Detox Diet - List of Foods to Enjoy

From Cathy Wong, N.D.,Your Guide to Alternative Medicine.

1) Fresh Fruit
Enjoy all fresh fruit. Go easy on grapefruit. A compound in grapefruit called naringin can significantly inhibit liver detox enzymes and should be avoided during detox diets.

2) Fresh Vegetables
All fresh vegetables except corn, which can be an allergenic food.

Great detox foods include broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, onions, garlic, artichokes, beets, red and green vegetables.

3) Rice
Rice is easily digested by most people. Choose brown or basmati rice, rice cakes, rice crackers and rice pasta.

4) Other Grains
Quinoa, amaranth, millet, and buckwheat can be used instead of rice. They can be purchased at a health food store.

5) Beans
Split yellow and green peas and lentils are easy to digest and require less soaking time. Other acceptable legumes include kidney beans, pinto beans, mung beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and adzuki beans.

6) Nuts and Seeds
Unsalted nuts, seeds and nut butters can be sprinkled over any meal. Includes flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews and walnuts. Avoid peanuts.

7) Fish
Poached, broiled or steamed fish can be enjoyed in moderation.

8) Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil

9) Condiments
Vegetable salt, sea salt, vinegar, naturally fermented soy sauce or tamari, any culinary herbs or spices, limited amounts of honey.

10) Herbal Tea
Herbal non-caffeinated teas, green tea.

11) Other Beverages
Water, lemon water, 100% natural fruit and vegetable juices, rice milk

12) Daily Detox Must Do's

* Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day, warm or room temperature. Water is essential to clear waste from the blood. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger.
* Do not drink liquids around mealtime.
* Dilute fruit juice with 50% water.
* Take the time to chew food well, especially grains.