Diet Plans Other Diets Print Foods to Avoid on a Detox Diet By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on June 29, 2016 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on March 22, 2020 Detox Diet Overview How It Works Pros and Cons How It Compares Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images Looking for a list of foods to avoid as part of the detox diet plan? You've come to the right place. 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. Foods to Avoid on a Detox Diet Here are various foods that you're better off without if you're looking to detox. Dairy Products and Eggs EggsMilkCheeseCottage cheeseSour creamButterIce cream Mayonnaise Instead of the dairy products on the list above, opt for organic, probiotic-rich kefir and yogurt. Wheat and Gluten Foods Give your system a break for a week and experiment with some alternate grains. Avoid wheat and products containing wheat, such as: PastaBreadBagelsCrackersBreakfast 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. Sugar and Sweeteners 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. Sweeteners to remove during your detox are: Refined sugarWhite sugarBrown sugarHigh-fructose corn syrupArtificial sweeteners Beverages 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. Avoid the following beverages during your detox. CoffeeSoft drinksEnergy drinksAlcohol Meat BeefPorkVealSausages and hot dogsDeli meats and cold cutsCanned meats Fish and Seafood ShellfishFoods 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). Condiments Avoid any condiment not made with the allowed ingredients. Non-dairy creamersBarbeque or steak sauceSalad dressings not made with allowed ingredientsMayonnaiseSpreads not made with the allowed ingredientsKetchupRegular chocolate (with sugar and dairy) Other Foods to Avoid Food additives, color, and preservativesShorteningMargarine Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get yours! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit