The beginning of every New Year reminds us that it’s always the perfect time to cleanse your body of toxins and remove the excess waste that may be making you sluggish. Fresh herbs are healthful and delicious ways to enhance flavors without calories to any dish. Try these 4 detoxifying herbs to cleanse your body naturally and healthfully: Basil. Cilantro. Mint. Parsley.
Fresh herbs are healthful, naturally cleansing, and incredible detoxifying power houses. They are delicious ways to liven up your meals without added calories. Many of these can be found right at your local market or nursery.
One of our favorite tips is to place your herbs in a glass jar and leave out on the counter. Fill the jar with water and arrange herbs like a bouquet of flowers. Just change the water daily. This is especially great for long stemmed herbs such as cilantro, parsley, mint, and basil. The herbs are at your reach and are a natural, beautiful decoration.
To store in the refrigerator, rinse your herbs lightly, roll in paper towels, and place in a ziploc bag. Pull out a handful of herbs for your cooking and for garnishes. This is great to help you get a serving of herbs a day.
You’ll want to experiment with adding herbs into your dishes; start with a few sprigs to find what tastes good to you. Nibble some when you’re at the local nursery or market to decide what flavor and textures appeal to you. Get ready to add extra detox power to your food with these four herbs:
1. Basil
Basil has a sweet, warm flavor with large, tender leaves. They strengthen your kidneys. Your kidneys sweep waste products and toxins from your bloodstream, like those in a diet with highly processed foods. It is easy to grow at your home, either in your garden or in a small pot on your kitchen counter.
Fun Fact: Did you know that basil was the ‘royal herb’ to the ancient Greeks? It was used in some ointment or medicine specifically for those of royal blood, and legend has it that only the king was allowed to cut the plant. It was therefore named “basilikón ‘royal’ (a derivative of basileús ‘king’). See more about word origins of food and drink from John Ayto’s The Diner’s Dictionary.
Quick Recipes: Toss torn basil leaves with sliced strawberries and add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of salt for an instant, easy dessert. Add basil to a bed of arugula with chunks of goat cheese and toasted marcona almonds to round out the dish, light on the stomach yet filling and satisfying, one of our favs for lunch. Take a cue from the magical partnership of basil and tomatoes in Mediterranean cooking, and create a simple, stunning salad: stack some thick slices of tomatoes and fresh mozzarella with basil tucked in, top with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
Try this delicious fresh take: chilled Avocado, Cucumber, and Basil Soup. Rather than combining these ingredients in a salad, puree them to make a creamy soup that’ll cool you off on a hot summer day. It features a full cup of basil, plus a pair of creamy, avocados, super detoxifiers too.
- To Make Avocado, Cucumber, and Basil Soup. Blend 2 halved, pitted, and cubed avocados, 3 cups cold water, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add 1 medium cucumber, peeled, trimmed, and chopped, and pulse until chunky, about 5 times. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a large container and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. Stir soup well, and garnish with cucumber slices and whole basil leaves, if desired. Serves 5. (vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free)
2. Cilantro
If you’re looking to add a lemony, refreshing flavor to your meals, try cilantro. Also know as fresh coriander, cilantro binds to toxic heavy metals and removes them from your body.
Fun Fact: Cilantro is an alternative name for coriander. It comes from Spanish, which acquired it from late Latin coliandrum, an alteration of Latin coriandrum (l and r are phonetically close and are often swapped).
How to use: Our favorite noodle dish with fresh cilantro, peanuts, and chicken is the Skinny Chow Mein—we’re pretty sure it’ll win you over! Stir into salsas and guacamole.
3. Mint
Mint helps remove toxin buildup, which can occur in the stomach and colon when improper digestion takes place. When you’re seeking relief from constipation, cramping, or bloat, add this herb to your meals.
Especially yummy is no-churn mint chocolate chip ice cream. We’re sure you’ll want a double scoop!
4. Parsley
Parsley acts as a natural filter for your body, along with the bladder, kidneys, and liver to detox and flush out any buildups in the body. The fresh, light taste liven up any pasta, vegetable, or meat dish.
Get a healthy energy boost with this Lean Green Smoothie. This detoxifying tonic will become your go-to when you’re feeling sluggish.
Make Lean Green Smoothie. Combine in a blender: 6 cups chopped romaine leaves, 4 stemmed and chopped kale leaves, 1 ½ cups water, ½ cup chopped pineapple, ½ cup parsley leaves, ½ cup chopped mango, 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped. Serves 2. (recipe adapted from Clean Slate by the editors of Martha Stewart Living)
Avocado, Cucumber, and Basil Soup
http://www.kandkmatwick.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mint-plant-woodenpot.jpg
| Yield: 5 |
Creamy, chilled green soup made with avocado, cucumber, and basil.
You'll Need...
- 2 avocados, halved, pitted, and cubed
- 3 cups cold water
- 1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled, trimmed, chopped
- Salt, pepper
Directions
- Blend 2 halved, pitted, and cubed avocados, 3 cups cold water, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add 1 medium cucumber, peeled, trimmed, and chopped, and pulse until chunky, about 5 times. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a large container and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. Stir soup well, and garnish with cucumber slices and whole basil leaves, if desired.
Additional Notes
vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free