Diet and Herbs for Detoxification

As promised, I'm delivering a few tips for dietary and herbal recommendations for forming your own detox plan.  Trust me,  you need a plan!  Each person has their own unique needs and considerations that come into play when choosing what strategies will work best.  Are you anemic? You need greens!  Have poor circulation? Try herbal teas!  Are you hypoglycemic?  You need protein rich foods! 

You get the idea.

Not only that, but the time of year has an impact on what type of detox plan you choose as well.  Have you ever noticed that in the winter you crave heavier comfort foods?  And in the Spring you crave lighter foods and more veggies?  Your body is already tuned into the seasons.  Listening to your body, and eating lighter in spring and summer, and focusing on more nourishing foods in fall and winter is important.  Tuning into nature’s cycles will help facilitate the process and increase your chance for success. 

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How long you choose to follow your detox program is up to you.  While you can feel results in as little as 3 days, following a 7-10 program is common.  With any program, you want to slowly wean yourself off your normal diet towards a detoxification diet.  First, eliminating caffeine and sugar, then dairy, then perhaps grains over a period of 3 days or so. 

Take it slow.

Follow your detox diet plan, and then slowly re-introduce foods like whole grains, dairy, and wheat again after your diet is finished.

Want to know a secret?  Detoxing doesn’t necessarily feel good for the first few days!  Make sure to get extra rest, take care of yourself.  Take naps, do yoga, get a massage.  Also, be sure you are getting enough fiber either through your diet, your juices, or herbal preparations.  You want to get the toxins out as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

  Dietary Recommendations

• Eliminate toxins daily by substituting more congesting foods for less (ie; greens for dairy, or rice for wheat)
  
• Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine
• Increase fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes
• Raw food diet
• Herbal teas
  
• Fresh fruit and vegetable juices
• Include Master Cleanser
  
• Drink lots of water

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Herbal Recommendations

There are many herbs that can support or create detoxification.  These can be used for blood cleansing and cleaning the tissues or strengthening the function of specific organs.  I recommend using herbs in conjunction with any detox program. Here are a few of my favorites:

Garlic -Along with a myriad of other therapeutic uses, garlic is a fantastic blood cleanser.  Not only does it increase circulation, but it’s an anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and has been shown to decrease free radicals.

Dandelion Root- Drinking a tea from the root, or taking it in tincture form is especially effective for liver cleansing.  It is also a gentle laxative and great for toxin removal. 

Parsley-  This is another great detoxifying herb that is easily obtained and prepared.  Traditionally used for everything from coughs to the plague, more recent research has shown that parsley is effective on the urinary tract and kidneys.  Perhaps this is due to its diuretic properties and ability to flush the kidneys.

Red clover blossoms- blood cleansing champion

Echinacea Root- a good lymph cleanser, improves lymphocyte and phagocyte actions, stimulating the immune system and clearing inflammation

Cayenne- blood purifier, increases fluid elimination and sweat

Ginger Root- stimulates circulation and sweating

With any detoxification therapy, you also want to drink lots of water!  Be sure to research any contraindications that might be present, and explore what other techniques (dietary changes, fasting, juicing, etc.) appeal to you.

I'll be sharing some of my favorite recipes in the coming days, but in the meantime start planning your strategy for a safe and effective detox.

Be Well,
Kristin

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