Souping. It’s like Juicing only soup.

*Please consult with your physician before beginning any detox program.

Are you feeling sluggish? Is your skin looking a little rough?  Having trouble concentrating, losing weight, or struggling with digestive issues?

Well, it might be a good time for a detox.

Detoxing helps to rid the body of toxins and waste, infuses it with key nutrients, and helps to restore balance and health.

While many detoxes or cleanses require fancy juicers or subscription services, all you’ll need for the one that I am about to recommend is a stove top, a few key ingredients, and a large Dutch oven or saucepan.  That’s because, rather than sipping all day on juice concoctions, you’ll be enjoying delicious, warm, broth-based soups.

Eating soups is a very gentle way to cleanse, and for many people, it is much easier than juicing because it is more filling and satisfying.

Before you jump right into a soup detox, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

1.  Avoid all creamy chowders and anything that comes from a can due to the preservatives and sodium- unless you’re keen on looking puffy and bloated.  It’s probably best to make your own soups so that you know exactly what ingredients are included.

2.  Incorporate as many fresh, healthy ingredients as possible blending them thoroughly to ensure that the nutrients are absorbed by the body.

3.  Flavor your soups with seasonings that provide health benefits [link to read about these], such as cinnamon, ginger, garlic, and turmeric, rather than additional salt.

4.  Even though soup is hydrating, it is important to drink at least two quarts of pure water each day to flush out toxins.  Add in some fresh squeezed lemon to maintain pH levels, keep your immune system strong, further eliminate toxins, and strengthen your liver.

5.  Replace all of your daily meals and snacks with as much soup as you want for three days.  Again, make sure that the soups are broth-based and nutrient dense, such as Eat Your Greens Detox Soup, Detox Green Soup with Broccoli, Spinach, and Ginger, Veggie Detox Soup, Green Detox Soup, Ginger-Carrot Soup, Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup, and Watermelon Gazpacho (which is a more palatable breakfast option).

6.  Relax as much as possible, and incorporate a little meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises into your day to manage stress.  Deep breathing is especially important because it oxygenates our cells and stimulates the lymphatic system (which helps to remove toxins from our bodies).

As long as you don’t celebrate the end of your detox with a hot fudge sundae, you’ll probably experience a post-detox high for several days that includes more energy, clearer skin, stronger mental clarity, and lower stress levels.