Although this 3 day liver detox is aimed at Indians who have overdone the partying during Diwali it is equally good if you are suffering from the post Thanksgiving feast slump.
Rich food and alcohol tax the liver so this 3 day detox diet plan is a good way to reboot and get back on track whenever you end up eating and drinking more than you intended.
The diet was devised by Rachna Chhachhi, a fellow Nutritionist, who cured herself of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Ayurvedic treatments.
I was puzzled by the fact that she recommended wheat cereal for breakfast on the third morning because wheat is usually excluded on a detox diet. Rachna explained that this 3 day liver detox plan was aimed at the Indian palate (especially north Indians) and their digestive flora and that gluten is not an issue with 95% of north Indians.
I had to look up some of the dishes she includes but I have given the recipes below. Wherever you come from this easy three day detox will do you and your liver the world of good.
The Three-Day Detox Diet
This diet combines the goodness of fruits like papaya that are good for the liver, vegetables rich in nutrients required by the body, the soothing qualities of chamomile, as well as the role of herbs like mint and coriander in comforting the overloaded digestive system. The diet will make you run to the rest room, a required action to expel toxins.
Day One: Getting rid of the overload via fluids only
Morning: Warm water with lime juice and honey. Followed up by one liter of warm water.
Breakfast: A large bowl of papaya
Mid-morning: One glass raw fruit and vegetable juice, made with one orange, one carrot, one turnip and a dash of rock salt. Do not strain. You could dilute it.
One hour after the juice: A cup of green tea
Lunch: Clear vegetable soup
One hour after lunch: One orange and a bowl of papaya
Evening: Two cups of mint tea
Dinner (by eight p.m.): Clear vegetable soup
One and a half hours after dinner: One cup chamomile tea
Day Two: Starting back on solids
Morning: Warm water with lime juice and honey. Followed up by one litre of warm water.
Breakfast: Curd and 3-4 spoons of poha (see recipe for poha below) ( Whole milk yogurt is closest to Indian Curd)
Mid-morning: One glass raw vegetable juice, made with one carrot, one tomato, one turnip and a dash of rock salt. Do not strain. You could dilute it.
One hour after the juice: A cup of green tea
Lunch: A small bowl of khichdi and curd (see khichdi recipe below)
One hour after lunch: One orange and a bowl of papaya
Evening: Two cups of mint tea
Dinner (by eight p.m.): A light, watery soup with fresh vegetables
One and a half hours after dinner: One cup chamomile tea
Day Three: Getting the system rejuvenated
Morning: Warm water with lime juice and honey. Followed up by one litre of warm water.
Breakfast: Small bowl of whole wheat cereal with curd ( If you want to avoid wheat have millet instead)
Mid-morning: One glass raw vegetable juice, made with one carrot, one tomato, one turnip and a dash of rock salt. Do not strain. You could dilute it.
One hour after the juice: A cup of green tea
Lunch: Clear vegetable soup, you could drink two bowls of this. Do not put cornflour to make it thick.
One hour after lunch: One large bowl of papaya
Evening: Two cups of coriander tea
Dinner (by eight p.m.): A small bowl of khichdi (made fresh, do not use the previous day’s) and curd
One and a half hours after dinner: One cup chamomile tea
Poha (Pohe) Recipe
Poha is flattened rice. You will find it in any Indian store as thick or thin poha. It absorbs water well and very quickly so it cooks very quickly.
Ingredients
2 cups thick poha ( it comes as thick or thin)
1 Thai chili (minced)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped potato
1/4 cup sweet green peas
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp turmeric
1 lime
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste
Directions
- Wash poha with cold water and drain all the water. Set it aside.
- Now heat oil in a pan and throw in the mustard seeds.
When the mustard seeds start popping add chopped potatoes.
- Let it cook for about 5 minutes and then throw in the carrots and peas.
- Cook for another 4-5 minutes and then add chopped onion.
- Stirring occasionally let all the vegetables cook well. When you think vegetable are cooked according to you liking add a little salt and turmeric.
- Mix everything together and then add the washed poha.
- Turn heat to very low and gently mix all the ingredients, poha is very soft so you don’t want it to get mushy.
- If you think its a little dry for you as it sometimes happens, just sprinkle a little water on it and mix everything.
- Turn off the heat and cover your pan with a lid and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Serve it with a sprinkle of lime juice.
Khichdi Recipe
I know khichdi as kitcheree. It is also called by various other names but is a light and nutritious dish made from rice and lentils and is used in Ayurvedic Medicine. There are numerous recipes for it but for this 3 day liver detox the plain fairly bland dish that is used in North and Western India when people are sick is the best one to use.
3 day liver detox diet
Ingredients
1 cup white basmati rice, washed in water and drained
1 cup yellow lentils (Also known as yellow moong dal), washed and soaked in water and drained
About 4 cups of water
1/2 (half) teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon oil
Salt to taste
Directions
- Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot. (Preferably one with a cover, which will be able to contain the amount of rice and lentils cooked.)
- When oil is hot, add cumin seeds. Allow cumin seeds to splutter but do not let them get burnt.
- Fold in the yellow lentils and rice. Mix cumin seeds thoroughly with the lentils and rice.
- Stir in water and salt.
- Bring to boil.
- Lower the heat, partially cover the pot and cook until the rice is cooked.
- Serve hot with a sprinkling of coriander.
Your liver is kept constantly busy trying to keep up with all the toxic chemicals that get into your body on a daily basis so treat it to this 3 day liver detox diet. It will help you get you back on that healthy eating plan afterwards.
I’ve done this for the past couple of week. So easy and so great! Thanks for linking this up.
Glad to hear it helped Ely.
Sandy