Vegan Detox nutrition: What you need to know, plus a few delicious recipes

Vegan Detox nutrition: What you need to know, plus a few delicious recipes

A vegan way of life is about so much more than fruits and vegetables for every meal and in actual fact, many vegan followers go so far as to call a vegan diet a diet of indulgence. People hear the word ‘vegan’ and automatically picture a lean, toned, fit, health enthusiast with not an ounce of fat on their body. In reality however, not all vegan foods are necessarily healthy and nutritious for the body, which is why vegans often follow detoxifications like everybody else. Some people follow vegan diets for personal and/or ethical reasons, whilst others follow them with the intention of getting fitter and healthier. Whatever their reasons for following the diet may be, one thing’s for sure, and that is that some vegan foods, and indeed recipes for that matter, are far healthier than others.

When I was in Thailand I did this raw food detox at PhuketFit (it was really good!) and ever since I’ve tried to do my own detoxification at home. In this article I will show you what I learned and how you can do this at home, too.

Why follow a vegan detox nutrition plan? – A vegan diet plan basically excludes any form of animal-derived food or drink, meaning that not only do vegans not eat meat, fish, or seafood, they also exclude eggs and dairy as well. However, there are still some vegan foods that are considered unhealthy and so vegan detox diet plans may still be called for. The idea behind these detoxes is to flush harmful toxins from the body that may have built up over time. These toxins not only come from unhealthy foods, they’re also in the air we breathe thanks to pollution, and in certain products we use such as aerosol or roll on deodorants. The foods consumed on a vegan detox diet plan will be all natural, low in unhealthy fats, and jam-packed full of vitamins, minerals, fibre, antioxidants, and other nutrients that the body thrives upon. On top of healthy meals, vegan detox followers must also drink plenty of fresh water each day, as that is how the toxins will leave their bodies, in their urine once filtered out via the liver and kidneys.

Vegan detox meal ideas – Now let’s take a look at some simple, yet delicious, vegan detox meal ideas.

Flaked almond “tuna” salad. This is a delicious salad that is rich in protein and vitamins, and couldn’t be simpler to make. The base is made up of almonds that have been soaked and then blended until they form a flake-like texture, just like tune flakes from a can. Diced celery, garlic, cucumber, and red onion is then mixed to add a little texture. Finally, a little melted organic coconut oil is mixed with Dijon mustard, and drizzled over the top.

Pecan and cranberry kale salad – Another salad but this one simply has to be tasted to be believed. The kale leaves are very finely chopped and then added to a bowl. The pecan nuts are toasted and then blended into small clumps and mixed with sea salt and a little olive oil. They are then scattered over the kale leaves. A simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper is then drizzled over the top. Finally, a few dried cranberries are scattered on the dish.

Pink power detox smoothie – Beverages can also play an important role in any detox plan and this smoothie is no exception. Fresh beet, strawberries, avocado, and fresh lemon make up this smoothie with all of the ingredients basically being blended together with a splash of coconut water. Not only is this beverage rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the avocados also provide healthy omega 3 fatty acids.