Foods to eat on a detox

When on a detox it can be confronting as to what foods to eat and what foods to avoid, so I have compiled a list to help you out when shopping for your detox foods.

Always keep in mind that anything that is packaged is generally a no go while on a detox.

Raw fruit and vegies are the staple on a detox. You can eat anything and as much as you like.

Grains are another important food to eat while on a detox: include grains such as: brown rice, oats, quinoa, amaranth, millet, buckwheat (you can get pastas that are made from these grains).

Nuts & seeds are a great snacking option when on a detox diet. Include the following: Raw almonds, raw cashews, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, sunflowers seeds and walnuts.

Protein is important in maintaining complete nutrition on a detox diet, you need to make sure you consume enough and the right kind of protein. Try free-range eggs, salmon, chickpeas, and tofu.

It is best to stay away from bread while you a detoxing, but if you must have a sandwich, you must use wheat free & yeast free bread. This also goes for cereals. Look for wheat free, fruit free cereal with no added sugar: “The Liver Cleansing Muesli” or “The Fibre Cleanse Muesli” would be ideal.

Drinking choices are important on a detox. No dairy must be drunk at all while detoxing and definitely no coffee or alcohol! The only drinks you can consume are water (and plenty of it), herbal teas and almond or soy milk.

New Year’s resolution: DETOX!

It’s true, every year after the festive season (or should we say the overindulgent season) most of us say to ourselves “my new year’s resolution is to lose weight”… Well the best and most effective way is to start with a detox. And because even the most saintly of us consume more than the normal monthly quota of champagne in the lead up to Christmas, we are best to focus on a liver detox.

Detoxing and your liver

Our liver plays a significant role in the elimination and detoxification of our bodies. It plays many vital functions including metabolism support, cholesterol balance, fat metabolism and glucose breakdown. It plays such an important role in our health and natural detoxing process, but most of us neglect this and do not have a healthy liver.

The liver works as our natural filter that eliminates the toxins we build up with our busy lifestyles and convenient foods we consume. It also maintains the health of other vital organs. Therefore after Christmas is the perfect time to do a liver detox!

What to eat during a liver detox

During a liver detox, you are not allowed to consume processed foods such as sugary foods, white breads & pastries, coffee, alcohol, saturated fats and red meat (basically anything that is pre-packaged you have to stay away from while on a detox). You must drink at least two litres of water each day while you are on a liver detox. First thing in the morning, try to drink a glass of warm water with lemon juice. This is a great way to start your natural detox process by increasing enzyme activity.

You can also take liver supplements while on a liver detox. Some great herbs are Milk thistle, dandelion (which you can drink each day as a tea), Gentian and the amino acid Taurine. Taurine will help with fat metabolism and liver cell regeneration.

Remember while on the detox to eat as many highly nutritious foods like, green leafy vegies, berries for their antioxidant content and also seeds for their omega 3 source.

The best time frame to do a simple liver detox is one week. You will feel and notice a big change in your body, and you will definitely lose weight, but you must remember that a liver detox is the start of a lifestyle change. If weight loss is your biggest issue, remember in the long term you have to support your body’s natural detox process with a healthy diet and an “everything in moderation” attitude!

Why detox?

With our busy lives and the love of convenient foods, it does not take long for toxins to build up in our system. Our body’s natural detox mechanism requires a lot of energy and good health to support. If you feel sluggish and tired regularly, this maybe because you are not supporting your natural body’s detoxing process with a healthy diet.


Every now and then a body detox will benefit your overall health. A detox does not have to be hard (or like a fast where you eat no solids). It can be just as simple as changing the foods we eat! This will help our body’s natural detox process.

You can do a detox for as little as a couple of days or up to weeks, depending on the level of your health and fitness.

Health benefits of detoxing

Diet is not the only reason to detox. People that suffer with allergens need to detox their lifestyle and surroundings by eliminating toxins such as washing powders, plastics, paints, chemical filled moistures and drugs.


However, generally people detox because they want to lose weight, although other symptoms like fatigue, bloating, constipation, insomnia, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) are other good reasons to undertake a detox.


Detoxing serves as a preventive health measure to help decrease the excess “garbage” in your body. Detoxing essentially helps to cleanse the colon, lymph glands, lungs, kidneys, liver and skin… All of which are our body’s natural detoxes, but from time to time need a little help! 

And trust me, you will feel much better after a detox!