My Simple Detox Day 5: Onions and Garlic
Inside: We’ve finally come to my simple detox day 5, and on this final day of the experiment we’re discussing the benefits of onions and garlic. We’ll also post my notes for the day as well as the results of the entire detox. Let me just say, wow!
Why Onions and Garlic?
Onions and garlic are staples in my kitchen. How often do I start a dish with simply sauteing onions? So I was pleased to discover their many benefits. Part of the allium family, onions and garlic reduce the risk of heart disease and decrease blood pressure thanks to the sulfer compound they contain. Onions also have anti-inflammation properties.
And speaking of this incredible vegetable, onions have many beneficial nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese, molybdenum, B6, tryptophan, folate, potassium, phosphorus, and copper, to name a few. Garlic provides a good source of many vitamins and minerals, such as manganese, B1, B6, vitamin C, tryptophan, selenium, calcium, phosphorus, and copper, among others.
When it comes to detoxing, garlic and onions are a potent source. Loaded with sulfur, they help the body rid itself of toxins. For thousands of years garlic has been used to detox and improve health.
Note: Avoid overcooking garlic, since it turns bitter and loses its detoxification properties. Add it during the last one or two minutes of cooking on low heat. Onions and shallots retain most of their nutrient content with cooking, so saute to your heart’s delight.
Notes on Day 5
Admittedly I was a little tired on the final day, but I’m not sure it was due to detoxing, as I didn’t sleep well the previous night. Which is a point worth discussing. Water and electrolytes are extremely important, regardless of whether you change your diet for a few days or not. I kept up with my water goals, as well as supplements. Meals stayed pretty much the same, except for dinner we had roasted broccoli, onions, and garlic with the soup I made earlier in the week. Yum. No suffering at all on this detox!
Results
I’m pleased with how well the experiment went. Admittedly I’ve always liked the idea of a detox but hated doing them. I remember trying one particular recipe that required downing a fourth of a cup of olive oil before taking lemon juice. Needless to say I didn’t last five minutes before the gag reflex reared its ugly head. That’s no way to live!
This plan was easy, and I reaped several benefits. I had been having little aches and pains and more frequent headaches, which are gone. I also lost two and a half pounds, two inches off my waist, two inches off my navel-abdomen measurement, and one inch off my hips. Yay!
What would I do differently? Next time I’ll probably take less activated charcoal and pay attention to when I take it. Dr. Axe suggests taking activated charcoal 90 minutes prior to meals rather than after meals. (I learned this after the detox.) I might also try relying on food alone to detox to see how that would go. That said, activated charcoal is good for detoxing, and I keep it around the house for use in case of mild food poisoning. Believe me, when you’re camped out in the bathroom from eating some bad food, activated charcoal is your new best friend!
Results and notes aside, please know I am not a health care professional, nor do I mean this as advice. I am only sharing my experience with detoxing.
Thanks for coming along for the ride. You helped keep me accountable!
Interested in detoxing? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
My Simple 5 Day Detox Experiment
My Simple Detox Day 1: Lemon Water
My Simple Detox Day 2: Bone Broth
My Simple Detox Day 3: Avocados
My Simple Detox Day 4: Cruciferous Veggies
My Simple Detox Day 4: Cruciferous Veggies
Inside: As we head into the homestretch, we’re talking about the benefits of cruciferous veggies on my simple detox day 4. Catch my notes on how it’s going.
Why Cruciferous Veggies?
I’m not sure I ever went through that phase in childhood of hating broccoli and cauliflower. Granted, I probably had them both with a mountain of cheese sauce, but, hey, I did eat my veggies. Nowadays I like them sauteed in butter as well as roasted or steamed. And when you’re on a low carb diet, even vegetables can taste sweet.
Although individual cruciferous vegetables may vary, they tend to be high in vitamin A, C, and K. They also contain glucosinolates, sulfur-containing compounds, which fight cancer, improve heart health, reduce inflammation, regulate blood sugar, and promote weight loss and estrogen balance. Concerning detoxing, glucosinolates support liver function, helping it filter and detoxify blood. Also, the sulfur in cruciferous vegetables attracts toxins and heavy metals to transport them out of the body.
What’s not to like?
Notes from Day 4
I switched it up a little today because Thursdays are meeting night for me. So breakfast and dinner were shake times. And because I was running behind, I wasn’t able to have my guacamole. For lunch I had chicken breast and a serving of roasted cauliflower, onions, and garlic. I seem to be on a blueberry kick this week, so I continued the trend, eating them for dessert. I ran out of cheese sticks and had to substitute a little shredded cheese.
On a different note I was particularly proud of myself for reaching 10,000 steps–actually it was 11,368–a first for me. So, you can say that I’m not lacking energy! Tomorrow I’ll post my final thoughts as well as the results of my detox.
Are you a lover or a hater of cruciferous veggies? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
My Simple 5 Day Detox Experiment
My Simple Detox Day 1: Lemon Water
My Simple Detox Day 3: Avocados
Inside: Welcome to simple detox day 3 where we cover the hot, trendy fruit–avocados. See why they’re important for your diet, and get my quick, simple guacamole recipe. And while you’re here, check on my progress.
Why Avocados?
When it comes to being an avocado fan, I’m late to the game. It wasn’t until my mid-forties that I actually began to eat them. Not that my consumption rate increased drastically after that, but now I’m buying about half a dozen of them per week. We can’t seem to get enough of the green fruit lately. And I notice grocery stores responding, more readily stocking them and coming down in price like never before. Plus it helps when they’re in season.
So why avocados on this detox?
Avocados are a good source of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6 as well as niacin, folate, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, potassium, and magnesium. They also provide omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, and lutein. Avocados promote heart health, weight loss, and better digestion, and they’re good for your skin. They also help balance hormones naturally.
For my detox I wanted something highly nutritious and filling. I’m also interested in balancing hormone levels. And because I’m so fond of guacamole right now, they are a treat for me, which helps me stay motivated to follow my plan.
The Recipe
My favorite guacamole recipe is quick and easy to make, plus the ingredients include other foods on my list of what I’m trying to eat while detoxing–lemon and onion, specifically. And did I mention it’s delicious? So give it a try, even if you’re not detoxing.
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 tablespoon of fresh finely minced onion
- 1½ tablespoons of sour cream
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (can use lime instead)
- salt and pepper to taste
- In a bowl mash the avocado, leaving it a little chunky.
- Add the other ingredients and mix well.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
Notes on Day 3
I had a chocolate bone broth shake for breakfast and lunch again. For dinner I ate a bowl of soup and roasted cauliflower, onions, and garlic. I snacked on blueberries and another late night cheese stick. No ill effects today. Following the plan was easy-peasy. Ready for more simple detoxing tomorrow!
Are you a fan of avocados? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
My Simple 5 Day Detox Experiment
My Simple Detox Day 1: Lemon Water
My Simple Detox Day 2: Bone Broth
Inside: We’ve arrived at my simple detox day 2 without any bumps in the road! Today we’re talking about bone broth, both homemade and in convenient powder form. Stick around.
Why Bone Broth?
Simmering a pot of bone broth with summer just around the corner sounds a little odd–but not when you’re wanting delicious, healthy soup. That’s on the detox menu for tomorrow. I’m doing a riff on the Butternut Beer Brats Soup by simply replacing those brats with sweet Italian turkey sausage instead. Otherwise it’s the same recipe. But the warm, inviting aroma of chicken bone broth wafting through the house has me thinking about the benefits.
Bone broth is one of the most healing foods because it is so nutrient dense. It is also good for gut health and supports the immune system. The collagen that is released from the bones during the slow simmering process helps maintain skin’s tone and appearance and restores joint and bone health. When it comes to detoxing, bone broth helps the digestive system get rid of waste and supports the liver’s ability to remove toxins.
If you’ve got the time and inclination, check out my recipe for bone broth. The recipe isn’t difficult, but it takes time to make–which is what keeps most people from taking advantage of the health benefits. That’s why I like buying bone broth powder for mixing in shakes. If that sounds like a clash of flavors, it isn’t. I can only say you have to try it to believe that it tastes similar to other protein powders. I buy the Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Collagen Powder, both chocolate and vanilla, and I’ve also bought their Bone Broth Protein in vanilla and banana creme. I’ve found all of these products to taste good, though they don’t mix perfectly into your drink with just a simple stir. I use a blender bottle to shake it, but an actual blender would also work well. Right now I’m focusing on joint health, so the collagen has more of what I want. To be honest, the initial cost might seem high, but at 30 servings, it comes out to $1.25 per serving–about the price of a protein bar. It’s a quality product, especially when you factor in all of the benefits.
Notes on Day 2
The second day went pretty smoothly. For breakfast and lunch I had a bone broth collagen chocolate shake with about two tablespoons of cream and a cup of almond milk. For a snack I made guacamole from one avocado. Dinner we had baked chicken breast with grill seasoning and cauliflower puree with my daily portion of onion and garlic cloves in the mix. I had a nice pat of butter in the puree, too. Dessert was a bowl of blueberries. Again, later in the evening I was hungry and ate a cheese stick, resisting the urge to grab a handful of peanuts from Mike’s stash. More lemon water and supplements, of course, and a cup of coffee in the morning. I did forget to take my midday activated charcoal but remembered it in the morning and end of the day.
Tomorrow we’re talking about avocados, along with my simple recipe for a quick guacamole. Tune in to follow my progress. So far I’ve lost some weight and a couple of inches. (Will give totals at the end of the detox.) So stop by the blog for updates.
Do you make your own broth? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
My Simple 5 Day Detox Experiment
My Simple Detox Day 1: Lemon Water