Always eat fresh, local and organic.
It is always best to detox in warm weather — your body handles getting rid of toxins better than in the cold weather.
How to Get Started
You've already made the first step and decided that you're going to detox.
Detoxing isn't about depriving yourself — it's about treating your body to the tastiest, healthiest foods and treatments. Before going on a detox, you should be medically fit and not pregnant. Checking with your doctor can always be a good idea.
This detox is set up for 7 days — you can do longer or shorter, but 7 days is a good start for your body. You can also start off on a 1 day detox and move on to a 3 day and 7 day detox — it is totally up to you.
We are all guilty of eating and drinking the wrong things — perhaps you have overdone it on alcohol, rich foods and caffeine, or maybe you're stressed out and your body and mind need a break.
Detoxing enables your body to take a rest from processing excessive amounts of fats, sugars, alcohol and processed foods which puts a strain on our organs, causes sluggishness and excess weight gain.
What to Eat on a Detox
Your food needs to be as clean as possible — organic if available, if not make sure you wash or peel your produce.
Try and keep away from processed foods — anything packaged, as the additives in these products are not good for your body.
All fruit and vegetables are going to be good for you — try and have a wide variety.
Try and eat organic meats e.g. chicken, fish, lean meat and eggs are fine. If you can go off red meat for the total time of the detox it will give you a great start.
Things to eliminate for the detox:
- Caffeine (teas and coffee)
- Bread
- Dairy products
- Wheat products (such as pasta)
- Sugary snacks and sugar
- All pre-packaged foods such as take-outs
- Processed meats
No dairy, but plant based milk products can be a better option. If you have any cholesterol problems don't eat any coconut products. Coconut is the big flavour of the month especially in plant based diets — they add coconut to everything plant based or vegan and it is not good for cholesterol levels.
Just remember — processed plant based and vegan foods can be bad for you. If they take something out of processed foods they usually add something bad in. When I first went on a vegan diet my cholesterol jumped up massively and it was the coconut products.
Nuts are fine to eat — just don't go crazy with them. Lots of fresh herbs and spices in your cooking.
When it comes to carbohydrates, we just want really healthy ones — no biscuits, cakes or sweets. The majority of your carbs can come from your fruit and vegetables.
Drinks
Herbal teas, vegetable and fruit smoothies and filtered water. Smoothies or juices can be a great way to clean out your system — you can add so much to them.
Detox Drink Recipe
- Ginger
- Celery
- Carrot
- Apple
- Pear
Juice all ingredients and drink.
Your Detox Shopping List
- Plant based milk
- Sweet Potato
- Pumpkin
- Celery
- Beetroot
- Carrot
- Zucchini
- Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Lots of nuts and seeds
- Chia seeds
- Fruit – Mango, apples, banana, oranges, grapes, kiwi fruit, limes and lemons
- Lots of legumes – Chickpeas, Kidney beans, any type of beans
Saturday – Your First Detox Day
It is best to start on a Saturday so you can give yourself the time to really treat yourself.
6:00am – A nice stretch before you get out of bed. Upon rising, a glass of filtered water — this replaces the fluids lost during the night.
7:30am – Before your shower, dry brush your body from your toes to your shoulders. Always massage towards the heart. Warm shower, but turn to cold before you get out — it's very invigorating.
8:30am – Time for some mild yoga and meditation — 10 minutes of each is all you need.
9:00am – Time to get outside for a brisk walk, at least 30 minutes. You will feel great!
10:00am – Breakfast Smoothie
- 1 apple
- 1 pear
- 1 carrot
- 2 sticks celery
- ½ beet
- 1 banana
11:30am – If you can have a sauna, this will speed up your detoxing. Some gyms have them and you can get outdoor saunas — they are amazing. (There's one at Point Walter — a beautiful river to walk along as well.)
12:30pm – Butternut and Carrot Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 carrots (1 grated, 3 sliced)
- 1 celery stick, chopped
- ½ butternut pumpkin flesh, roughly chopped
- 500ml vegetable stock
- 50ml plant based milk (optional)
- Black pepper
Method: In a large pan fry the onion and garlic in the oil for 5 minutes until softened but not browned. Add the grated carrot and chopped celery, then cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the butternut and sliced carrots and stir well. Add the stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Add plant based milk near the end for a creamier soup. Season and blend until smooth.
1:30pm – Time to relax — do something creative, read a book, or enjoy some meditation.
3:30pm – Snack time! Fresh fruit e.g. oranges, berries, bananas with nuts and seeds.
4:00pm – Time for some pampering — a nice face mask and relax.
5:30pm – Salmon with Roasted Vegetables
Always use wild caught salmon — never farmed, as the food is full of toxins.
Ingredients:
- 1 fillet wild caught salmon
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Baby carrots
- Small potatoes
- Small zucchini
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 handful cherry tomatoes
Method:
- Line a baking tray with baking paper. Add potatoes, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Bake at 200°C for 15 minutes.
- Line a second tray with baking paper. Lay salmon on the tray, season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil. Set aside.
- After 15 minutes, check potatoes — they should be tender when pierced with a knife.
- Add remaining vegetables to the potato tray. Sprinkle over oregano and paprika, drizzle with honey and balsamic, toss gently and return to oven.
- Add salmon tray to the top shelf of the oven.
- Cook veggies and salmon for 10 minutes.
- Serve salmon with roasted vegetables.
7:00pm – Self Massage
Mix 1 tsp of almond oil with 10 drops of peppermint oil. Apply to your stomach in a clockwise direction until your hand is above your leg, then stroke down along your thigh. This aids digestion and relieves blockages.
Continuing Your Detox
This is the first day — follow with similar foods and continue the breathing, meditation, exercise and journaling for however long you want to detox. Carry on with a similar formula for Sunday.
Just remember there are many healthy foods you can eat that are easy to prepare and freeze, especially when you are busy. Healthy veggie soups are especially great when coming off a detox.
Remember — the worst thing you can do after a detox is go back to eating fast food and processed food.
What Goals Do You Wish to Achieve?
Write in your journal at the end of your detox what goals you have achieved. Write a big tick next to them — you will feel really good now, so give yourself a big pat on the back! 🌿