I woke up feeling gross. The December ritual of too many parties, too much food, and more alcohol than I am used to, was taking it’s toll. To top it off, I had a cold for the past 8 days, my only one in over a year. Time to detox! This free and easy 3 day detox from our friends at Hungry for Change looks like the perfect way to start the New Year. Enjoy.
Day 1, 2 & 3 (Friday, January 4 through Sunday, January 6)
- UPON RISING – Ginger Lemon Detox Drink
- BREAKFAST – Super Detox Green Juice (or optional Super Simple Green Drink)
- MID MORNING SNACK – Cucumber, Celery & Carrot Sticks
- LUNCH – Sushi Salad (or optional green salad)
- AFTERNOON SNACK – Activated almonds
- DINNER – Potassium Balance Soup
- DESSERT – Chia Pudding
- AFTER DINNER – Calming Chamomile Tea
UPON RISING
Ginger Lemon Detox Drink
Serves 1
Ginger is a powerful detoxifier that helps to kick-start your metabolism. Along with hydrating your body, this drink will help to stimulate bowel movements.
Drink one large glass, but if you feel like more, go for it— hydration is important.
- 1 12-ounce spring or filtered water, at room temperature
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2-inch knob of ginger root
Add the lemon juice to the glass of water. Finely grate the ginger on a chopping board, then squeeze the ginger pieces in your hand, letting the juice of the ginger drip through your fingers and into the glass of water. Enjoy at room temperature upon rising for an amazing start to the day!
BREAKFAST
Super Detox Green Juice (Option 1)
Serves 1
This morning juice includes a potent blend of easily digestible alkaline minerals, such as potassium. Alkalizing your blood is important during the cleansing process because it keeps bad bacteria, yeast, and fungi in check, which helps keep cravings at bay.
Drink one large glass, but feel free to have a second. If you don’t have a juicer, try blending it up with some water.
- 2 to 3 celery stalks, leaves removed
- 1 small cucumber
- 2 kale leaves
- Handful of fresh parsley
- 1 small lemon or lime, peeled
- 1 pear or apple
Juice all of the ingredients and sip slowly. For an extra health kick, stir in barley grass, wheatgrass, and/or spirulina powder.
Super Simple Green Drink (Option 2)
Serves 1
This option is for those without a juicer or who have limited time! It is a highly alkalizing green drink, which helps to detoxify the blood. It may taste a little strange at first, but the more you drink it, the more you’ll get used to the flavor.
- 1 12-ounce glass spring or filtered water
- 1 tablespoon barley grass or wheatgrass powder
- 1 teaspoon spirulina powder
Stir all of the ingredients together, then serve.
MID-MORNING SNACK
Cucumber, Celery And Carrot Sticks (Makes enough for 3 days)
This is your morning snack and keeps you on track with your cleanse. It’s easy to prepare and carry with you when you’re on the run.
- 3 celery stalks, leaves removed;
- 3 small cucumbers
- 3 small carrots
Wash all of the vegetables and cut them into small strips. Store in the fridge to keep them fresh and crisp.
Optionally, have another Super Detox Green Juice or Super Simple Green Drink.
LUNCH
Sushi Salad
Serves 1 or 2
This salad includes a powerful mix of sprouts and sea vegetables. Sea vegetables, including nori, are one of the most nutrient-dense plant foods on the planet. They are particularly high in calcium and iodine, which helps to draw toxins from the body.
If you’re at work or on the run, and have no time to prepare this salad, choose a big green vegetarian salad for lunch with an “all natural” dressing. Make sure to read the ingredients; if it looks suspect, ask for fresh lemon and extra-virgin olive oil on the side.
For the Dressing
- 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger root
- 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- Juice of 1 lemon
For the Salad
- 1 ripe avocado, chopped
- 2 small cucumbers, halved and chopped
- 1 carrot, grated
- Handful of sprouts (preferably alfalfa, watercress, or sunflower sprouts)
- Handful of fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 nori sheet, cut roughly with scissors into bite-size strips
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
To prepare the dressing, take the ginger gratings and squeeze them between your fingers, making your hand a fist, into a small jar. Discard the pulp. Add the tamari (or soy sauce) and the lemon juice to the ginger juice. Close the lid and shake.
To prepare the salad, mix the avocado, cucumbers, carrot, sprouts, cilantro, and strips of nori together in a bowl and toss with the salad dressing. Sprinkle seeds over the top to garnish.
AFTERNOON SNACK
Activated Almonds (Makes enough for 3 days)
A handful of soaked (or activated) nuts will be your afternoon snack throughout this cleanse. Plan ahead by soaking a large bowl of raw almonds overnight, straining the water away in the morning, and storing them covered in the fridge. Why soak nuts? Find out here: www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/the-benefits-of-soaking-nuts-and-seeds
- 3 handfuls raw almonds (you can use almonds or a mixture of macadamia nuts, pecans, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds if desired)
- Filtered or spring water, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
In a large bowl, place all of the ingredients with enough water to cover fully. Leave at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Strain in a sieve. Store the nuts in a covered container in the fridge.
DINNER
Potassium Balance Soup (Makes enough for 3 days)
Makes 3 Serves (1 serving per night during the detox)
Based on a recipe from physician Henry Bieler (Bieler’s Broth), this vegetable tonic provides an ideal combination for restoring acid–alkaline and sodium–potassium balance to the body’s organs and glands.
- 4 cups spring or filtered water
- 4 medium zucchini, finely chopped
- 3 celery stalks, leaves removed, then finely chopped
- 1 cup roughly chopped green string beans
- 1 large bunch fresh parsley, stems and leaves roughly chopped
- 3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons unrefined sea salt or 1 tablespoon organic miso paste
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme, rosemary, oregano, or other French Provence herbs for added flavor
Put all of the ingredients in a large stock or sauté pot. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat, cover, and let simmer gently for 30 minutes. Serve warm.
If you wish to create a thicker soup, you can purée the soup in batches in a blender or blend it with an immersion, or “stick,” blender until smooth and creamy; however, this soup is also delicious as is. Store covered in the fridge for use within one week, or freeze for extended storage.
DESSERT
Chia Seed Pudding (Makes enough for 3 days)
Makes 3 Serves (1 serving per night during the detox)
This after-dinner snack includes chia seeds, a gelatinous plant food that helps to draw out toxins from the liver and pass them into the colon for excretion. Chia seeds are also high in omega-3 and make you feel full and satiated!
- 1 1⁄4 cups Homemade Nut Milk or Homemade Coconut Milk , or if you don’t have time, use store-bought almond or hemp milk (homemade nut milk recipes here: www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/delicious-nut-milk-recipe)
- 1 tablespoon raw honey or maple syrup
- 4 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a large jar, combine all of the ingredients and shake well. Pour the mixture into 3 small bowls or glasses and refrigerate until it thickens into a pudding-like consistency, about 30 minutes. This is a delicious treat and keeps for up to a week, covered in the fridge.
AFTER DINNER
Calming Chamomile Tea
Serves 1
Chamomile tea will help to calm your body and prepare you for a restful night’s sleep. Deep restful sleep during this cleanse is important because of how it will help you digest unwanted stress hormones, which can cause you to gain weight.
- 1 cup spring or filtered water
- 1 chamomile tea bag or 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers
Bring the water to a boil and pour into a teacup or mug. Add the tea bag or, if using loose flowers, use a teapot and a strainer. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes, then enjoy.
Optionally, try other herbal detox teas, such as nettle, dandelion root, or licorice root.
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