A healthy and gluten free sense of well-being

What does "detoxification" mean?

Although the term "cleansing” is common, it’s not something defined by the experts. Scientifically speaking, there is no cleansing. If one speaks of "cleansing" or a "cleansing cure", cleansing the body of unhealthy substances can also include those cases of gluten intolerance! It's not only about losing extra pounds. If you want to have a "cleansing week," there’s no need to count calories. It's all about choosing the right foods. Ideas for gluten free dishes can be found in our recipe database. Of course, if you reduce the potions a little during the diet week, you may lose some weight. Stick to the well-known proverb: eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a lord and dinner like a pauper.

The main focus of a cleansing nutrition week is to support those excretory organs that are responsible for the disposal of metabolic residues – i.e. intestines, kidneys, skin, liver and lungs - while at the same time supplying the body with as few new unhealthy substances as possible. The most suitable foods for this are cooked or raw vegetables, lettuce and fruits, as can be seen on Level 1 of gluten free food pyramid. As they contain many healthy vitamins and fibre, there is no limit to the quantity you can eat. The following varieties are preferred thanks to their cleansing effect:

• Artichokes: These have a digestive effect, the bitter substance cynarine stimulates the metabolism of the liver and bile.
• Jerusalem artichoke: The "diabetic potato" is low in calories and saturated with the fibre inulin.
• Kale: It contains a lot of vitamin C and lutein, which plays an essential role in sight health.
• Asparagus: The tasty spring messenger has a diuretic effect due to the aspartic acid and high potassium content.
• Tomatoes: The tomato’s red dye, lycopene, has a particularly strong antioxidant effect and therefore strengthens the body’s defence.
• Herbs: Fresh herbs contain many organic substances that support the excretory system. Optimal for seasoning!
• Psyllium or Plantago seed: These contain fibre that swells in combination with water to cleanse the digestive system.

• Papaya: Its strong antioxidants act as radical scavengers, as well as supporting fat burning. It’s also high in vitamin C and potassium which helps against dehydration.
• Pineapple: Rich in enzymes which help digest proteins and burn fat.
• Berries: Berries, especially blueberries, have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. Their plant dyes also have a stabilizing effect on the blood vessels.
• Pears and Apples: Both fruits provide pectin, a water-soluble fibre that helps detoxify the body from heavy metals and lowers cholesterol levels.

• Use as little fat as possible during cooking, favouring stewing and steaming over frying.
• Use high quality olive oil to dress salads, which helps the body to absorb vitamins.
• During the diet, reduce the use of sugar and salt, also when preparing food. For seasoning, use fresh herbs instead of salt.
• You should completely abstain from coffee and alcohol.
• Plenty of exercise is highly recommended, especially out in the fresh air; walk briskly every day for half an hour - in all weathers.
• And last but not least: drinking at least one-and-a-half to two litres of liquids a day during the gluten free cleansing week, is highly important in order to flush out substances that pollute the body. Choose from natural mineral water, fruit spritzers from juices without added sugar, and unsweetened herbal or fruit teas. Especially recommended are green tea and rooibos tea, as they contain ingredients designed to trap free radicals. Liquorice tea detoxifies the digestive system of poisons and nettle tea, which dehydrates and strengthens the immune system.

Fats are an important part of the gluten free diet! They provide the body with energy, act as a carrier of flavours and aromas and transport essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins into the blood. In other words, the body cannot use the vitamins of a carrot without fat or oil. Healthy fats linger longest in the stomach, and fats satisfy the appetite for a long time. They also help control blood pressure, ensure a healthy cholesterol level and regulate inflammation in the body.

Generally, the rule is: the higher the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, the healthier it is for our body.

• Bad fats are made up from the so-called saturated fatty acids, such as in butter, cookies, chips and fries.
• Good fat, on the other hand, is rich in unsaturated fatty acids.
• Omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids are healthy fats found in various oils (olive, walnut, linseed, rapeseed), nuts (earth, macadamia, pecans), avocados and oily fish (Salmon, herring).