Monday 8 October 2012

DIY detox


So. Since I’m no longer going on detox at Anamchara I figured I’d just do it myself at home.  Because, really, it’s not as if there’s any great mystique behind the process and, now I come to think of it, I’ve written two darn books on detoxing sooo…

I pondered a juice detox but then decided against it. Not because I don’t like juicing (cos I really do – as evidenced here) but because it’s bloody cold, for pity’s sake, and I don’t know about you but I’m feeling the need for some warmth.  And it’s also because, while juice is great for a short detox (up to three days), you really need some protein going on for a longer-term detox (I plan on doing three weeks or more but, fundamentally, this is really just a healthy eating plan, so you could keep on and on...and become positively squeaky clean.)

It’s become fashionable lately to ridicule detoxing – and yes, there is a lot of garbage spoken about it.  Remember those detox foot patches?  Say no more.

And yes, the liver (and the lungs, skin, kidneys, lymphatic and digestive system etc.) can detox by themselves quite merrily.  But then again, sometimes they can do with a helping hand. If you’ve been overdoing the booze, fat, sugar and so on – your body could probably do with a break.  And that’s really all a detox or cleanse is – just giving your body the space to get on with what it’s supposed to be doing. Nothing particularly weird or arcane...

So, what will I be doing?  Well, keeping up what I started at Ti Sana really.  So, no booze, no caffeine, no sugar (other than naturally occurring in fruit and veg).  A pretty solid, sensible vegan diet – predominantly vegetables, pulses, legumes, some grains, some fruit, nuts, seeds.  Some olive oil (if I had the dosh it would argan oil too but hey)…

A few anomalies. No grapefruit, which saddens me as I adore grapefruit. But it isn’t so hot on detox as it puts the brakes on some aspects of the liver detox process.  And no rhubarb or oranges as they are quite acid-forming. 

Keep everything organic as far as you can – you don’t want to be putting pesticides into your body, do you?  And I guess it goes without saying that you should be aiming for seasonal food cooked without dollops of saturated fat (so think raw, steaming, roasting, boiling – not deep-frying).  And no, no fast food or crisps. And yes, a Bloody Mary does count as alcohol rather than fruit.

Drink plenty of water. This is the major good habit I picked up at Ti Sana cos, although I know I should drink plenty of water, I’m really crap at remembering.  But your body really does love it when you hydrate it.  Instead of tea (my addiction) I’m drinking herbal teas (hey, Pukka now do a mint and licorice one, and it’s slightly sweeter and nicer than the Yogi tea one – but no inspiring messages).  No, it isn’t quite the same but my adrenals will thank me.

So. Anyone gonna join me?  I’ll kick you off with a couple of recipes from Ti Sana (I haven’t tried them yet so, if you do, let me know)

…and I might just chart my progress on Twitter with the hashtag #DIYdetox – you could too. J 

I’ll try to add some more bits and pieces of detox ‘perceived wisdom’ on the blog.  Of course, if you’re mega keen you could follow the plans in my books, The Detox Plan or The Detox Kit (though not sure that one’s still in print).
btw, The Detox Plan (in Kindle form) is only a couple of quid or dollars...I detoxed the price! :-) 


Recipes from Ti Sana

Chickpea soup with lemon and cinnamon
400grams cooked chickpeas
100grams white cabbage, finely sliced
50grams daikon, finely sliced
1 sundried tomato
1 litre vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon chilli
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Sea salt to taste
A little olive oil

Heat the oil in a saucepan and then add garlic and onion and sauté for a few minutes until soft. Add the spices, chickpeas, cabbage and daikon. Cover with the broth (or boiling water if you prefer) and bring to the boil. Boil for around ten minutes.  Add the parsley and lemon juice and serve. 

Black rice and carrots with lime
240grams black rice
33grams finely sliced carrots
2 tablespoons lime zest
60grams sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Sea salt to taste
Boil the black rice for around 30 minutes.  Cook the carrots in a pan with a little salt and oil. Toss for 3-4 minutes then add the lime zest. Cook for around ten minutes.  Chop the sunflower seeds and add to the carrots.  Mix in the rice and mix together over a medium heat for a minute or two. 

Craving something sweet? 

Raw truffles
100grams cashews
100grams dates (or half dates, half apricots)
1 tablespoon dried coconut
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Sesame seeds (for decoration)
Take out the stones from the dates and then blend the lot in a high speed blender. Form the truffles into balls and roll in sesame seeds.  Put in fridge for around an hour. 


9 comments:

Rachel Selby said...

Thinking about it very seriously - I've just ordered a pizza meanwhile. I'll get back to you later today...

Zoëh said...

Can someone explain to me why, if you are eating a balanced and healthy diet, you would need to detox and put you body through these extreme purgative type processes. Detox presupposes I ingested a whole lad of toxins? Yes?

Today I ate an apple and a pear I grew myself with no chemicals, along with some whole meal bread and vegetable soup (you got it I grew them too) that I made. I also had some oat porridge made with cows milk. I havent eaten any salt. I havent eaten any refined sugar. Later I plan to eat something made from eggs that came from my back garden. Can someone please explain how anything I consumed is toxic? Would it not be simpler to just avoid whatever it is that is toxic? Sorry to appear so thick, but I really dont get this at all. xxxxxxxx

Exmoorjane said...

@Rachel - had a feeling you'd be in on this. :)

@Zoeh - No, of course you wouldn't. And, like I say - your body sorts itself out quite naturally - providing you don't overload it with crap.
Aaaagh, I haven't written the post clearly enough, have I? Sorry.

Some people don't suit dairy - or vice versa - it can be mucus-forming (so the body would see it as an enemy) and ditto wheat.

The majority of people who might benefit from a 'detox' are those who are eating a lot of processed food, lot of sugar, lot of fat, lot of alcohol etc.

Maybe the word itself is offputting...

This isn't a particularly purgative or restrictive diet...it's purely a vegan diet without muffins really. :) And some people find it easier to follow a 'plan' - rather than the just avoiding bit. I guess that's psychological. xx

Rachel Selby said...

LOL - I'm so predictable.

Exmoorjane said...

@Rachel.. :) C'mon, hon...you can do it. Y'know, it's MUCH easier for you cos it's warmer and you have MUCH better veg etc. I ate like a total glutton on my trip and didn't put on a pound cos it was all so damn healthy and delicious!

DD's Diary said...

Rather you than me with the chickpeas etc. Mind you, no doubt you'll look all glowy afterwards and I'll be jealous xx

internetg33k said...

Just grabbed a Kindle copy of The Detox Plan, and will give it some serious thought. I've gotten myself into all kinds of bad habits of late (too much coffee, alcohol, salt, clove cigarettes, sugar - not enough water, sleep, exercise) and I can feel it dragging my soul down. Any chance the book comes with a healthy dollop of motivation? ;)

Unknown said...

I think I'll start this on November 1st. Perfect time as I will pig out on Halloween candy the 31st and then be good to myself until Thanksgiving. Tea and chocolate deprivation may kill me though... :P

How's it going? Feeling more energized?

Mark Swain said...

I've tried all kinds of detoxes and I can promise you that for me there are two surefire winners. Both fast acting. Number two position goes to Kimchi (Korean pickled cabbage - best homemade. Full of good bugs.

But the best one is an almost instant hit that requires only a single dose. And it is: Absinth. One shot of this and my liver is back to full health. No matter how rough I was feeling before I now feel great. And it lasts. I thought at first it was an alcohol feelgood thing but a herbalist told me wormwood is a powerful liver tonic.

Combine the two and you have a disgusting chewable tonic that could bring back the dead!