Detoxifying Tahini Chicken Salad
INGREDIENTS
Detoxifying Tahini Chicken Salad
Serves 1, as main
2 cups arugula
1/4 c cilantro, fresh
1/2 c shredded chicken (or preferred portion)
1 large carrot, grated
1/3 or 1/2 avocado, diced
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 gluten free tortillas, to serve (optional)
For the dressing
Makes extra!
1/2 c tahini
2-3 tbs apple cider vinegar, to taste
3 tbs olive oil
2 tsp pure maple syrup (to taste)
3 tbs filtered water, to thin
2 pinches quality salt (like pink himalayan)
METHOD
For the dressing: Add all ingredients to a jar and shake vigorously until combined (make sure that lid be tight!) If it’s too thick, add a little water to thin - this will depend on how thick your tahini is.
For the salad: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Add as much dressing as you would like, and stir to evenly coat. You want to add enough for it to be nice and moist.
You can eat it just like this, or you can throw it into a GF tortilla for a chicken salad wrap (I like cassava tortillas from siette). Heat the tortilla to make it more malleable, or toast it entirely and crumble into the salad (so good).
Enjoy!
LET’S TALK DETOX
We are exposed to hundreds of toxins every day. In our food, our home, our body products, and the environment. We also naturally create toxins within our own bodies as byproducts of certain processes.
We are designed to be able to detox, but we need to consciously support the detoxification system, especially with the amount exposure we have to toxins today. This salad is full of detoxifying arugula, cilantro and protein (more on that in a moment).
In the simplest terms, liver detoxification involves three phases. In Phase I, toxins are released into the bloodstream as preparation for Phase II, where the liver binds them with the necessary biochemicals so that they can be carried out of the body through bile, urine and stool. Phase III is where the transportation actually occurs, and this requires a well functioning digestive system.
The problem that often occurs is an imbalance between Phase I and Phase II, where Phase I is up and going, but Phase II is sluggish. This leads to a build up of toxins recirculating in the body. Phase I also produces free radicals which require antioxidants to prevent damage, so Phase I without Phase II is not good for our body.
There are specific nutrients to support each phase of detoxification. While many think of vegetables and herbs for detoxification, protein is also incredibly important because it helps drag toxins out of the body in Phase II. Amino acids in protein are also required for making important antioxidants like glutathione, which are needed for proper detoxification.
I’ll expand more on all of this in a future post on detoxification, but the point is that detoxification is not just about greens and herbs. Protein is just as important! So don’t just do a juice cleanse friends - If you’ve ever heard of someone getting ill from an intense juice cleanse, this might be why!
Have you grabbed my FREE detox guide yet?
If not, click below! In it you’ll learn the nutrients that support detoxification and what foods to emphasize in your diet.
HORMONE BALANCE
I couldn’t leave this recipe without noting its amazing hormone balancing properties. Detoxification is a key player in balancing hormones, but in addition to being detoxifying, this salad has hormone balancing sesame seeds (tahini). Sesame seeds are helpful for both PCOS and estrogen dominance. It’s even mildly beneficial for low estrogen so it’s very versatile hormone balancing seed. The easiest way to get therapeutic doses of sesame is with tahini.
XO