America's most well-known detox doctor has a new weapon against fat and poor health: hearty, soul-warming soup detox packed with antioxidant-rich veggies.
“There are endless delicious variations that can do amazing things for your body,” promises Elson Haas, M.D., author of the dozen landmark natural-health guides including Staying Healthy with NEW Medicine (Buy on Amazon, $15.99). “I wanted my patients to have a relaxed option to traditional cleanses, and that i found soup is a fantastic option.”
Don't wish to follow a formal plan? Simply replacing your usual dinner with healthy plant-based soup will stimulate healing and help your body expel toxins faster. “Once that occurs, you'll begin to release fat much more easily.” Folks report his detox strategies have helped them feel amazing as they drop 15 pounds – and more!
There are lots of ways Dr. Haas' soup works waist-shrinking magic. For starters, a huge portion of the comforting stuff. – made with your choice of veggies, potatoes, broth and seasonings – has about 500 fewer calories than a regular home-cooked meal and 1,000 (or more!) fewer than takeout.
Soup meals also ensure extra liquid gets into our systems, that the doc says helps flush away bloat. “If you're poorly hydrated and don't have the best eating routine, you may be carrying as much as 10 pounds of water weight or 'false fat,'” he says. “Losing bloat is among the first indications you're detoxing and improving your health.” And that's just the beginning.
An Exclusive Peek at Dr. Haas' New Plan
To use Dr. Haas' latest detox, stick closely using the menu for seven to Ten days. Next, transition to menus built around lots of veggies plus moderate levels of fruit, healthy starch, natural protein (mostly or entirely from plants) and good fat. For at least fourteen days, continue to avoid caffeine, sugar, wheat, dairy, red meat, fried foods, and alcohol (that are inflammatory and trigger cravings). Of course, obtain a doctor's okay to test any new plan.
Detox Lemonade: In glass pitcher, mix 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup maple syrup and 1/2 tsp. cayenne in 1/2 gallon water; chill. Sip upon waking. Rinse mouth with plain water when finished.
Breakfast: Have a bowl of fruit; if desired, wait 30 minutes and have oatmeal with nut milk, spices and optional stevia. To amp results, drink liver-boosting dandelion tea.
Lunch: 1 large salad with your selection of raw and cooked veggies, 2 Tbs. raw nuts/seeds, essential olive oil, vinegar and herbs to taste; enjoy with an optional glass of fresh veggie juice.
Soup Detox Superpowers
Dr. Haas says there is not one magic ingredient in the soup- instead there are hundreds: You literally flood your system with plant compounds proven to heal and protect. Every day, university researchers find a new substance or benefit. For instance, thylakoids in greens act as fat blockers and therefore are associated with 43 percent faster weight loss. Meanwhile, flavonoids in foods like onions and broccoli improve blood sugar levels and activate “skinny genes.”
Then there's the detox factor. “Antioxidants and lots of other micronutrients from plants have been shown to boost the natural processes through which the body gets rid of toxins,” Dr. Haas explains. Because we're subjected to so many toxins nowadays from sources like low-quality food, pollution, chemicals and mold, our livers can't always eliminate them in a timely manner. “Toxins end up embedded in fat tissue, and that fat becomes tough to lose,” says Dr. Haas. “As they're released, 'unburnable' fat may also be released.”
Dr. Haas adds that trapped toxins can cause massive, systemwide inflammation that affects from the brain and heart to microscopic mechanisms of our cells. “Reduce your toxic load, and inflammation quickly subsides, which sets off a chain result of health improvements.” Metabolism increases, digestion improves, pain subsides. “Inflammation puts force on the immune system,” explains Dr. Haas. “Once it's gone, the body is much better in a position to protect itself.” He adds the inflammation factor is a huge reason he's a fan of plant-based soup. “Animal protein breaks down into acids that increase inflammation. By comparison, plant foods have a potent anti-inflammatory effect. Plants get the best detox soup undoubtedly!”
The Soup Detox Recipe
Dr. Haas' go-to soup recipe makes seven hearty servings.
Ingredients
- 6 cups chopped non-starchy veggies (for example greens, onion, cabbage, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms)
- 2 cups chopped root veggies (potato, carrot and/or beet)
- 3 tsp. minced garlic
- 1 tsp. ginger
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- 1 qt. vegetable broth Fo r serving: sea salt, black or cayenne pepper and olive oil
