Below are five recipes that are not only delicious, but will also help detox your body.

1. Raw Broccoli Soup

Definitely a winter favorite and it ends the myth that all raw veggies have to be cold and boring! By steaming the broccoli for just 5 to 6 minutes, the meal remains raw enough to provide all the nutrients but adds enough warmth for that homemade soup flavor.

The texture of the broccoli and the kick of the ginger also make this an excellent choice for those new to the concept of alkalizing (returning your body’s internal chemical state to a naturally alkaline balance).

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Avocado
• 6 to 8 Decent size Broccoli Heads
• 1/3 Red Onion
• 1 Celery Stick
• Big Handful of Spinach
• An Inch of Root Ginger
• Optional: Bragg Liquid Amino, cumin

Lightly steam the broccoli for 5 to 6 minutes and put all the ingredients in a blender. Add garlic, pepper, and other spices to taste. The heat from the broccoli makes this a lovely, gently warmed soup that is great for those cold winter months!

2. Easy Wilted Garlic-Sesame Salad

Toss dark, leafy greens in hot, garlic oil for a meal that cleanses the body’s chief detox organ, the liver.

Ingredients:

• 1 Tsp. olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 lb. spinach, stemmed
    or 1 lb. Swiss chard, stems sliced, leaves torn
    or 1 lb. mixture of spinach and watercress
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1 Tsp. sesame seeds for garnish

Warm oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir until lightly browned, about 45 seconds. Add greens (do in two batches, if necessary) and toss until just wilted, 2 to 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

3. Vegetable Super Juice

This juice is very popular for breakfast because to its energy ‘boost’ effect. It will give your body a nutritious, yet energetic start to the day that will carry on well past lunch time.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole cucumber
• 4 sticks of celery
• 2 to 4 handfuls of spinach
• 8 lettuce leaves
• Other varieties of lettuce as desired
• Optional boosters: parsley and fresh alfalfa sprouts

Juice all ingredients and mix 50/50 with distilled water. Add optional lemon juice to taste and Prime pH to boost the alkalinity of the juice.

4. Healing Detox Juice

A sweeter, more subtle juice that still packs a nutritional punch! The combination of the carrots, spinach, and parsley provides an excellent source of antioxidants while the celery delivers nutritious cleansing properties.

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 Carrots
• 125g Fresh pinach
• Handful of Flat Leaf Parsley
• 2 to 3 Sticks of Celery

Juice all the ingredients (putting celery through last as it is a bit acidic). Mix with water to thin it out or drink it plain. Here is another great recipe for doing a cranberry juice detox.

5. Avocado-Cucumber Spicy Spring Soup

A highly energizing soup for your cleansing regimen. This soup contains avocado (which is high in EFA’s) and cucumber (well known for its internal cleansing properties). The taste of this soup can be customized to your preference by the use of various herbs and spices or by alternating between lemon and lime.

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• 2 spring onions
• 1/2 red or green pepper
• 1 cucumber
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• 1/2 clove of garlic
• Bragg Liquid Aminos™ to taste
• 100ml of light vegetable Bouillon (yeast free)
• Juice of 1 lemon or lime
• Optional: coriander, parsley, or cumin

Blend the avocado and stock to form a light paste, and then add the other ingredients and mix until the consistency is neither too thick nor too thin. Heat slowly on your range-top burner to preserve the most nutrients.

Common Detox Foods

If none of the recipes above sound good, then you should at least try to implement a few of the following detoxifying foods into your diet.

• Broccoli
• Green vegetables
• Fruits (berries and apples)
• Onions
• Garlic
• Lemons
• Broccoli sprouts
• Liquids (green tea, pure water and algae drinks rich in enzymes)
• Other cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, asparagus, etc.)

Consuming organic foods so as to obtain the most vitamins and minerals can greatly enhance your toxin cleansing efforts. All natural recipes such as these help the body receive the nutritional support it needs to maintain vital health and wellbeing!

Related Detox Articles:

• The Master Cleanse Diet Explained
• The Skinny on Detox Diets [VIDEO]
• How to Detox Your Way to Weight Loss
• The Health Benefits of Probiotics

Flickr Image: source

In this video, Dr. Mercola discusses why you should detox your body, how to detox your body and ways you can prevent yourself from becoming sick and full of toxins. Out of the many videos I’ve seen about detox, this one here is a must-see for everybody.

How to Detox You Body Naturally:

In the video above, Dr. Mercola points out that what is really important is the quality of the food we eat and the water we drink. If we are consuming toxic substances, our body is bound to store some of these toxins. This is why it is important to eat organic foods and drink purified water, if possible.

If you can’t afford to eat organic foods, or just prefer the convenience of fast foods, then it may be wise to take a good probiotic supplement along with your food. This will help provide your body with the necessary bacteria to help break down toxins, so your body doesn’t absorb and store them.

More Detox Videos:

• The Skinny on Detox Diets
• How to do a Lemon Detox
• Detox Foot Pads: Do They Really Work?
• How to Kill Intestinal Worms & Parasites
• How to Detoxify Your Body, According to Dr. Group

Cranberry Juice Detox & Marijuana

It must first be stated that doing a cranberry juice detox is definitely not a “cure-all” but more of a method to help get rid of marijuana from your system. The effectiveness of this detox method all depends on how much marijuana you’ve smoked and for how long you’ve been smoking at that rate. Obviously, somebody that hardly ever smokes will be easier to detox, than somebody that smokes all day, everyday.

With that said, one of the best ways to get marijuana out of your system is to urinate frequently. Because cranberry juice is a diuretic, it will make you do just that. While doing a cranberry juice detox, it is recommended that you drink at least 3–4 glasses of cranberry juice every day, for at least 10-14 days. If possible, try to get fresh, organic cranberry juice with a low-amount of sugar.

It is also recommended that you refrain from smoking marijuana while doing the cranberry juice detox.

Cranberry Juice Detox: Step-by-Step Instructions

Another good thing about doing a cranberry juice detox is that it can actually help you lose a little bit of weight. Of course, this same amount of weightloss can be achieved by eating more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. If you want to lose weight while following this detox method, then it is recommended that you do it for at least 3 weeks.

• Step 1 — First thing every morning, you will dilute your cranberry juice into water, approximately one part juice to three parts water. You also want to add 1 tablespoon of powdered psyllium fiber and one tablespoon of apple pectin. Mix vigirously. Then chug this “cranberry concocjtion” as fast as you can. You want to make sure you drink this BEFORE you eat breakfast. After you drink it, eat a light breakfast consisting of organic fruits and whole grains.
• Step 2 — You will repeat step one before lunch and dinner. Do NOT eat any red meat, milk or alcohol while doing the cranberry juice detox. Try to eat as many fruits as you can. Nuts and seeds are also a easy and healthy snack. Any extra times you want to drink the above mixture, will help, but not necessary.
• Step 3 — To help you with the cranberry juice detox, you will want to take 2 capsules of dandelion leaf three times a day for the first week. Dandelion leaf will help you cleanse the marijuana, and other toxins, out of your system faster than normal.
• Step 4 — Repeat the first two steps everyday for the firt two weeks of the detox.
• Step 5 — Once you enter into the 2nd week of the detox, you can stop taking the capsules of dandelion leaf. Instead, you will want to switch over to taking astragalus capsules, as well as a good chlorella supplement. These will also help the detox, but provide you with necessary nutrients.
• Step 6 — At the beginning of the third week, you can stop taking the psyllium amd apple pectin, but you will want to continue drinking as much cranberry juice as you can handle. In the middle of the 3rd week, you can also stop taking the astragalus and chlorella.

After the Cranberry Juice Detox

Of course, it is recommended that while doing this detox cleanse, you want to follow a regular workout routine that will help burn fat, as the THC is stored in your fat cells. This will help ensure that your detox works. After the cranberry cleanse, it is recommended that you do a liver cleanse, as this will also help get toxins out of your system.

Did the cranberry juice detox work for you? Let us know in the comments below!

Related Detox Articles:

• How to Kill Intestinal Worms
• The Master Cleanse Diet Explained
• 6 Common Detox Methods For Beginners
• Intestinal Parasites: What You Need To Know
• Detox Diet: How to Detox Your Way to Weight Loss

Probiotics are widely known as bacteria that is beneficial to your health, specifically your digestive tract. Many people don’t put it together that probiotics are a live food that contains massive amounts of microorganisms that have the ability to stimulate growth.

This beneficial bacteria can be found naturally in many foods you probably already have in your house, and has also been added in food and and alcoholic fermentation for centuries.

When it comes to knowing what is good bacteria and bad bacteria, you must first understand that there are over a million microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and yeast currently present in your intestinal tract. The friendly bacteria will help protect the body from the bad bacteria by reducing their presence. Three of the most common probiotic strains are Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bacillus laterosporus and Bifidobacterium which are used widely to promote good health.

Probiotics: List of Health Benefits

Nutritionists and scientists alike, still don’t completely understand how probiotics work, but many clinical studies have proven that they do. Some people believe that the beneficial bacteria replaces the bad bacteria in the digestive system, while others believe that the good bacteria creates an acidic environment inside the digestive system that doesn’t allow the bad bacteria to survive.

The bottom line is that we all have approximately 400 types of beneficial microorganisms inside our bodies, that can help us fight-off infection and the development of many diseases. Here is a short list of the health benefits of probiotics:

• Assist with essential nutrients like zinc, calcium, iron, etc.
• They have the ability to help reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
• Help decrease the rate of diarrhea in young children.
• Helps reduce diaper rash among toddlers, if probiotics is included in the formula.
• Improves overall transit time, which in turn helps with everyday digestion and improves the symptoms of constipation.
• Srengthen your immunity by helping to regulate antibodies and lymphocytes.
• Prevents you from getting food and skin allergies.
• May help prevent premature labor if you’re pregnant. You may want to discuss this with your doctor, prior to using any probiotic supplement.
• May help reduce how often you get bladder infections.
• In women, probiotics have shown to have the ability to help reduce vaginal infections.
• Promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.

How to get more Probiotics in your system

There are many foods that have probiotics in them. If you consume these foods, not only will they help regulate your colon, but give you a boost in nutrients and, in some cases, fiber. The most common and widely known food that contains probiotics, would be yogurt. But, butermilk, powdered milk, and cottage cheese also have a natural probiotic effect.

Besides the dairy products listed above, there are many other foods and herbs that will help. These include green leafy vegetables, spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass, green tea, garlic, ginseng, soy sauce and sauerkraut, just to name a few.

If you don’t like any of the above foods, or for some reason can’t consume them, you can always look into getting a probiotic supplement. Make sure you get a good one, that is not tablets, but capsules. There are many cheaply made probiotic supplements on the market, and these are going to be a waste of time. So make sure to do the proper research on each product, prior to buying them.

Related Colon Health Articles:

• How to Kill Intestinal Worms
• The Master Cleanse Diet Explained
• 6 Common Detox Methods For Beginners
• Intestinal Parasites: What You Need To Know
• Detox Diet: How to Detox Your Way to Weight Loss

You’ve probably heard of the master cleanse diet, also referred to as the lemonade diet or maple syrup diet. The master cleanse diet aims at flushing out all the toxins that may have accumulated in our intestinal tract over the years. The master cleanse diet was developed by Stanley Burroughs in the 1940’s. Burroughs believed that this special cleansing diet would restore your health to optimal levels by detoxing the body of toxins.

Nowadays, the master cleanse diet seems to be used more as a means of weight loss and has become increasingly popular among celebrities such as Beyoncé Knowles and Jared Leto. Because of various celebrities touting the benefits of the master cleanse, average people have begun to try it for weightloss.

The Master Cleanse Diet Recipe

Ingredients Needed for Master Cleanse Diet

• 8 oz. purified water
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
• 2 tbsp maple syrup (grade B)
• 1/10 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix all of the above ingredients together in a glass, and stir vigourously. That’s it. It’s that simple!

Master Cleanse Instructions

If you are planning on following the master cleanse diet, be prepared to fast on only liquids for at least 10-15 days.

The master cleanse instructions clearly dictate that you should not eat any solid foods while drinking the lemon water. The diet only allows you to drink the lemonade, and maybe some water. Roughly, the diet would require you to drink at least 6-8 glasses throughout the day.

The night before you begin the cleansing diet, it is recommended to drink a cup of laxative tea. It is also recommended to start the day by drinking another laxative tea or a salt water flush. To make the cleansing salt water flush, all you need to do is add 1 to 1½ teaspoons of epsom salt or himalayan salt with a small amount warm water. Stir the salt and water vigorously to help the salt dissolve in the water. Then, you drink the salt water mixture. If you have any trouble drinking the salt water, try drinking it in small portions, but it still needs to be warm.

Try to get all of the master cleanse ingredients as organic, if possible. If not organic, besure to avoid buying lemon juice that have preservatives or artificial sweeteners. The best way to get lemon juice, is to squeeze it yourself. This would ensure that it’s fresh and pure. Another tip, is to not use the commonly sold maple syrup, instead, you need to use a grade B maple syrup. This is a common mistake.

Ending the Master Cleanse Diet

At the end of the dieting period, it is recommended to slowly introduce the “normal diet” consisting of solid foods. It is not recommended to go on a binge eating spree.

For the first couple of days, it is recommended that you drink at least three 8oz. glasses of orange juice, pulp or no pulp. The orange juice will help the digestive system to break down solid foods that your body may not be used to.

Try to stay away from heavy foods like meat and bread for at least 2-3 days after completing the master cleanse diet. Also avoid fried, processed and fast foods, as these will only introduce the same toxins you just finished flushing out. Fruits and vegetables are always great additions to your diet. So are nuts and seeds.

Exercise & The Master Cleanse Diet

There is never an excuse to avoid exercising. Just because you are doing the master cleanse diet, doesn’t provide you with any sort of excuse. Maintaining a regular exercise routine will actually help with the diet and provide a deeper detox. In fact, the master cleanse diet has all the ingredients you need to maintain your usual routine, which includes exercising.

That’s it. That’s the master cleanse diet explained. Now it’s time for you to try to implement it into your life. Just remember to discuss it with your doctor before starting.

Related Detox Articles & Videos:

• How to Detox Yourself [VIDEO]
• How to do a Lemon Detox [VIDEO]
• The Skinny on Detox Diets [VIDEO]
• 6 Common Detox Methods For Beginners
• Detox Diet: How to Detox Your Way to Weight Loss

Of course, remember if you’re going to follow a detox diet, be sure to drink plenty of water and eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and many other high fiber foods.

Everyday, we come across toxins and viruses that can do some radical things to our health. These toxins can come in the from of the air we breathe, contaminated water and/or food that is not clean. We all have the ability to eliminate these toxins naturally, but it is very possible that not all of the disease-causing toxins are removed. When we don’t eliminate or flush out all of the toxins, they may cause an array of health problems, including obesity.

Our Lifestyles & Why They’re to Blame

We can only really blame ourselves. Many of us smoke, drink alot of alcohol frequently and settle for the convienence of fast/processed food. If you add the toxins from these substances to the general pollution we consume on a daily basis, the odds are you won’t be able to flush out all the dangerous toxins from your body, thus putting you at risk for the development of many diseases and unwanted weight gain.

With the increasing amount of these toxins, comes the increase risk of developing serious health problems. One of the main health problems is unwanted weight gain. We all know that following a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly are the best way to lose weight and feel healthier. Another way to lose weight is to follow a detox diet and help detoxify your body from these toxins. This will give you the best shot to lose weight while exercising and eating right.

If you follow a “detox diet”, you will utilize many natural ingredients, and possibly a few natural health supplements. As with all diets, the key to your weightloss success is found in your motivation and will-power. It certainly is not easy to break the habits of your lifestyle, as they have probably formed over many years.

Changing what you eat on a daily basis is a big challenge, similar to the challenge to quit smoking. However, if you stick to your new diet, you will start to see positive changes in no time. You will start to feel the health benefits that comes along with weightloss.

Detox Diet & Weightloss Tips

Remember, the most important thing for weightloss, is to exercise regularly, and follow a healthy diet. You can also try adding more high fiber foods to your diet, as they can help you feel fuller, while eating less overall. Eating spicy foods can also give your metabolism a boost. Drink plenty of water. And remember to stay active!

Once you clean up your environment and your diet, you will give your body the best shot at battling disease and losing weight. Also, your digestive system will have the best shot at flushing out unhealthy fat and toxins. In the end, you will give yourself the best shot at losing those unwanted pounds and be in the greatest shape of your life!