Feel Good Mediterranean Detox Salad

This Feel Good Mediterranean Detox salad is packed with protein, crunchy veggies and herbs that support the body’s cleansing process, topped with a simple honey Dijon dressing to die for

How does salad detox the body?

Protein, herbs, and fresh vegetables in a salad can significantly contribute to the body’s detoxification process in several ways:

1. Protein: Consuming protein helps the body build and repair tissues and produces enzymes that are crucial for detoxification. Proteins, especially from sources like lean meats, legumes, and nuts, contain amino acids which support liver function, the body’s primary detox organ. A healthy liver is essential for processing and eliminating toxins
2. Fresh Vegetables: Vegetables are rich in fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help combat oxidative stress and promote the detoxification process. Leafy greens like spinach and kale are particularly effective because they help detoxify the liver and are rich in chlorophyll, which can bind to toxins and help eliminate them from the body. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, contain compounds that support the body’s detox enzymes
3. Herbs: Fresh herbs, like parsley, cilantro, and dandelion greens, have been shown to aid in detoxification. They can help stimulate digestion and improve liver function, promoting the elimination of heavy metals and other toxins. A bonus: herbs are rich in antioxidants, further supporting the body’s natural detox capability and immune system (the immune system must be strong to eliminate toxins!)

Ingredients you will need

Roasted, seasoned chicken: We roasted a chicken breast for this salad, but you can use leftover roasted chicken or rotisserie chicken. Just be sure it is minimally marinated, or not at all as you want to avoid added sugars and preservatives

Feta cheese: Goat or sheep’s feta work well in this salad and offer a nice, salty flavour. Feel free to eliminate the cheese and substitute it for extra chickpeas so you don’t miss out on the protein

Leafy greens: All leafy greens are healthy! Rotate through a variety of greens that offer different textures, like kale, Romaine, spinach, and lettuce

Chickpeas: For ease and convenience, we used canned chickpeas. Be sure to rinse canned chickpeas well, especially if you find that beans and legumes can be difficult to digest

Red onion: Red onion provides nutrients but also alot of flavour. Chop it up well so you get just a hint of it in every bite

Olives: We love black olives, but green could work if they are your preference. They are loaded with healthy fats and flavour

Cucumber: Just half of a long cucumber, chopped up finely is all you need for fibre, crunch, and a lovely fresh texture

Lemon: Serve your salad with a wedge of lemon. It brings everything to life when you squeeze it as you are serving the salad, plus it gives an extra boost of vitamin C, which is important when detoxifying the body

Fresh parsley: Fresh herbs are loaded with minerals and vitamins, and they taste so fresh, especially in a detox salad. Cilantro, basil, and mint would also be nice additions

Other ingredients to add in: Green onion, tomatoes, bell peppers, roasted Brussels sprouts, chopped apple, roasted cauliflower, raw broccoli florets, walnuts, flax oil, a variety of leafy greens, like kale, and different herbs like cilantro, mint, or basil

One serving of this salad provides 14 grams of protein.