Detox Support Pesto

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification is the process by of removing toxic substances or no-longer-needed compounds from our body. As our bodies complete thousands of processes each day, we build up metabolites, hormones, and other compounds that we need to eliminate. This natural detoxification system in our bodies requires a multitude of organs and nutrients working together to maintain optimal health. We need to provide detox support. This is when “food as medicine” really shines.

Our bodies carry out detoxification naturally when functioning optimally. The nutrients we consume make all the difference.

The organs involved in detoxification are the liver, gut, kidneys, and even skin. The most powerful detox organ is the liver. We can produce a profound impact on our health when we support the health of our gut and liver. The gut and the liver have a direct connection. This means that often when one is dysfunctional, the other will become as well. When we support out gut, we end up supporting our whole body.

Digestive disorders like IBS or gut infections like SIBO are not the only reasons why we would need to support our gut health. You can trace almost any healthy condition back to a disturbance. For example, in PCOS, gut imbalances are one of the 4 root causes. These imbalances can contribute to the other factors in PCOS like inflammation, estrogen dominance, and insulin resistance. The gut is one of the major detoxification pathways in the body. By supporting the health of our gut, we provide profound detox support.

This Pesto Recipe Is A Daily Dose of Natural Detox Support

This recipe produces a multitude of nutrients and compounds that are essential in the phases of detoxification. It also provides fiber and probiotics needed for gut health.

Probiotics from Fermented Foods

Adding fermented ingredients like raw, unpasteurized (keeps the bacteria alive) sauerkraut and plain kefir or yogurt will give a healthy dose of probiotics in this sauce. You can find raw, unpasteurized sauerkraut at many stores. Some of my favorite brands include Trader Joe’s, WildBrine sold at Costco, and Farmhouse Culture sold at most grocery stores.

Allowing the sauce to sit for a few days in the fridge will help increase the amount probiotic bacteria in the sauce. The probiotic bacteria help preserve this pesto to last up to 4-6 weeks in your fridge. It’s a fantastic way to make you fermented foods go further! 

Keep the pesto at cold or room temperature. Avoid adding to foods during cooking in order to keep all of the probiotic bacteria alive!

Detox Support Superfoods

The fresh cilantro, parsley, and lemon zest provide support for your liver (your body’s main detoxification organ & partner to the gut in digestion). If you want a more traditional pesto flavor, feel free to swap in fresh basil for the herbs. This pesto also provides an easy way to eat more nuts, seeds, herbs & olive oil to get a diverse array of minerals, vitamins, & antioxidants!

Nuts & Seeds

Feel free to use other combinations of nuts and seeds based on what you have on hand. I like varying my weekly pesto preparation with different combos of nuts and seeds. This provides a variety of detox supporting nutrients.

• Pumpkin seeds are one of the best natural sources magnesium (45% DV for 1/4 cup)
• Sunflower seeds are one of the best natural sources of Vitamin E (82% DV in 1/4 cup)
• Brazil nuts, in just a small handful sized portion of 2-3 nuts, provides over a day’s worth of selenium. This mineral is essential for detox as well as thyroid hormone production.

This Pesto is truly “Food as Medicine”

I make this pesto recipe at least once a week. I add a few scoops to my eggs with breakfast, my meat or salad with lunch or dinner, on top of a baked potato, mix into cooked veggies, or simply eat as a dip with rice cakes! This mixture is very flavorful & bursting with nutrients! Eating a few spoonfuls daily can significantly help improve bowel movements and optimize liver health for well functioning detox daily!

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