Sunday, January 6, 2013

Detox Soup


Detox Soup

Need a quick detox from too many parties, holidays, and overeating?
 This 4 day soup detox is healthy and will get rid of the extra pounds quickly. 

Last weekend, we attended three parties: 

Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday night.
Need I say more?


I enjoyed the parties , but when I stepped on the scale on
Monday, I wasn't happy.

Slimming, Scales, Health, Lifestyle

I've been enjoying the festive season, but festivities can be fattening.
 I was sharing my woes to my good friend Anne. She said that when she needs to get off the junk, cleanse, lose a few pounds and detox, she spends 4 days detoxing the easy way.


The Healthy and Easy Way to Detox

She makes a big pot of delicious vegan vegetable detox soup and eats it for lunch and dinner.

She read about this type of detox in one of her weight loss books. 
It's healthy, filling and cleansing.

The very next day after my confiding to her,  Anne presented me with a huge container of her soup,  enough for me for two days. 

That was four days ago, and since then I took off five pounds and never felt hungry or dissatisfied in the least. 

Diet, Fat, Health, Weight, Healthy, Loss
I even went to my book club pot luck dinner and guess what I brought? Everyone loved it!

Soup, Vegetables, Pot, Cook, Cooking

I made a pot of that soup, and I ate it for dinner along with a salad that someone else brought. I just called it vegetable soup.

This detox is easy and works for 4 simple reasons
  • It's short term - just four days
  • Convenience- once you make the soup in advance- it's always ready when you are hungry.
  • No choices- that keeps me on track
  • Healthy,  filling and tasty- full of vegetables and beans
  • The high fiber and protein helps stabilize blood sugar to eliminate cravings
Also , Since I haven't been starving myself or eating restrictive foods, I'm able to maintain the weight loss once I go back to my regular healthy eating habits.

Can't do it for 4 days?
Even 2 days can help you detox some of the bloat

The best part is that there is no steadfast recipe.
You can substitute any non starchy vegetable or bean in your recipe. 

Don't like kidney beans? Add black beans. I added spinach to my 2nd pot of soup and my daughter in law Wendy added green beans to a soup she made.

* Do not add potatoes, butternut squash, or sweet potatoes if you want to lose weight.

From: Gluten Free A-Z Blog
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Slow Cooker Cook Time: 3 hours
Stove Top Cook Time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

1/2 medium cabbage, chopped (about 6 cups)
1 28 ounce can of organic only chopped tomatoes (or 6 fresh chopped fresh tomatoes roasted)
1/2 cup organic tomato paste
1 and 1/2 cups uncooked red or brown lentils, washed
2 cups of cooked kidney beans with liquid ( or 1 organic can with juice )
4 large organic carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
10 fresh green beans
1 large organic red pepper, chopped
1 package of sliced mushrooms, or any dried mushrooms
1 onion chopped
4 -5 cloves garlic, pressed
fresh cracked pepper to taste ( I also added 21 Salute salt free seasoning from Trader Joes which is a salt free seasoning like Mrs Dash with lots of herbs in it)
8 cups filtered water depending on the size of your pot
4 cups vegetable broth 
a few sprigs of fresh basil
a few shakes of ground hot pepper ( optional)

 Easy Directions:


Crock Pot Directions
Put everything into the slow cooker on high for 3 hours and then  change to low for another two hours if the lentils are not soft enough

Regular Pot Directions:
Use a few sprays of olive oil to a very large soup pot and add garlic and onions. Stir for a full minute and add then add cabbage and stir for another full minute. Add the carrots, celery, red pepper, tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, and lentils , beans, seasoning and water. Bring to a boil and allow to cook on high for about 15-20 minutes uncovered. Add the raw mushrooms and turn down heat to simmer and cover the pot. Allow to cook for about 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours until your lentils are nice and soft. I like to make mine in a pot- I like the taste better.

***Remember this is a low salt soup to help you detox! It will not be salty like regular soups. If you absolutely cannot palate soup without salt, then add one container of clear vegetable soup broth of your choice when it's done cooking.

Salad, Fresh, Vegetables, Tomatoes
Feel free to eat salad with lemon juice with your soup for lunch or dinner you will still be ok. If you find you are really hungry, eat 1 large boiled potato at lunch!


cabbage soup vegetables, cabbage soup

Remember, you can substitute the vegetables and beans to any beans or vegetables of your liking.. use any kind of non starchy vegetables and any kind of beans. You won't be hungry and the best part is that your meal is always ready and waiting for you

Don't have a crock pot/slow cooker? Just make the soup in a pot.. tastes even better


Want another great way to detox and lose weight? Try Drinking this- works great!

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. The information in this post is for educational information only. ALWAYS check with your doctor before making any changes in your diet. Do not try this detox without asking your doctor first.


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To see the many other healthy gluten free recipes, healthy living tips, kitchen and blogging ideas that I pin each day, follow me on Pinterest Gluten Free A-Z


132 comments:

  1. Great idea!! 4 days? Hmm...may give this a go!

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    1. You will see a difference and your will want to do it from time to time.

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    2. Judee, can you eat as much as you want of the soup a day or limit to twice a day?

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    3. Eat as much as you want within reason. Maybe 2 bowls at lunch and 2 bowls at dinner. You can also eat a green salad (lettuce, cucumber, radish, some tomato, celery, red cabbage, with lemon juice sometime during the day. no oil

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    4. Do you know how many calories per serving? Thanks so much!

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    5. Could someone calculate the calories? I really need the exact amount for my diet, or at least the serving size...? I find it hard to believe no one has figured it out. The soup is wonderful! I just need to be able to log it

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    6. I use my fitness pal, and I just plugged in all of the ingredients. when i made mine I added 4 cups of chicken broth low-cal low sodium, and 4 cups of vegetable broth and then a little bit of water to make up the difference. the total for 1 cup of soup comes out to about 66 calories, 14.8g carbs, 0.3g of fat & 4.8g of protien.

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  2. I'm with you. I just finished a 2 day detox using green smoothies and a similar soup. (It has fennel, oregano, paprika and a smidge of cayenne in it -- delicious!) I feel much better today and have gotten rid of the awful sugar cravings. Back to good health.
    Good luck to you!

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    1. It does work when you do it. Good for you.

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    2. Judee what was a typical breakfast?

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  3. do you have a suggested serving size? one cup for lunch and dinner?
    looks great!

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    1. Its full of fiber and low in calories eat as much as you want or need to satisfy yoursel..

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  4. I usually eat at least a bowl. The first and 2nd day I am usually the hungriest. Don't limit yourself, but don't over eat. Eat a bowl, wait 20 minutes and if you are still hungry have another bowl. It has no fat, no added salt, full of fiber and healthy veggies and beans. I lose weight even if I eat it between meals. I also have 2 fruits /day and eat a salad if I wish. For breakfast , I have an apple or pear and I usually end up eating my first bowl of soup around 11:00 - let me know if you have any other questions.. Good luck.. let me know how you do..

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    1. thank you, I am making this for next week in my new crock pot!

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  5. Judee Thanks! I tried to comment as a real person but it won't let me! I have been eating a normal - small portion breakfast and yes day two is harder! My mom and I added green beans instead of mushrooms and it turned out great. Adding a lot of ground pepper helps also!

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    1. It's a versatile soup and as long as you don't add additional carbs, you should do great. Make it the way you enjoy it.

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  6. Your soup looks delicious. It definitely sounds nutritious too. It's great that it is such a flexible recipe :)

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  7. I'm on day 2 and I just love this soup....just wondering .... do you have nutritional info?

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    1. Sorry I don't. But I know its full of fiber, vegetables, and protein from the lentils. Feel free to eat a salad everyday with it too

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    2. You can go to Spark People and use their recipe maker ... add the items you put in your soup and it will give you all the nutritional info.

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    3. Thank you for that idea! I'm sure many will find it very helpful ..

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  8. So I know everyon is different but how much weight were you able to lose in the 4 days?

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  9. Do you have to use cabbage? I hate the smell & taste!
    Alli

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    1. Cabbage is high in fiber and nutrients, but since you only do the detox for four days you could probably leave it out. ( substitute broccoli or cauliflower? )

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  10. I think it gives you the fiber and nutrients you need. Leave it out and let me know your results

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  11. Any suggestions specifically for replacing the mushrooms? This looks delicious!

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  12. can you add tomato paste or sauce to this recipe? I have mine on cooking now and when I tasted it , it had a watery flavor. It to me, tasted like it needed more tomato flavor.

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  13. This looks great, but how big is the half-bag of lentils? I have my lentils in a jar from the bulk section. Thanks!

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    1. 5 ounces.. but you could add more or less depending on your taste.

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  14. How often can you do the four days? Can you do it longer than four days at a time? I have been looking for a good cleanse that actually works, but I need to lose more than 4 or 5 pounds.

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    1. This detox soup is filling , but I'm not sure about more than 4 days... I have not done it more than four days.
      This is a quick detox.. not a long term weight loss...
      Some people do eat a salad everyday with the soup and a piece of fruit.
      They still do well ..

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  15. Hi! This detox soup looks yummy & super healthy! Can you suggest a substitute for the beans? Thanks!

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    1. Honestly, the beans give you protein, fiber, and nutrients. It's the part of the soup that fills you up.. If you leave out the beans, I think you will be hungry.. If you are not a vegetarian, try chicken .. if you are try tofu..Let me know how you do

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  16. Lentils often give me a mild allergic reaction - is it okay to sub with more/different beans, or are the lentils their own special kinda thing? What would you suggest?

    I've been starving lately and eating like a cow, and I feel like I need something to help reign me back in - hopefully this is it!

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  17. I believe that any kind of beans would work. It's the fiber and there is protein in it

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  18. I needed to find this recipe a couple weeks ago. Saving for the next time. :) Thanks for linking up to Gluten Free & DIY Tuesdays. I hope to have you back again next week.

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    Replies
    1. Perfect for the fall and winter when you need a little more than juice

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  19. Thanks so much for linking up at Teach Me Tuesday last week! You are very much appreciated! Hope to see you again this week. Starts tonight at 8pm CST.

    Have a great week!!

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  20. Thank you for posting this - I found it on Pinterest! Made the soup yesterday and it turned out great :-) I wish I knew the nutrition info regarding calories, fat, and protein, but I assume it's low in all. Ate it all day today and had an apple around 5:30pm. I hope to keep doing this the next couple of days.

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  21. Hi Judee,
    I need to make me a pot of this and have it on hand for the party season. Hope you are having a great fall day and thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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    Replies
    1. detox soup tastes really good. I bet your guests would love it.

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  22. Do you think I could cook it on low while I'm at work (about 9-10 hours total) and it wouldn't be soggy?

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    1. I'm not sure. I find that when I cook cabbage to long in the crock it gets overcooked an I don't care for it.
      Try it and let me know.

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  23. Hi Judee,
    There's nothing I love more than a hot, hearty detox soup especially in cool weather months. Thank you so much for sharing this healthy and delicious Detox Soup recipe at the Plant-Based Potluck Party Blog Hop! I sincerely appreciate it.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Deborah,
      I love your healthy blog carnival and get so many wonderful recipes from it. Thank you for hosting it and thank you for featuring this popular soup detox this week.

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  24. Is it really 20 cups of water? My crockpot only fit 8 and it's a good size crockpot. I planned on adding water throughout the day.

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  25. 20 Cups?? Really? Any tips on enhancing the taste a little? maybe low sodium chicken stock?

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  26. I use the water because it cooks down and is flavorful with all the vegetables and lentils that impart into the soup. If you add some tomato paste that helps. You want to keep the salt level down, if you have a broth the is not high in sodium ( even low sodium is usually 300 mg /cup) then see how it works. Let me know if you use the broth and still lose the weight! Good luck

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  27. Would the cook times be different in a regular pot on the stovetop? My crock pot isn't big enough to hold 20 cups of water. :/

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    1. you can cook it until the vegetables are soft and it tastes like soup. You can cut down the water to 14 if you are using a large crock pot.

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  28. Would the cook times be different in a regular pot on the stovetop? My crock pot isn't big enough to hold 20 cups of water. :/

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  29. I just found your blog Judee. I think I stick around for awhile.

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    1. I hope that you stick around and find lots of recipes that you love

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  30. I just made this last night, but could not get twenty cups of water in even in my large stock pot. More like twelve, hopefully it still works! Thank you for this recipe, it is also delicious.

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    1. I have a really large crock pot. I have to adjust the recipe for smaller crock pots. Thanks for the feedback. Let me know if it worked for you

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  31. In the picture, it looks like there is also zucchini in it. Does the pic match this recipe?

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    1. You are right! As I mentioned in the post, you can substitute vegetables of choice- whatever non starchy vegetable that you have on hand- stay away from potatoes, winter squash, sweet potatoes etc. Use low calorie low carb veggies.. good luck

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  32. Is the recipe as you posted it for 8 meals (4 days)?
    Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Since you do not have to limit portion size. The recipe will depend on how much you eat per meal eat. Eat until you feel satisfied.

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  33. Thank you very much for the recipe. It looks delicious.

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  34. Do you keep it boiling in the crock pot for 4 days ? If not, how do you store the soup. Thank you.

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    1. No. Once it is cooked. Remove and store in the refrigerator and heat

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  35. What should you do for breakfast? Will any fruit work?

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    1. I actually ate a hard boiled egg for breakfast- fruit is fine but not too much as it has a high sugar content This detox is designed to regulate blood sugar and thus cravings The fruit might set you off. I wouldn't eat it for the 4 days

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  36. I just made mine! I'm so excited to see how it goes and taste. Do you have any suggestions on breakfast? Sheila

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    1. FYI- I lost 5.6 pounds in 4 days eating this soup.

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  37. Can I eat this while breastfeeding? How much of a " detox" is it?

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    1. You would need to check with your doctor. The soup is healthy, but it is designed to detox.

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  38. I have this soup made up, but could only get 8 cups of water! Any suggestions?

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    1. Bigger pot ! or try it with the 8 cups and add water as it cooks down.

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  39. I put all ingredients in and only added around 10 cups of water my pot was full, nervous is that okay?

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    1. As the water cooks down, you can add a cup or two at a time. Don't worry about the amount of water.

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  40. What did you put on your salad that you paired with it? Type of dressing? Thanks!

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    1. lettuce, tomato, cucumber, scallion, radish, grated carrot

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    2. I used lemon juice for the dressing. do not use low calorie bottled dressing as it will interfere with the detox

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  41. Made this and had it for lunch! It is delicious! Took out mushrooms and added zucchini, summer squash and celery. Also through in a bay leaf. It was SO good and had SO much flavor! My husband and I are excited to eat it for dinner too! This is so good I would serve it as a dinner regularly through the fall and winter! Thank you!

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  42. Any idea of calorie count?

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  43. I am gonna make it soon I'm thinking of adding a little low sodium chicken broth....

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    Replies
    1. The idea is to cut out the salt to detox. It might work for you. Please let me know

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  44. Has anyone figured out the nutritional information yet? That would be super helpful!

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  45. Can I replace the lentil with extra kidney beans and zuchini and get a similar detox effect?

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    1. You should be fine. you need the lentils for fiber and protein and the kidney beans will serve as the same. Any not starchy vegetable added is fine.

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    2. I haven't figured it out since the recipe is versatile ( you can vary the vegetables and beans) . In addition, the detox and weight loss is designed to work without worrying about how much of it you have eaten.

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  46. The idea is to cut out the salt so your body can detox. It might still work for you. Please let me know

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    1. Loving it so far! What do you suggest for breakfast? I normally make a sandwich with an English muffin, turkey bacon, Swiss cheese and egg white. I don't want to effect the detox, though. Should I leave out the English muffin, bacon, etc.?

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  47. I salted it, not realizing that leaving it out was basically the point. Do I need to make a new pot to use it as a detox? And even with salt, pepper, and tomato paste, I thought it was really bland. Any seasoning suggestions besides Trader Joe's? (We don't have one nearby.)

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    1. Not familiar with Trader Joe's seasoning, but Vegemaire is available on Amazon & AMZ also has a 2-pack of TJ's for $9.99. If you have PRIME, you can get it in two days. Or I would also suggest - - as a last resort - - getting an ingredients list for Joe's and crafting your own using that as a guide.
      Or
      Google "recipes, homemade copycat Trader Joe's 21 Salute salt free seasoning" There are a lot of copycat recipes out there. This certainly looks worth the effort if one is inclined.

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  48. What can I drink throughout the day besides water ? Can I have tea?

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  49. I added the ingredients into sparkpeople recipe calculator and it came out to about 170 calories per serving. Can't wait to try it!!

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  50. Will one pot last the four days?

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  51. Has anyone figured the calories in this

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  52. Question. Can I put the soup in the blender and have it that way? Don't like vegetables 😯

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  53. Looks Like About 160 calories, .5grams of Fat, 144 mg of sodium, 591mg potassium, 28 grams carbs, 12.1 grams fiber, 5.2 grams of sugar, 11 grams protein per serving for 20 servings per pot,

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  54. Replies
    1. It has been a very popular post and I get so many great comments on it. thanks

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  55. Can I use black beans and kidney beans and add more non starchy veggies? Or does it have to be either or

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    1. Misty,
      You can use any non starchy veggy you would like. Also black beans and kidney beans are fine. You want the fiber but not starch, fat, and salt for this detox.

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  56. Any suggestions on what I can have for breakfast. I usually have oatmeal (plain). Or egg whts w/peppers and onions.

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    Replies
    1. Hi,
      That is a good question.
      Drink warm or hot lemon water upon rising.
      A fresh green juice ( not smoothy ) kale, celery, carrots, cucumber, 1/4 beet juiced and mixed with 4 ounces of water would also be good.
      eggs are fine once a day for breakfast only .. but no fat added.
      Skip the oatmeal - no grain on this detox

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  57. Thank you so much for this recipe. I added a bean mixture to it which is full of lentils both green and red, white beans, kidney beans, black beans and some other ones. I also added a little Himalayan salt because it needed a little more flavour to me and yellow zucchini :)

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  58. I saw this soup on Pinterest this afternoon, had all the ingredients on hand.... its in the crockpot now! I cannot wait to try it. I am a "soupaholic" and always looking for new soups! This one looks spectacular!

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  59. If you did this soup with salad and fruit for four days, then afterwards have 3 days of normal eating and resume the four days again. I was curious because it sounds hearty enough to eat as an actual meal.

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    1. I'm not sure about the fruit-as it is high in sugar. salad is great.. did you try it?

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  60. I just dumped everything in the crock pot. I cannot wait to try it! But since I need to lose a lot of weight, any suggestions on how often I can do this four day regimen? I was thinking once every two weeks or once a month.

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    1. This can be combined with eating salads and even an egg for breakfast. I am not a doctor and can't really tell you what's right for you ( check with your doctor) but I know people who have added a hard boiled egg for breakfast and had a salad everyday and took a vitamin and did it every 2 weeks.

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  61. Hi Judee! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! This was cooking in my crockpot all day today and I am now having my first bowl and it's so delicious! There is def more than enough for lunches this week. A few switches I made were using spinach instead of cabbage since I had that in the fridge already and added 2 bay leaves. I might add a little bit of chicken to the soup next time. Thanks again!

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  62. I'm not a big fan of mushrooms, but would broccoli be alright as a substitute?

    Also, can I eat this more than twice per day if I am hungry?

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    1. There is no problem adding the broccoli if you like the flavor. I'm not sure how broccoli would taste stewing in the crock pot. Maybe try making some in the regular pot with broccoli and not as much to see if you like the flavor,.. Let me know.

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  63. Do you just eat one hard boiled egg for breakfast? Is there anything else I can eat other than that and the salad?

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    1. Personally, I usually try a large cup of hot water with fresh lemon juice . Then I might eat a hard boiled egg a little later and then the soup for lunch, dinner and even a snack. I only eat a salad if I am really hungry,. The soup is filling on its own.

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  64. Are the red peppers bell peppers? I'd like to make this and want to double check before I go shopping. Thanks!

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  65. Yes.. red bell peppers.. good luck with the soup- If you want to add a good vegetable or chicken broth that is low calorie, it would work too..

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  66. I'm defo gonna try this will get back to you how I went , oh do you have to miss breakfast ?

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  67. Brenda,
    I juiced a green juice for breakfast. I also sometimes had one hard boiled egg .
    I also ate salad with lemon juice for dinner if I wanted more, but the soup is filling. I ate as much soup as I needed to fill me up! Let me know how you do!

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  68. I'm doing a cleanse for 3 days and still got to have a dinner so I think this will do the trick thanks :)

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  69. Cooking this tonight but I modified it combining ingredients from a weight loss recipe I found. Chopped red pepper and zucchini and no salt crushed tomatoes Italian style in place of some of the water.

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  70. Hi! The breakfast part of this is unclear to me...you just eat 1 hard boiled egg?

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  71. A 4 day detox diet might not be so hard to do. Here's a great article about our guts and the importance of a healthy one. (https://www.drlam.com/blog/microbiome-gut-flora/23823/)

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  72. My family will love this hearty soup. And best of all it's good for us. I like to detox every so often as well. Thank you for sharing your healthy and delectable Detox Souprecipe at the Healthy Happy Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I'm pinning and sharing.

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  73. Congrats Judee! Your post is Featured at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty. See here: http://grammysgrid.com/wednesday-aim-link-party-24/

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  74. My family LOVED this soup and begged for more. We didn't do it to detox,but loved the results just the same.

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Your comments are appreciated. I love knowing who is stopping by to read my posts! Have a great day.

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