broccoli and beet greens with soba noodles gluten-free

 

 
Hey there hot stuff!

SO you have decided that it’s time to clean up your act, when it comes to eating anyway, and want to try out a detox. For many, it’s an unfamiliar territory and even you might be feeling a little intimidated. Well my friend, when a detox plan is designed and followed properly, it’s not so bad at all!! (I promise)

Depending on the amount of toxins you have in your body, it is normal to experience some uncomfortable symptoms when doing a cleanse or detox. Symptoms can include headaches, nausea, fatigue, among others. To help minimize these symptoms, you can start to gradually prepare your body to release toxins. This will reduce the uncomfortable side effects and also help you get better results from the cleanse.

Here are  some simple ways to help your body prepare for a cleanse:


Improve digestion:
Using herbs and spices which have properties that enhance digestion like anise, cardamom and ginger will help to increase bile flow. If the bile is not flowing properly the toxins cannot be properly removed from the body.
Practicing proper food combining, like eating carbohydrates before proteins, will help digest food in an efficient way.
Triphala, an Ayurvedic herbal blend commonly used for supporting intestinal detoxification, occasional constipation and overall colon health, is a great way to prepare your digestive system for a cleanse.
You also want to have lots of good bacteria in the gut, which helps with digestion, absorption of nutrients, and create movement in the colon called peristalsis to help with proper elimination. You can increase your beneficial bacteria by eating fermented foods (kombucha and miso are good choices), taking a probiotic supplement, and eating foods that are rich in prebiotics (like garlic and onions).

Increase water intake:
Adequate water intake is perhaps the most important requirement to support detoxification. Water assist in removing toxins from the body via the kidneys and helps to remove toxic build-up from the colon by increasing the bulk of your stool.
Drink about 4oz of water every half an hour. Herbal teas count toward water intake but caffeinated drinks dehydrate the body. For every cup of coffee, you should add an additional 2 cups of water. If you don’t have a water filtration system in your home, now would be the best time to source one and set it up.

Increase vegetable and fibre intake:
Adding more high fibre fruits and vegetables to your diet will help to remove toxins from the body. Fibre binds to toxins and helps to bulk things up in your colon to get rid of the bad stuff. Without proper elimination, toxins get reabsorbed from the colon into the bloodstream, which  is very harmful for the liver. Fruits and veggies are also rich in antioxidants to prevent and repair free radical damage, and high in vitamins and minerals that support the detoxification process.

Begin to reduce your toxin exposure:
This will help reduce toxic burden so the body can begin to remove stored toxins from the system. It’s hard to completely detox your home and diet at once, but we have to start somewhere! Start bringing your awareness to the sources of chemicals in your lifestyle. Household toxins come from cleaning supplies, beauty products, processed and conventional food sources and the air we breathe. Adding more green plants and an air filter in your home will help to decrease the amount of toxins you breathe in.

Begin to eliminate sugar, alcohol, and caffeine:
If you’re an avid coffee drinker, with 2 or more cups per day, start to wean yourself off gradually. This will help to reduce the withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, experienced during the first few days of a cleanse. You can substitute coffee with green tea, hot or cold cacao, or herbal coffee substitutions made with dandelion root (like Dandyblend). Same goes for alcohol and sugar. Some great alternatives for plain white sugar and high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners include dates, raw honey, pure maple syrup, and coconut sweeteners.
 
Here is a super simple and quick recipe with gluten-free buckwheat noodles, called soba noodles) with detox superstar broccoli, beet greens and cilantro, plus some healthy fats to help your body prepare for a cleanse.

soba noodles with broccoli and beet greens
 
Soba Noodles with Broccoli and Black Sesame Seeds (GF, V)
This is a super easy weeknight dinner that will literally take you less than 10 minutes to make. If you don’t have black sesame seeds, use white ones but maybe toast them lightly for a minute on the pan. If you want gluten-free, look for 100% buckwheat noodles, as many soba noodle brands have added wheat or spelt flours.
2 cups buckwheat noodles, cooked
2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup beet greens (or spinach)
4 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp wheat free tamari sauce or Braggs Liquid Aminos
3 Tbsp lemon juice
4 garlic scapes (or 1 garlic clove)
3 Tbsp black sesame seeds (white will work too)
¼ cup cilantro
How to make:
Cook the soba noodles according to directions with a bit of sea salt. Reserve 2 Tbsp cooking water. (1/2 package should give you 2 cups of cooked noodles)
Slice beet greens (or spinach) into thin strips. Steam broccoli for 5 minutes, then add the greens for another minute.
In a big bowl, mix together sesame oil, tamari, lemon juice and 2 Tbsp of cooking water.
Chop cilantro and garlic scapes (or minced garlic) and toss them into the bowl along with sesame seeds, steamed broccoli, beet greens and noodles.
Toss well and serve!
Makes 2 servings
 

Could you benefit from a cleanse? Download my free Detox 101 Guide ~ what anyone thinking about doing a cleanse ought to know. DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE HERE.

In this guide, I explain who should and shouldn’t do a cleanse, how to choose the right detox plan for you, and how to avoid the top sources of toxins.

Enjoy, and happy cleansing!