consistency.

[piccola]

I have a naturopath friend who swears by a mix of hot water, fresh lemon juice, honey and cayenne. I think the main advantage is that it gets her to drink lots of water, but who knows?

[vorpal]

I've seen this combo all over the internet, so your NP friend is definitely not alone on it!

[lexpatti]

cayenne has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, long before it's spice or cooking benefits. loads of information on it and many other herbs that have been around forever. Unfortunately most of the medical world won't back it as they need to back the pharmacy world. Only one way to know, proof is in the pudding - if you feel great, energized by cleansing with it - It works for you. I know when I feel at my best and how I'm eating is a direct relation to that.

[piccola]

I'm not opposed to the drink - I have it when I feel a cold coming, it clears up stuffiness - I'm just saying you shouldn't expect miracles.

[janethepain]

It's based on the Master Cleanse diet that's supposed to completely detoxify you. Basically you drink a carefully measured mix of water, grade B maple syrup, lemon and cayenne pepper for a long period of time while consuming nothing else. Do a search online, it's actually pretty interesting.

[ipsedixit]

Water.

[KenWritez]

>> Water. <<

He's right--lots of it. Don't forget to eat some wheat germ and oatmeal, too. Fiber will help clean your intestines and stomach out because it's roughage, and water will help your body function properly. If you eat more fiber, you'll definitely need more water or you risk constipation.

(Note: If you take *any* medications, check with your doctor *before* increasing your fiber intake, as some meds are absorbed by the fiber and thus not by your body.)

Load up on the fruit and veg (especially leafy greens, citrus and dark blue/purple--you want all the antioxidants you can get), lots of fish. Very little dairy.

More water.

And, ( I know this is the worst bit) exercise. Walk, swim, play Frisbee golf, pump iron, whatever. Get out, get moving, and stay moving for at least 30-60 minutes every day for the next 3-4 days.

[danhole]

There is a Detox tea that cleanses your liver and kidneys. Go to yogitea,com to read about it. I use it after imbibing a bit too much!

[WCchopper]

Peter mayle talks about this situation in his "Provence" books. He observed his neighbors taking a food vacation in the summer for the good of their livers. The essence of the "diet" seemed to be more light fruit and veg dishes (more fiber), less richly sauces dishes (I'm thinking less butter), and mineral water instead of wine. Lightening up like the French do seems to be the way to go to prevent falling of the wagon face- first into a plate of carnitas!

[Emme]

Asparagus, greens, cucumbers are all cleansing...

Green Miso Soup
Boil miso broth w/ garlic crushed, adding in greens (mustard, kale, bok choy, collards), asparagus, wild mushrooms, and cook til veggies are tender. Beat egg whites with garlic salt or seasoning, then bring soup to a rolling simmer and stream in egg whites.

Shirtaki Stir-Fry
Grill veggies (eggplant, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tomatoes) tossed w/ garlic salt, then toss in a pan with shiratakis (drained and rinsed), a little soy sauce or Braggs, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, mustard. Add egg whites, chicken, tofu, or protein of choice.

Egg White Omelettes in general

Broiled or Grilled Blackened Fish (halibut, mahi mahi, sole, shrimp, scallops, crab) w/ garlic steamed spinach

Celery--raw or roasted

Cauli-flied rice... Fried "rice" made with shredded cauliflower and egg whites, subbing broccoli for the peas

Baked potato skins filled with salsa and veggies

[beevod]

"Detox?" Just a trendy term for eating less and eating healthier.

[Leonardo]

Oh OK. I thought it had something to do with colonics or some foolish thing.

[thunderbug84]

beevod, I think its a shame to generalize such a term. Look at my response to Leonardo above and you will see how I view my personal "detox." Trust me, I have no interest in starving myself.

[srr]

Try not to boil miso as you lose alot of the good stuff. Just bring it to just under a simmer.

[torty]

"green" soup works for me. Take a bunch or two of spinach and same amount of watercress. Plop in pot with some water and salt. Let cook enough to be really tender adding water as needed to keep soupy versus just cooked down greens. Add chopped green onion or chives. Blend with immersion blender. Taste & season. Whenever you are hungry - have a cup. (microwave to warm) That along with lots of tea (hot or iced) will get your bloat out, give you tons of good vitamins and minerals and keep you satisfied. A day or two. Eat regular food also if you are hungry, but this before a meal will definately help on the clean out aspect.

[Leonardo]

This whole "detox" thing is the latest in quackery to come down the pike.
Precisely what and where are these so-called "toxins" situated?
Please supply us the proper chemical symbols and describe the process through which they are removed from the body.
Do I eat lots of fibre? Of course. But I always have and always will, long after this fad is played out.
By the way: the colon is technically not even within the body proper.

[thunderbug84]

Leonardo, the reason I put quotes around "detox" is because I'm using that word for its layman's meaning. I'm not interested in fad diets either. That being said and toxins aside, there IS a feeling you get after you eat. Sometimes you are sluggish, sleepy and bloated, sometimes you feel light and energized. After three months of feeling the first, I would like to finally feel the latter, sooner than later. So, while I may not be flushing any toxins out of my body by following some of this advice, I am flushing away that sluggish bodily feeling so that I can get back to square one. Thats all I'm going for. I hope that clears things up.

[traceybell]

I started putting quotes around "detox" too. I felt much better after eight days of a diet on vegetables, fruit, and legumes. My allergy symptoms even went away because there is so much mucus in dairy and animal products, I suppose.

http://www.howtoeatlikeabird.com/

I second all the recs for green, leafy vegetables like chard and kale and broccoli. Mung beans are supposed to be really good for flushing out your system, lentils, cooked cabbage, watermelon, teas like ginger and dandelion, warm water w/lemon, real cranberry juice.

[rockyraccoon07]

In response to Leonardo, sure detoxing, as the proccess of expelling toxins from the body probably has become a fad in the world of popular American life, but it is entirely legitimate and has been since long before any health powder drinks were ever used for such purposes. A toxin is any foreign chemical or organism that might be damaging, that can be absorbed into bodily tissue or live parasitically on your hosting innards. For example metallic elements, radical environmental molecules, drug residues, worms, most anything taken in excess can be stored and considered to be a toxin. And there are legitimate ways of getting rid of them, a good way, if done properly is a short fast...if done properly, if done properly. Most bitter foods work well, as do figs, aduki and mung beans, garlic, seaweed, salt, vinegar and lots of other things that have already been mentioned.
Just because something has been popularized in the modern media, doesn't mean it didn't already exist and have its own history.

[piccola]

These foods are slightly diuretic, which is supposed to help clear out your system. Really, though, they're light in calories and high in fibre:

Fennel/anise
Kohlrabi
Jicama
Daikon
Sunflower sprouts
Mustard greens (or any bitter greens)
Parsley
Lotus and burdock roots
Turnip
Bok choy

I'd add broccoli and cabbage, but if you eat too many, you'll likely get gas (which is probably not your goal). Celery works too, but few people like to eat it on its own - I can give you a great recipe for a celery salad, though.

[omotosando]

I don't know what it is about burdock, but whenever I eat it, I feel very energized afterwards. It is definitely not my imagination. I tried to do a little sleuthing about why it might cause that effect, but didn't come up with anything.

Lately, I've become addicted to the tumeric tea sold in cans from the new Dr. Weil line at www.itoen.com. At first, I thought it tasted like drinking nothing, but now I'm hooked. Very pricey though.

[piccola]

If you shop in Indian grocery stores, you'll sometimes spot fresh turmeric root. You can use it to make your own tea, the same way you'd make ginger tea - grate and steep.

[omotosando]

Thanks. Do you know how long tumeric root will keep and whether you can possibly freeze it?

[piccola]

I treat it like ginger. Never tried to freeze it, though.

[Freida]

I tried keeping some in the freezer and it seemed to get a mushy texture after a while. It was much nicer fresh.

[piccola]

Maybe grated, packed in oil? Maybe it's just easier to buy smaller quantities and eat it fresh.

[WCchopper]

How do you eat burdock?

[omotosando]

In response to WCchopper, there is a local macrobiotic restaurant that makes burdock root in a way I have never seen before (most places shred it and stir fry it in a "kimpira" with carrots). The macrobiotic restaurant serves it in slices of just the right thickness (not too thin; not too thick) and it is not stir fried. I only tried to make burdock once at home and it didn't taste the same as at the macrobiotic restaurant. I keep meaning to buy some burdock, and experiment more at home as I would like to eat it more regularly because there is definitely some compound in it that energizes me. Maybe next time I got to the macrobiotic restaurant, I will see if they will give away their cooking secret.

[piccola]

I usually braise it, and I drink/slurp the braising liquid, too. Something like this, only I do small chunks rather than strips: http://www.recipezaar.com/100670

[janethepain]

Don't know if it's a Korean dish, but my family slices the root in diagonals and it's coated in spicy sauce. Very good with rice.

[WCchopper]

Anyone want to try to describe the flavor?

[janethepain]

Hmm. It tastes kinda rooty - like a medicinal root. Haha that's probably not very informative at all, but I don't know how else to describe it. Maybe a very slight bitterness too. Reminds me of the rootiness of ginseng.

[leanneabe]

Are you looking to do a real detox or just "healthy up" your diet for a couple of weeks? We attempted a "detox" and made it through 3 days of basically drinking our meals before we caved and ate a salad. And then carnitas.

The plan we followed involved 8-oz of a berry drink (powdered mix) for breakfast, 8-oz of a green drink (powdered, algae, veggie-loaded, etc) 2 hours later, vegetable juice for lunch, berry drink 2 hours later, green drink 2 hours after that, and then a bowl of pureed vegetable soup. No fats (butter, olive oil) or chicken/beef stock. Plus you do some herbal cleanse pills throughout the day and drink water all the time.

If I was going to do it again (ha ha ha), I'd eat oatmeal in the morning, do a drink 2 hours after each meal, eat a salad for lunch (with oil and vinegar), and eat steamed veggies and maybe grilled non-marinated tofu. Seems pretty easy on the system.

If I wanted to just lighten up my system, I'd simply stay away from red meat (more chicken and fish), cut out fats and really limit simple carbs, along with doing an herbal cleanse for a week. Lots of steamed veggies and high fiber foods. I don't see the harm in doing 1 antioxidant berry drink or the green drink, but it wasn't my favorite thing to drink.

I wrote a short blurb on our total detox failure: http://threedogkitchen.com/category/d...

[thunderbug84]

That gives me some good ideas... thanks!