5 Tips to Make Your Detox Delicious!

‘Tis the season for detoxification! After all of the hustle and bustle (and cookies and cakes) of the holiday season, many people enter January with the mindset of getting healthy again. Whether this means getting back on track with their regular health regime or starting fresh with something new and exciting, one thing a lot of people turn to in order to get healthier is detoxification.  

Doing a detox is great. When done right, it gives your digestive system a rest, helps clear your liver of toxins that create a burden, and may even help you slim down a bit. This is because in a detox, you generally eat less and differently than you do regularly. Detoxes come in all shapes and sizes, but they generally follow some of the same guidelines:  

1. No coffee.

That’s right, kick your cup of joe to the curb and replace it with some cleansing herbal teas or a tall glass of water with freshly-squeezed lemon. These beverages are much friendlier to your system than caffeine.

2. No alcohol.

Yep, you guessed it – alcoholic beverages create a burden for your liver. Removing them from your diet when you’re doing a detox makes your liver’s job of cleansing and getting rid of toxins and chemicals much easier.

3. Lighter foods.

Many detoxes now-a-days call for a lot of liquid based meals: soups, broths, smoothies, or fresh-pressed fruit and veggie juices. Why? These foods are not only easier to digest, but are less likely to contain allergenic ingredients and are more likely to be alkalizing instead of acidic.

4. Lots of water.

H2O, to the max! Although this is a general rule that should be followed all the time, having 6-8 8oz glasses of water a day helps to keep your bodily systems moving – including digestion and detoxification.

5. Liver lovin’ habits.

These often include gentle exercise like yoga; using a castor oil pack to stimulate the liver and help it sort through toxins; enjoying a warm bath with epsom salts and essential oils; and enjoying liver-friendly teas. Possibly the best part of doing a detox!

And the good news is, if you’re doing a detox that calls for solid foods, or if you’re just looking for leaner and healthier meal options this month, the Goodness Me! eatery is on your side. For the month of January, our very own Sandy Pomeroy has created a variety of detox-friendly dishes that will lighten your load and satisfy your appetite at the same time. We’ve got a delicious Curried Squash and Lentil Soup that’s available at all 5 of our stores; a Black Bean and Cilantro salad at our Burlington, Upper Gage, and Brantford locations in the salad bar; a detox-friendly salad dressing; a mouth-watering new vegan entrée, Mexican Quinoa and Tofu, available at our Upper Gage and Burlington stores; and a new vegan bean stew. All of these choices are free of gluten, dairy, sugar, wheat, and fermented ingredients, and are completely detox-friendly.  

Visit the Goodness Me! nearest you to pick up some of these delicious new dishes and spice up your detoxification regime! Or, enjoy these options as part of a regular healthy diet as you start this year off on the right foot. Let us know what you think, and bon appetit!