5 Homemade, Healthy Detox Soup Recipes
Sometimes you just need to hit the “reset” button. That might mean hitting the gym again, sticking with a clean-eating plan and getting into a frame of mind that doesn’t allow for excuses or cheating. It may also mean going on a bit of a “detox,” eating only clean, nutritious meals made at home, with only fresh ingredients.
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Detox foods are low in calories, fat, sugar and processed carbs. They’re loaded with kidney and liver-friendly nutrients; think: broccoli, carrots, avocados and spices. And one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to enjoy these foods is in a big bowlful of soup.
Here are five detox soup recipes to help get you get back on track.
1. Broccoli And Arugula Soup
Cruciferous vegetables are a no-brainer when it comes to detox. Greens have certain healthy compounds, shows research accepted by cancer.gov, that help prevent and inhibit the development of cancer in the stomach, bladder, liver, and more. Arugula offers vitamin K and fibre, and broccoli is very high in vitamins A, C and K, as well as fibre, which are good for the immune system and digestive health. Vitamin K is linked to healthy bowels. Try Gwyneth Paltrow’s Broccoli and Arugula Soup recipe.
2. Detox Vegetable Soup
Consider the rainbow as your guide for foods to toss in the soup pot. A wide variety of colourful vegetables in your diet ensures that you’re giving your body a range of nutrients, including inflammation-fighting antioxidants and gut-friendly carbohydrates. Also, studies show that foods like carrots, celery, onions, peppers, and more, contain the acid oxalates, and when consumed with calcium, may reduce the risk of kidney stones. Consider this Detox Vegetable Soup from TheHealthyMaven.com, which is loaded with carrot, celery, yellow, green beans, tomatoes, kale and yellow onion.
3. Cabbage Soup
They were onto something when the Cabbage Soup Diet was all the rage. Although hugely criticized as a diet plan because of the lack of nutritional variety when only eating cabbage soup for days or weeks, cabbage soup does have benefits and should be eaten as part of a healthy diet. Cooked cabbage is high in vitamins K and C, as well as fiber. A study of more than 1,000 women found that women with diets high in cabbage, broccoli, bok choy, Brussels sprouts and kale experienced substantially less inflammation than women whose diets were low or absent of these foods. Try LaurenConrad.com’s Cleansing Veggie Soup.
4. Gazpacho
For many veggies, the cooking process alters the nutritional state, lowering antioxidants and fat. Protect the nutritional profile of your vegetables (and keep cool!) with a cold, raw gazpacho. While traditioanlly made with tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, you can get creative and use whatever veggies you have on hand or are in season. This Gazpacho recipe from Skinny Taste.com is the perfect base to build off of.
5. Spicy Soup
Spicy herbs and foods have a solid reputation for anti-fungal, immune-supporting and metabolism-boosting properties. Hot spices like cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes contain capsaicin, which helps with digestion, fights infection and is thought to stimulate the kidneys. It may help with pain management too, say researchers. Consider adding heat to your detox soup with this Spicy Soup Recipe from MensFitness.com.
Detox Bonuses
Garnish your bowl with these three foods:
Lemon Wedge
Lemon is high in antioxidants, but is also known to be alkaline, which is good for the body.
Sprouts
Microgreens are much more concentrated in nutrients than their oversized family members, which is why they often appear darker, have a more intense taste and have less water content.
Almond Milk
Since many detoxes ban dairy, a thick swirl of almond milk in your soup adds fiber and vitamin E and can be a satisfying addition to your bowl.