Salads are a classic health food, but in order to be a detox salad, there must be a number of detoxifying vegetables and other ingredients. The following detox salads not only taste great, but cleanse, heal and protect the body.
Broccoli: essential in salads to detoxify
The vegetable you should always trust when it comes to detoxification is the powerful broccoli. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and powerful antioxidants, broccoli is an ingredient that we must eat, at least twice a week.
Even if we are eating a clean diet, we are exposed to potentially toxic substances on a daily basis: pollution, chemicals in our non-organic foods, chemicals in our cosmetics, so every now and then our bodies need an extra boost of protection to restore its natural detoxification function.
Broccoli is very supportive when it comes to fighting chronic toxicity and inflammation, the main causes of chronic diseases.
The glucosinolates, found in large quantities in broccoli, activate the detoxification process and, together with omega-3 and vitamin C fatty acids, create an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant shield. The fiber in broccoli helps maintain a healthy digestive system, reducing intestinal transit time for the food we eat.
Essential fatty acids should not be missing in salads to detoxify
Most vegetables contain, in small doses, essential fatty acids, which are the main compounds of anti-inflammatory molecules in our body.
We cannot just rely on these small doses. We must always give the body sufficient amounts of fatty acids from healthy fats such as coconut oil, flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil or avocado.
This is why your salads should most often contain avocado and a dressing made with extra virgin olive oil. Avocado enriches any dish with minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.
The combination of broccoli and avocado is especially good for diets low in vitamin D, essential for the health of the body, since both contain high amounts of vitamin K, which is a stabilizer of vitamin D.
Load up your salads with fresh seasonal veggies: fennel, zucchini, and watercress, but you can also add carrots, beets, cucumber, spinach, and any other fresh ingredients you find at the farmers market – your body will thank you!
Salads to detoxify the gut and boost energy
Detox salads are a great option whenever you feel like your system needs a detox, when you feel like your energy is low, or just want to eat something fresh and nutritious. Fresh vegetables are ideal to refresh the system and detoxify it, because they are full of potassium and antioxidants, helping cells to oxygenate and facilitate chemical exchanges in your membrane.
Green vegetables are exceptional because chlorophyll nourishes cells, but you can include just about any vegetable you like. All are great for your health and a great support in restoring your well-being. Consider the following three salads to detoxify in your diet indefinitely.
Green salad with broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 small head of broccoli, rinsed and cut into small florets.
- 1 zucchini in strips.
- 1 avocado, peeled and diced.
- 1 bunch watercress, rinsed.
- 1 small red onion, cut into thin rings.
- ½ lemon, juice alone (you can also use lemon).
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard.
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt.
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds.
- ¼ cup of toasted almonds, crushed.
Instructions
- Add the vegetables to a large bowl and mix.
- Add the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, and sea salt to a small bowl and whisk for a creamy dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the salad, add the chia seeds and almonds, and toss to combine.
- Set aside for 5-10 minutes for the flavors to combine and then serve.
Rainbow detox salad
Ingredients
- 1 small head of broccoli, cut into small florets.
- ¼ small head of red cabbage, finely diced.
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped.
- 1 avocado, peeled and diced.
To garnish: toasted almonds and chia seeds.
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons of low-fat (organic) yogurt or coconut yogurt.
- 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil.
- ½ lemon, just the juice.
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt.
- Freshly ground black pepper.
Instructions:
- Place all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine.
- Place the sauce ingredients in a blender and pulse to obtain a smooth liquid.
- Pour the sauce over the salad and mix to combine.
- Distribute evenly on serving plates, top with toasted almonds and chia seeds, and serve.
Detox salad with beetroot and green apple
The humble beet contains a diverse nutritional profile, in which folate, a B vitamin, plays an important role, along with various minerals such as magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese.
While folate is a key vitamin in cellular regeneration processes, these minerals play an important role in the healthy function of the body’s cells and in their detoxification, helping them eliminate excess water, toxins and sodium and help maintain an alkaline environment.
The phytonutrients in beets also offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection to your cells, preventing the installation of chronic diseases and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
The best way to balance the sweetness and earthy flavor of beets (or beets, as they are also called), is to combine them with refreshing ingredients, such as citrus or apples. Green apples are exceptional detoxifying foods, as they contain pectin, a soluble fiber that binds with excess cholesterol, toxins, and old estrogen, and flushes them out of the digestive system, giving you a good cleanse. It is recommended to use them as much as possible in ensladas to detoxify.
Ingredients:
- 3-4 medium beets, roasted or lightly steamed.
- 1 organic green apple, thinly sliced.
- 1 small head of broccoli, cut into small florets.
- 1 avocado cut into cubes.
- 1 tablespoon of lightly toasted almonds, crushed.
- 1 teaspoon of mixed seeds (sesame, chia, pumpkin, sunflower seeds).
- 1 bunch of fresh parsley, chopped.
- 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil.
- 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar.
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.
- A pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
Peel the beets and slice them, then transfer to a medium bowl, season with salt, drizzle with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, mix and set aside for 10 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, drizzle with olive oil, mix and serve.