Detox with Vegetable Broth

With the start of the new year, many of us are looking for ways to become more healthy, which might start with some kind of detox process. People have different ways of defining what “detox” means. Detoxification is another word for cleansing. We need to get rid of any toxins that might be living in our body so that we can feel healthy, balanced and truly at our best. When we feel good, we feel more alive and more present, which in turn allows us to give more to our family, be available for our friends and excel at our work. We should all strive to feel our best and it all starts with getting your body balanced and free of toxins. Cleansing the body of unwanted toxins is a great way to start the new year and one key element is detoxing with vegetables.

Why cleanse with vegetables, you might ask? Various vegetables and herbs have detoxifying properties. Dandelion, for example, which is considered to be a liver tonic by practitioners of Chinese medicine, enhances the flow of bile in your body, improving the function of your liver and also healing liver conditions like gallstones and jaundice. Also wonderful for cleansing the liver is the herb turmeric, which is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.

Dr. Mao writes in his Secrets of Longevity Cookbook about how he discovered the cleansing vegetable broth recipe used for ridding the body of toxins: “In 10th century China, many people were falling ill from poisoning, caused by mercury coating often used to beautify objects like spoons and utensils. As it happens, this recipe, slightly modified, was used to heal people suffering from poisoning.”

Using such a broth for detoxifying the body has been done for over a thousand years. The vegetable broth recipe includes the most important vegetables for detoxification and is used as part of our Detox Menu at Tao of Wellness.

The detox protocol at Tao of Wellness consists of a special diet that includes vegetable broth, acupuncture, tuina bodywork and far-infrared heat therapy. It’s used as well for weight loss, heavy metal detoxification, chemo and radiation detoxification, and overall well-being. We also offer nutrition consultations that can provide you with a customized nutrition guide to meet your specific needs.

Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the cleansing vegetable broth recipe below or if you would like to make an appointment for our detox protocol or a nutritional consultation.

Here is the recipe for our Cleansing Vegetable Broth, which can also be found in Dr. Mao’s Secrets of Longevity Cookbook.

Cleansing Vegetable Broth

• 1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped
• 1 bunch kale, chopped
• 1 bunch mustard greens, chopped
• ½ head white cabbage, chopped
• 1 bunch dandelion greens, chopped
• 1 cup Brussels sprouts, chopped
• 1 large daikon radish, diced
• 1 bunch watercress, chopped
• 4 ounces kombu or wakame seaweed
• 6 dried shiitake mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 leeks, sliced
• 1 fennel bulb, chopped
• 1 4-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground star anise
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• Chicken stock, as needed, optional
• Red chili flakes, optional

1. Put all of the ingredients into a large stockpot and fill it with enough water to cover vegetables, but at least 2 inches below the rim of the pot. Set the pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour.
2. Using a mesh strainer, remove the vegetables and set aside. Continue cooking the broth for an additional 15 minutes to strengthen the flavor and reduce slightly.
3. Let the broth cool completely in the pot before transferring to glass jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze in airtight glass containers for up to 1 month.
4. Reheat before serving.
5. For cleansing and detoxification, consume 3 cups a day.