Since ancient times people have practiced various detoxifying techniques in order to improve the health. It is interesting to mention that many religious groups and even Hippocrates have practiced detoxification of the organism for many purposes.
Nowadays, there are many different detox diets and method that are specially created to cleanse organism and help you to lose weight. However, you need to be very careful as low-calorie fasting will starve your body and also will slow down your metabolism as a result of the loss of important nutrients. Dehydration, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or even colon damage are other negative effects of a detox diet.
Human organism has its own internal detoxification system and three vital organs are involved in this process: the kidneys, the colon and the liver.
The first defense against the toxins is the liver. Namely, this organ filters and prevents toxins from the food to pass into the blood stream. The kidneys filter the blood and eliminate the dangerous toxins through the urine. The colon removes the toxins from the organism before they cause any damage of the organism and this organ also includes bacteria that create healthy and unhealthy chemicals.
Along with a detox diet, it is of extreme importance to support your organism by taking the necessary nutrients.
In today’s article we are going to present you a 48- hour weekend cleanse which is based on certain foods that will help the vital organs to function properly. The diet regimen recommended by Dr. Oz includes preparation and consummation of meals and snacks two days in a row.
Breakfast: Quinoa with Prunes
Quinoa is a whole grain and it is abundant with protein, phosphorus and fiber. Prunes (dried plums) are rich in fiber and sorbitol, a chemical that works as a natural laxative. A bowl of quinoa and prunes is perfect for starting the day.
Ingredients:
- ½ a cup of quinoa
- 1/3 cup of chopped prunes
- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil
- 1 cup of water
- 1 pinch of nutmeg
- ¼ cup of rice milk
Method of preparation:
In a small pot pour the water and add the quinoa, nutmeg and the grated ginger. Stir well and place on heat. Stir until the mixture starts to boil and then reduce the heat and cover the pot. Simmer for about 10 minutes and then add the prunes and rice milk. Cover the pot again and cook for another 5 minutes. Finally add the flaxseed oil and stir once again.
Detox Drinks as Snacks between Meals
Veggie snack
Between your meals you can eat veggie snacks. You can eat as much as you want of the following veggies:
Mix slice of cucumber, celery and radishes or any other fresh vegetables. Add some olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Detox drink with lemon, pineapple and pomegranate
Ingredients:
- 1 lemon
- ¾ cup of unsweetened pineapple juice
- 1 cup of unsweetened pomegranate juice
- 3 cups of water
All you should do is to put the needed ingredients in a cup and stir. You will get 4 servings and you can drink this detox potion throughout the entire day.
Detox drink with pineapple, ginger and kale
Pineapple are rich source of bromelain, an enzyme that helps digestion. Ginger has the ability to stimulate bile flow in the gall bladder. Kale is a veggie that is great for kidney cleanse.
Ingredients:
- ½ acup of pineapple
- ¼ inch of ginger
- 1 bunch of kale (Remove the stems)
- ½ squeezed lemon
- ½ a cup of mint
- 2 large cucumbers
Put all the ingredients in a juicer or blender and mix.
Lunch- Fruit Smoothie
Blueberries are abundant with quercetin, a flavonoid that is extremely beneficial for the overall health as it boosts the immunity and is beneficial for the liver. Omega 3 fats contained in the ground flaxseed are brain-nourishing, and fiber is helps the elimination of toxins from the organism. Bananas are high in vitamin B6, and pyridoxine is extremely important for the process of liver detoxification.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of frozen blueberries
- ¼ banana
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed or chia
- ½ acup of ice
- ½ a cup of plain, unsweetened almond milk
Put the needed ingredients in a blender and mix until you get a smoothie.
Dinner- Vegetable Broth Soup
Cabbage is extremely beneficial for detoxification of the liver and kidneys. Garlic is one of the healthiest plants and it helps the liver and the function of the gall bladder. Fennel helps the bile flow in the gallbladder. The shitake mushrooms will improve the liver enzymes.
Ingredients:
- 1 chopped cabbage
- 2 quarts of water
- 2 tablespoon of paprika
- 1 chopped fennel bulb with fronds and stalks
- 2 chopped red onions
- 2 teaspoons of caraway seeds
- 2 chopped celery stalks
- 2 teaspoons of sea salt
- 1 cup of sliced shitake caps
- ½ a cup of chopped parsley
- 4 large chopped garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh oregano
- 8 sprigs of chopped parsley with stems and leaves
- Freshly ground pepper
In a pot add all ingredients, except the parsley. Pour the water and put the pot on heat. Once the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour.
Serve this soup and sprinkle the freshly chopped parsley.
By your choice you can serve this delicious soup with a side of sauerkraut with sliced apples. The sauerkraut contains probiotics, the good bacteria that has important role in defending the GI tract. In addition to that, apples will improve the function of the liver and the kidneys.
Along with these meals, you should follow the rules below:
- Do not eat anything after 7 p.m.
- Before bedtime drink 1 cup of dandelion root tea. Namely, this tea will help the liver to discard the accumulated
- Epsom salt bath is extremely beneficial for the overall health as it will help you sweat and thus you will eliminate toxins. This bath also contains magnesium that will help your muscles to
Additionally, there are many other foods that are incredibly beneficial and will enhance the detoxifying system of your body:
- The Kidneys
Vegetables like cauliflower, bok choy and broccoli will boost the work of your kidneys to remove the toxins and also will the liver cells recover from detox. Moreover, soy products act like diuretics and make you urinate more often.
- The Colon
Fermented foods and sour pickles are high in probiotics, the good bacteria that protects the colon. In addition to that, the phosphorus contained in whole grains is a natural laxative and it will bulk up your stools.
- The Liver
Hot peppers contain capsaicin that will boost the enzymes that are responsible for detoxifying the liver. Experts explain that the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. Moreover, blueberries, blackberries and the other dark black berries are beneficial for the overall health and will help the liver to remove certain toxins.