(Sharing) Detox Foods to Eat

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By Cathy Wong

A detox diet is short, focused diet program focused on eliminating environmental and dietary toxins from your system. Although there are many types of detox diets, the foods that are allowed are often quite similar, unless it is a juice fast.

Foods to Include

Fruits
fresh or frozen fruits
unsweetened, natural juice
dried fruit - unsweetened, in limited amounts, such as cranberries, dates, raisins, goji berries

Vegetables
Vegetables thought to be particularly good detox foods include broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, onions, garlic, artichokes, beets, and dark leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, and swiss chard
sea vegetables, including kelp, nori sheets, wakame
corn - avoid corn as it is acid-forming
note: some people are sensitive to the nightshade family of vegetables, which includes tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, and potatoes, and may wish to avoid them

Grains and Starches
rice, especially brown rice
quinoa
buckwheat
millet
amaranth
wild rice
oats
whole grains are preferred, but products made from the above may be allowed, such as brown rice pasta, pure buckwheat noodles, rice crackers, and bread

Beans and Legumes
split yellow and green peas
lentils
adzuki beans

Nuts and Seeds
almonds
cashews
walnuts
sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
sesame seeds
chia seeds
hemp seeds, hemp nuts
coconut, especially young coconuts
tahini
nut and butters made only with allowed ingredients
peanuts and peanut butter - usually not recommended
Choose unsalted, raw nuts and seeds.

Oils
cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil
hemp oil
flax oil
chia oil
almond oil
avocado oil
coconut oil
safflower, sesame, and sunflower oils in limited amounts (due to omega-6 fatty acids)

Condiments
apple cider vinegar
Bragg's Liquid Aminos
miso - small amounts
black olives
lemons and limes
fresh and dried herbs and spices
cacao powder and cacao nibs
carob powder
sea salt
mustard
wheat-free tamari - in limited amounts

Animal Protein
Detox diets differ on the question of whether to include animal protein. If it is included, allowed foods may include:
organic turkey
organic chicken, preferably pastured
wild, cold-water fish, such as Alaskan salmon
lamb
wild game, such as venison, buffalo, ostrich

Daily Detox Do's
Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day
Take the time to chew food well.