After weeks (or months) of binging on unhealthy, junk food you might feel like it’s time you went on a detox diet to cleanse your body from the inside. But the truth about most detox diets is that they’re marketing gimmicks at best and health hazards at worst. You don’t need to go on expensive detox diets to rid your body of toxins when you already have ingredients in your kitchen that can help you do that. These detox recipes are incredibly simple to make and will leave you glowing with health.
1. Green Detoxifying Smoothie
This delicious smoothie is the best breakfast when you’re trying to detoxify your body. It is packed with fiber which helps your body eliminate waste more efficiently. It also contains vitamins A and K which keep your skin glowing and your bones strong. The celery in this smoothie acts as a diuretic, helping your body flush out toxins. This smoothie is high in carbs, but that shouldn’t scare you away. Healthy carbs give you the energy to get through your day and stave off hunger cravings for longer.
Ingredients
3 cups pineapple diced and frozen
3 cups baby spinach leaves
1 frozen diced banana
1 stalk of celery
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
1 tbsp chia seeds
Juice of ½ lime
1 scoop protein powder (optional)
Method
Add all your ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
If you find it too thick, you can thin it out with some water or yogurt.
2. Acai Bowl With Superfruits
If you prefer eating your breakfast over drinking it, this delicious acai bowl is perfect for you. Acai berries are one of the highest sources of vitamin C. This vitamin helps boost your immunity, fight off oxidative damage and keep your skin looking young. This breakfast bowl also has a huge variety of fruits in almost every color of the rainbow. Papaya and pumpkins give you your daily dose of beta-carotenes, one of the most important compounds for healthy skin.
Ingredients
1 pack unsweetened acai smoothie mix
½ can pumpkin puree
½ cup papaya
½ banana
1 tbsp maca root powder
1 cup almond milk
Toppings
Granola mix
½ banana chopped
Cashew nuts or almonds
Pomegranate seeds
Goji berries (optional)
Method
Blend all your ingredients together except for your toppings until they form a smooth puree.
Pour into a bowl and arrange toppings over it. You can experiment with your favorite toppings.
3. Rainbow Detox Salad
This salad is the ultimate detox recipe. It uses vegetables from every color group in the vegetable family so you get a huge range of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This salad also has every essential food group you need including healthy carbs, protein and monounsaturated fats. Simply put, if there’s only meal you need to eat on a detox diet, it would be this.
Ingredients
For the salad:
1 cups kale, thinly sliced
2 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced
2 cups bite-sized broccoli florets
2 carrots grated
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 avocados diced
½ cup parsley finely chopped
1 cup walnuts
1 tbsp sesame seeds
For the dressing
⅓ cup grapeseed oil
½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
2 tsp whole grain mustard
2 tsp maple syrup
¼ tsp salt
Method:
Whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing and set aside until ready to serve.
Combine all the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl.
Right before you need to serve it, pour over the dressing and mix until fully combined.
4. Macrobiotic Salad With Sesame Tofu
A macrobiotic salad combines macronutrients and plenty of fiber to keep your body nourished. The high fiber content also prevents constipation and helps your body eliminate toxins. It is also high in vegan protein, making it an essential salad for vegetarians and vegans.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups broccoli florets
¼ cup carrot strips
⅓ cup white cabbage, finely grated
⅓ cup red cabbage finely grated
1 handful bean sprouts
1 tbsp green onions, julienned
1 teaspoon each of black and white sesame seeds
1 cup tofu
1 pinch sea salt
For the dressing:
1 ¼ cups lemon juice
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp honey
¼ tsp sea salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp red chilli flakes
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp flaxseed oil
Method
For the dressing, combine all the ingredients except the oils in a blender and pulse until fully combined. Then slowly add the oils while on a slow speed until emulsified.
Combine all the ingredients for the salad and toss with the dressing.
5. Cherry Chia Pudding
You can still enjoy your dessert when you’re on a detox plan. This cherry chia seed pudding is so delicious, you might find yourself eating it long after you finish your detox regime. It uses all natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners to give you a mouthwatering, wholesome dessert.
Ingredients
2 ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
½ cup cherries, pitted and cut into halves
½ tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp stevia
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup chia seeds
Method
Blend together all your ingredients except the chia seeds
Pour the mixture over the chia seeds and after 5 minutes, give it a mix. After 10 minutes, mix again.
Leave it in the fridge to set overnight.
