Detox Diet

The term detox generally means removing any toxins from the body. Depending on the kind of toxins, there can be different or combined approaches to dieting. Toxins can include cosmetics, alcohol, cigarette or psychoactive herb smokes, pesticides, mercury, food additives, oral contraceptives, and household chemicals.



Removing them with urine takes diuretics. When we are talking about detox dieting, we usually want to use diuretic foods rather than drugs. Here are some examples of diuretic foods:



Cucumbers

Water melon

Melon

Celery

Parsley

Dandelion greens

Asparagus

Artichoke

Watercress

Coffee

Tea (green or black)



Herbs include (but are not limited to):



Juniper berries

Linden flowers

Stinging Nettle

Yarrow

Uva Ursi



Another area to remove the toxins is gastro-intestinal tract. It is usually done using laxative foods or herbs



Here's a sample list:



Spinach

Banana

Sesame

Prune

Peach

Apple

Apricot

Red beets

Seaweed

Cabbage

Coconut

Bran

Flax seed

Psyllium husk

Rhubarb



It is also important to take care of the friendly bacteria because they help to remove the toxins from our intestines. The major source is live-culture yogurt and fermented foods generally, like sauerkraut, vinegar-free pickles, etc.



The third important area is bile-moving enhancement that help the gallbladder and liver. The most common measure is a tablespoonful of warm olive oil taken first thing in the morning. There's also a tea recipe to manage liver congestion:



Dandelion root 1 part

Artichoke leaves 1 part

Oregon grape root 1 /2 part

Licorice 1 /4 part

Turmeric 1 /4 part

Ginger root, fresh 1 /8 part

Gentian root 1/8 part



Simmer the herbs in a covered pot 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, covered, for 10 minutes. Drink one cup morning and evening and one more if desired. Persist as long as you experience benefits (Source: Herbs for the Liver; Natural Liver Therapy, 1986).