Foods You Should Avoid on a Detox Diet

Here is a list of foods to avoid as part of the detox diet plan. Replace these foods with these detox-friendly foods (see the list). To get more information on some key ingredients, like how to use them, check out our top 20 detox foods and get meal-by-meal suggestions.

• Eggs
• Milk
• Cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Sour cream
• Butter
• Ice cream 
• Mayonnaise

Instead of the dairy products on the list above, opt for organic, probiotic-rich kefir and yogurt.

Give your system a break for a week and experiment with some alternate grains. Avoid wheat and products containing wheat, such as:

• Pasta
• Bread
• Bagels
• Crackers
• Breakfast cereal

Besides wheat, avoid other gluten-containing foods such as barley, bulgur, rye, triticale, wheat bran, wheat germ, couscous, einkorn, farina, emmer, faro, graham flour, kamut, matzo, spelt, and semolina. Although oats don't contain gluten, they are often processed in plants that produce gluten-containing grains. People with a gluten allergy or sensitivity should avoid them or opt for gluten-free oats.

Opt for fresh fruit and spices that have a sweet taste like cinnamon. Use natural sweeteners sparingly, such as honey, maple syrup, fruit jams, and fruit compotes. 

• Refined sugar
• White sugar
• Brown sugar
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Artificial sweeteners

All gluten-containing grains, including wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut, couscous, bran, and farina, should be avoided during this week. There are many gluten-free options on the list of foods to eat. 

Cut back on caffeine from coffee, energy drinks, and soft drinks. Instead, try green, matcha, oolong, or white tea, which generally have less caffeine. Or enjoy caffeine-free herbal tea. Rooibos tea and spice tea are good non-caffeinated options. If you are used to drinking coffee and are finding it difficult to cut back, try black tea instead.

• Coffee
• Soft drinks
• Energy drinks
• Alcohol

• Beef
• Pork
• Veal
• Sausages and hot dogs
• Deli meats and cold cuts
• Canned meats

• Shellfish
• Foods that tend to have moderate-to-high mercury levels, such as king mackerel, orange roughy, swordfish, tuna (bigeye, ahi, albacore, yellowfin), tilefish, bluefish, grouper, and mackerel (Spanish, gulf).

Avoid any condiment not made with the allowed ingredients. 

• Non-dairy creamers
• Barbeque or steak sauce
• Salad dressings not made with allowed ingredients
• Mayonnaise
• Spreads not made with the allowed ingredients
• Ketchup
• Regular chocolate (with sugar and dairy)

• Food additives, color, and preservatives
• Shortening
• Margarine