When you hear the word “detox”, do you instantly think of the
Luckily, you can reap many of the benefits of detox in a healthy and natural way without torturing yourself.
One of the best ways to do this is to include detoxifying foods in your everyday diet.
Want to learn more about why you need to detox and how to do it naturally? Read on!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Benefits of Detoxing Your Body
Every day, we’re exposed to environmental toxins, such as food additives, plastic contaminants, and more.
While our liver filters out toxins and our bodies release them through sweat and urine, sometimes we need a bit of a detoxifying boost.
Some of the benefits of detoxing include:
- Better digestion
- Weight loss
- Increased energy
- Reduced inflammation
- Stronger immune system
- Healthy skin
- Improved mood
Therefore, detoxing regularly can also help you think more clearly and may even help reduce the signs of aging.
The 12 Best Detoxifying Foods
Eating foods that help your body detoxify more efficiently will make you look and feel better and improve your mental health. So, get started today by adding the following 12 foods into your meal plan.
1. Green Tea
Green tea in fact has been in Eastern medicine for centuries and is one of the healthiest beverages you can consume.
It also boosts the body’s production of detoxifying enzymes
2. Garlic
Garlic has a ton of therapeutic effects
So, to get the best effects, use fresh, organic garlic whenever you can.
3. Apples
The old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is more than a childhood rhyme! Apples contain pectin, which purges toxins like lead and mercury from your bloodstream.
Be careful, though, as apples are part of the “dirty dozen,” which is a list of the 12 most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables. Because of this, it’s worth your money to buy organic.
Also, green apples are great because they’re low in sugar. And If you want the best benefit, make sure you leave the skin on because this will give you the greatest amount of fiber.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric, also known as Indian saffron and is a well-known anti-inflammatory.
It also has many other benefits including antibiotic, antiviral, and antioxidant properties.
It’s recommended that you use turmeric as a spice to add to other foods or take a turmeric supplement
5. Blueberries
Blueberries offer an abundant source of antioxidants. Hence, it may also help to fight off cancer, protect the lungs, and lower blood pressure.
Therefore, eating blueberries can also help to improve vascular health, slow lung function decline, and may ward off Alzheimer’s Disease.
Try eating wild blueberries as they contain more antioxidants than cultivated blueberries.
6. Beets
Beets contain a ton of antioxidants and also encourage the body’s production of enzymes that support liver function and helps with detoxification.
Moreover, beet juice has been a popular trend for several years, so now is a great time for you to jump on the bandwagon and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.
7. Cilantro
Cilantro is a category of a plant known as chelators, which binds to heavy metals and allows the body to get rid of them.
Eating cilantro also can help reduce the amount of lead your body absorbs and encourages your body to excrete mercury toxins.
8. Lemon
Lemons have a high amount of citric acid, which protects the liver and prevents oxidative damage.
Since staying hydrated is critical for detoxing, consuming water with lemon in it is an excellent option for ensuring you get plenty of citric acid and H20.
9. Cruciferous Vegetables and Leafy Greens
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, and Brussel sprouts, while leafy greens include kale, lettuce, spinach, and dandelion greens.
Leafy greens contain chlorophyll, which is considered a detoxifier.
Cruciferous vegetables are high in fiber, which helps to eliminate toxins through your stool and bile. They also have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.
They may also help prevent cancer. Broccoli, in particular, can help protect the body against air pollution.
10. Ginger
Ginger is an excellent detoxifying food aside from being rich in phytochemicals, and it has long been used to help with digestion and stomach upset.
Since it helps improve the body’s ability to digest food and eliminate waste, it’s considered a powerful natural detoxifier. It also contains a ton of antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory effects, and may also have anti-cancer properties.
11. Avocado
In addition to being delicious, the avocado also has a large amount of fatty acids. Studies have found that these fatty acids can help to fight off d-galactosamine, which is a toxin that can do serious damage to the liver.
Since the liver is critical for detoxification, therefore consuming avocados will help support healthy detox functions.
12. Chlorella
Chlorella is a bright-green algae that brings many health benefits too. It can help lower LDL cholesterol, encourage weight loss, and may help reduce anxiety and depression.
It’s also effective at reducing liver inflammation, which aids in healthy detox.
Adding chlorella to your diet, toss a couple of teaspoons of the powder into your morning smoothie or juice.
Get Started with Your Healthy Lifestyle Today!
Now that you know how to incorporate detoxifying foods into your diet, you are ready to learn more about living a healthy lifestyle! Bookmark my blog and check back often. Here you’ll find plenty of informative and inspirational advice to help you live your best life.
Sources:
- "What is Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet)?." U.S News,
https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/master-cleanse-lemonade-diet - "Green Tea Boosts Production Of Detox Enzymes, Rendering Cancerous Chemicals Harmless." ScienceDaily, 12 Aug. 2007,
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070810194923.htm - Gorji, Ali, Bayan, Leila, Kolivand, and Peir Hossain."Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects." 2014,NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103721/
- Gunnars, Kris BSc. "10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin." healthline, 13 Jul. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric
- Nickle, Ashley. "2019 "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" lists released." PRODUCE Retailer, 20 Mar. 2019, https://www.produceretailer.com/article/news-article/2019-dirty-dozen-and-clean-15-lists-released
- Greger, Michael MD. "Best Food to Counter the Effects of Air Pollution." NutrionFacts.org, 24 Apr. 2017, https://nutritionfacts.org/video/best-food-to-counter-the-effects-of-air-pollution/
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