Time for a Spring Clean? Our Dietary Detox Guide

Small colourful flowers begin to bud on trees, daffodils are sprouting up from the ground, days feel a little warmer – spring is here! These little changes of nature, often bring feelings of new beginnings and a desire to shed stagnant energy.

So if you have decided to do a detox, well done! Your body will love you for it! It takes a special kind of person who goes the extra mile to support their body for a better living experience.

Our liver and kidneys play a major role in detoxifying the body and you can support this natural process by eating the right foods. While there are a range of excellent products to support your detoxification processes, here are some essential eating and drinking tips to assist with your cleanse:

EAT:

Eat organic and locally grown as much as you can.

• Herbs – Garlic, onion, ginger, turmeric, parsley, coriander and mint
• Lemons – Drink the juice of ½ a lemon in 100ml water ½ hour before breakfast
• Vegetables and fruit – Choose brightly coloured, fresh and seasonal
• Root vegetables – choose kumara, parsnip and carrot over potatoes
• Seaweed – Wakame sprinkled over meals and nori used as a wrap
• Healthy fats – Use extra virgin olive, coconut, flaxseed and/or avocado oil
• Fluids – Drink plenty of water, herbal tea and non-caffeinated drinks such as Dandelion Root
• Gluten free wholegrains – such as brown rice, buckwheat and quinoa
• Fermented foods – try sauerkraut, coconut water kefir, apple cider vinegar, natural unsweetened yoghurt and kombucha
• Protein – tempeh, legumes, raw soaked nuts and seeds, free-range chicken, fish and free-range eggs
• Condiments – Tamari for savoury flavour, dried herbs and spices, apple cider vinegar and mustard
• Spreads – use tahini, avocado and hummus
• Dairy – use sheep or goat feta in small amounts
• Natural sweeteners – organic and/or raw honey, molasses, maple or brown rice syrup in small amounts.

MINIMISE:

• Caffeine – Coffee, black tea, green tea, chocolate and energy drinks
• Table spreads – use tahini, olive oil, or a small amount of butter instead
• Sugar – including cakes, biscuits, lollies, ice cream, soft drinks, milk chocolate
• Fried and barbequed/chargrilled foods– steam or slow cook foods instead
• Processed and refined foods – white bread, white sugar, white rice, crackers, biscuits, cereals, packaged processed foods, fast foods, bakery foods and table spreads
• Tinned/canned foods – cans that are lined with BisPhenol-A (BPA)
• Alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs
• Stress – Practice daily meditation, yoga and walks in nature

Remember to use eco-friendly cleaners for your house.