Bien-être 18/12/2020
Detox foods to cleanse your body before the holidays
Between turkey with chestnuts, foie gras, Yule log, and alcoholic nectars, it's hard to avoid overload during the year-end holidays. If you had planned a detox cure after the festive period, why not anticipate and prepare your body for the upcoming excesses? Cleansing your body will allow you to approach family meals with complete peace of mind. Focus on foods that boost digestion and infuse new energy.
What is a detox cure?
Detox means purifying the body by limiting foods that are too fatty, too salty, and too sweet. The idea is not to go on a diet but to lighten the body of toxins accumulated throughout the year, to help it function better.
Certainly, our body is capable of eliminating toxins on its own. The kidneys and liver filter waste, while the intestines handle its evacuation. But when these organs are overwhelmed, the overall condition is disturbed. The digestive organs are overloaded, the complexion is dull, digestion is slower, and fatigue sets in. The detox cure therefore aims to cleanse the body to promote toxin elimination and regain new vitality.
When to do a detox cure?
Eating healthily: the foundation of a good detox
A detox cure primarily involves diet. It means eating a variety of products – organic whenever possible – replacing rich foods with lighter ones, and staying well hydrated.
Specifically, we will avoid white sugar, processed foods, dairy products, cold cuts, refined cereals, pastries, cookies, fried foods, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and we will limit gluten as much as possible. We will also pay attention to good combinations by avoiding consuming proteins and carbohydrates during the same meal, as they are complex to digest.
Detox foods to prioritize
- Water galore
Above all, drink spring water daily and regularly. It is recommended to drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day to activate drainage and toxin elimination.
- A lemon juice, in the morning on an empty stomach
Every morning on an empty stomach, cleanse your body by drinking the juice of half an organic lemon mixed with warm water. This daily habit activates toxin elimination and promotes digestion, notably thanks to citric acid which stimulates bile secretion in the liver. This citrus fruit also has beneficial effects on blood sugar and fat dissolution. After drinking your beverage, wait 15 minutes before having your breakfast. You can also dilute the juice of one lemon in a bottle of water and drink it throughout the day.
- Detoxifying vegetables
Vegetables contain all the vitamins and minerals necessary to eliminate toxins from our body. Their antioxidants also help drain the excretory organs. As for their fibers, they help cleanse the body, especially sulfurous vegetables that support the liver: garlic, onion, shallot, chives, leeks, cabbages, turnips, radishes, artichokes. Steamed, in broth, or as soup, you can also indulge in raw vegetables in juice form: celery, carrot, cucumber, black radish, spinach, fennel, beets, parsley, fresh coriander, watercress, ginger, turmeric. Not only do they detoxify the body, but they also lighten it, as they are quickly digested.
- Antioxidant fruits
Rich in antioxidants, citrus fruits play a major role in thoroughly cleansing the body: lemons, grapefruits, and oranges. Red fruits also have great abilities to drain toxins: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries. Pineapple, for its part, activates digestion (especially of proteins) and prevents bloating. Rich in enzymes, potassium, bromelain, and citric acid, it is perfect for acid-base balance and enzymatic work. During this winter period, however, favor seasonal fruits such as apples, pears, and kiwis.
- Spices and herbs
Concentrated in protective and detox nutrients, spices and herbs should be favored. Some are appetite suppressants (cinnamon, star anise), others are super detox and anti-inflammatory (turmeric, ginger), or rich in "cleansing" nutrients (coriander, onion, garlic, mustard, clove, parsley, rosemary).
- The essential green tea
The green tea, as a drink or in supplements dietary supplements, is known for its diuretic and antioxidant properties. Thanks to its theine and polyphenols, it detoxifies the liver. It also has a draining action and helps better eliminate toxins by stimulating the kidneys. For a stronger detox effect, it is recommended to mix green tea with detoxifying plants, such as linden bark, dandelion, burdock, or mint.
- Birch, the queen of detox plants
Rich in magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium, birch sap is one of the best allies for detox. Thanks to a dual draining and purifying action, it supports elimination functions. Its purifying virtues help fight water retention and restore radiance to the complexion. It is recommended to consume birch juice on an empty stomach for 3 weeks for optimal results, with two cures per year.
- Choosing the right essential oils
True concentrates of active ingredients, essential oils are essential in detox cures. They can be used orally but must be consumed on an appropriate medium: sugar, honey, vegetable oil, or neutral tablet. It is important to be particularly careful with dosages and to strictly follow the precautions for use.
For a quick and easy cure
2 drops of Lemon essential oil on a neutral tablet to let dissolve in the mouth, 3 times a day at the beginning of meals, ideally in a 3-week cure.
- Detox dietary supplements: which ones to prioritize?
In the form of tablets, capsules, or ampoules, dietary supplements are a valuable aid to support a detox cure. Certain plants and active ingredients have benefits for eliminating toxins from the body, targeting different areas of action:
- Drainants
Eliminate excess water.
Green tea is known for its diuretic and antioxidant virtues. It promotes water elimination. Graviola is also a powerful diuretic; it maintains liver and gallbladder functions. Nettle has purifying and diuretic qualities. Dandelion stimulates the kidneys and liver and helps reduce water retention.
- Purifiers
Activate digestion and help fight digestive discomfort.
Milk thistle has been used since Antiquity as a liver purifier and revitalizer. Black radish is also an ally for sluggish livers. By increasing bile secretions and their evacuation to the intestine, it helps eliminate toxins, facilitate digestion, and purify the liver.
- Absorbers
Capture certain elements (heavy metals, chemical molecules) present in food and prevent them from passing into the blood.
At the top of the list: Klamath algae. It notably contains chlorophyll, which has many properties: it absorbs heavy metals and chemical elements from food. It reduces intestinal gas and promotes good digestion. Activated charcoal is also extremely absorbent. Used as an antidote, it absorbs gases as well as chemical elements and heavy metals.
- Hepatoprotectors
Preserve liver health.
In case of a congested liver, certain natural active ingredients help support the body's elimination functions and relieve the liver's workload. Favor curcumin (reduces inflammation of the liver and intestines), milk thistle (protects liver cells), rosemary (detoxifies the liver), artichoke (stimulates the liver and urinary elimination), dandelion (decongests the liver), desmodium (protects and regenerates liver cells), chrysanthellum (activates bile secretion), and green tea (cleanses the liver).
Our Detox Recipes... and Delicious!
❤ JUICES
Beetroot, Celery, Carrot, Apple Juice
❤ SMOOTHIE
Kiwi, Banana, Avocado Smoothie
Cucumber, Arugula, Mint Smoothie
❤ BROTHS
Green Vegetable Broth (another variant)
❤ SOUPS
❤ HERBAL TEAS
Lemon, Honey, Ginger Herbal Tea
