Thanksgiving Detox Tips

Day-After Detox: How to Get Back on Track After Thanksgiving

Updated Nov 19 2012 - 12:50am · Posted Nov 19 2012 - 12:46 by Leta Shy

We're happily anticipating Thanksgiving and all the epicurean celebrations that come with it, but we also are being realistic about it — on Thanksgiving, most people are prone to eating too much or indulging more than they meant to. But the day after the big meal is a chance to start fresh, so read on for our tips on how to detox after your Thanksgiving feast.

Yoga for digestion: You don't even have to wait for the next day to get a start on detoxing. Do these yoga poses for digestion after you wake up from your food coma or the next morning to keep everything running smoothly. Even better, go for a run the morning after Thanksgiving: cardio is a great way to detox.
Start with a green juice: Many Thanksgiving feasts are full of fat, salt, or sugar, so resetting your taste buds is a good thing to do once Thanksgiving is over. Blend a batch of this detoxifying green juice to naturally flush toxins from your body while also training your taste buds from craving sugar and fat.
Don't redo the feast: Thanksgiving day's decadent tablescape is Friday's overstuffed fridge. Just because you have a kitchen full of leftovers doesn't mean you should redo that heaping plate of food you made yesterday. Stick to small, reasonable meals instead, and go back to your normal healthy-eating schedule as much as possible (i.e., not going for your second piece of pie) to make detoxing a reality.
Stock up on detox foods: Fridge space may be lacking, but make some room for foods like dark leafy greens, beets, and whole grains to help aid in detoxing. Get our list of 10 detoxing foods you should eat here.
Eat soup: Don't relive that overly stuffed feeling from Thanksgiving. Keep yourself satiated without the bloat with a brothy low-sodium soup. This carrot detox soup recipe should be first on your list.

A Green Detox Juice Recipe to Ring In the New Year

Updated Apr 2 2012 - 12:09pm · Posted Jan 5 2012 - 3:06am by Michele Foley

Here's a fresh juice recipe that will help you shake off holiday indulgences and start clean. This recipe is made from an array of ingredients that have natural detoxing properties: watercress helps energize cleansing enzymes in the liver, and, like celery, it's a natural diuretic. Antioxidant-rich spinach boosts chlorophyll levels in the digestive tract, which helps the body get rid of environmental toxins. Lemon is a great source of vitamin C and helps alkalize the body. Spicy ginger aids digestion. And besides giving a boost of vitamins, apples add just enough natural sugar to mask the earthy taste of the greens. This juice is bound to become part of your daily ritual.
Get the green detox juice recipe after the break!

Green Detox Pressed Juice

From Michele Foley, FitSugar

Ingredients

1/2 bunch spinach
1 handful watercress
1/2 lemon, peeled
1 celery stalk
2 apples
1-inch slice of ginger

Directions

Use a juicer for optimal results. If you don't have one, turn the recipe into a smoothie by using a blender instead.

To make juice: In a fruit and vegetable juicer, juice all ingredients into a tall glass. Serve immediately.

To make smoothie: Prior to blending, chop apple and discard the core; peel and chop ginger; chop celery stalk; zest and juice lemon, throwing out remaining rind. Combine all ingredients, and blend on high until smooth. Add water or ice to help thin out the smoothie.

Detox Deliciously: Ginger-Carrot Soup

Updated Nov 13 2012 - 1:26pm · Posted Nov 13 2012 - 1:09pm by Lizzie Fuhr

You may be surprised to learn that it's celebrity chef Guy Fieri who created this perfect bowl of soup fit for a delicious detox. This ginger-carrot soup is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese, which helps to aid in digestion. To top it all off, there's no cholesterol whatsoever in this tasty recipe! To up the detox power and offer a more robust flavor, I added an additional tablespoon of ginger to give the soup a brighter flavor. Ready to detox deliciously? Keep reading for the healthy and fresh soup recipe.

Ginger-Carrot Soup

From Guy Fieri, Food Network
Ginger Carrot Detox Soup Recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped sweet onion
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced peeled ginger
2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped
1 medium russet potato, peeled and chopped
6 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 1/3 cups plain low-fat Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Combine the olive oil and onion in a Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 10 minutes, until just starting to caramelize.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, 2 more minutes, being careful not to burn the mixture. Stir in the carrots, potato, and the chicken or vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until the carrots and potato are very tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Keep warm.
Meanwhile, in a small sauté pan over high heat, lightly toast the pine nuts. Set aside to cool.
In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, honey, thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Puree the soup with an immersion blender until very smooth (or puree in a regular blender in batches). Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and serve with a dollop of the yogurt mixture and some pine nuts.

Makes 8 servings.