Detoxing Foods You Need to Eat
We all know that we need to detox at some point. It certainly helps the body out. The definition of detoxing is this: abstain from or rid the body of toxic or unhealthy substances. It’s certainly helpful for when you want to lose weight and start exercising. Here are a few foods that help with the detox process. It’s nothing complicated or hard but you will feel better after.
Detox Food #1: Green Tea
Helps rid the body of free radicals. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed, these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominos. You don’t want that in your system.
Detox Food #2: Garlic
Garlic detoxs the liver. Garlic has high amounts of vitamin C, which supports your immune system and your liver. It also contains antioxidants, which help fight the free radicals in your bloodstream that are responsible for some of the effects of aging, as well as being linked to certain kinds of cancer and heart disease.
Detox Food #3: Onions
Raw onions not only provide an excellent taste for our palates, but provide therapeutic and antibacterial properties that cleanse and detox our bodies to eliminate disease. Onions have antihistamine effects due to quercetin, an antioxidant that acts like an antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory agent. In test tubes, quercetin has proven to prevent immune cells from releasing histamine.
Detox Food #3: Ginger
Ginger detoxs the liver and aids in digestion. Ginger is used in many popular cleansing programs, as it is thought to cleanse the body by stimulating digestion, circulation and sweating. Its digestive actions serve to cleanse the build-up of waste and toxins in the colon, liver and other organs. Detoxification enhances the body’s natural cleansing process, allowing it to build better defenses against illness and disease. It also helps to stimulate blood circulation, preventing clotting.
Detox Food #4: Lemons
Lemons detoxs the digestive tract. The natural cleansing qualities of lemon help reduce harmful bacteria. Juice from ½ organic, all-natural lemon can be mixed with purified water to help with liver cleansing, as well as respiratory problems, sore throats, and healthy skin. It helps the liver produce the necessary enzymes to maintain and alkaline condition in the body, and it has even been known to help with heartburn.
Detox Food #5: Beetroot
You can’t beat beets! Beets are full of vitamins B3, B6, C and beta-carotene. They’re also a valuable source of iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium — all necessary to promote optimal detoxification and elimination. Beets also support good gallbladder and liver health — organs that are paramount for breaking down and removing toxins. The high amount of fibre in beetroot improves digestion and helps eliminate bodily waste.
Detox Food #6: Sea Vegetables
Often known as seaweeds, these amazing foods house powerful antioxidants that help to alkalize your blood and strengthen the digestive section. The algin in seaweeds soak up toxins from the digestive tract in much the same way a water softener takes out the hardness from tap water. Sea vegetables offer a broad range of minerals of any food, containing all the minerals found in the ocean — the same minerals that are found in human blood.
Detox Food #7: Dandelions
Dandelions are thought to be a powerhouse food filled with nutrients that are essential for anyone regularly eating the “Standard American Diet” (SAD). They are a great source of minerals and give out a variety of phytonutrients. They’re super antioxidants that aid the cleaning of the digestive system and have great liver support. Try adding dandelion leaves to your salad.
Detox Food #8: Broccoli Sprouts
Broccoli is part of the powerhouse brassica family of vegetables. Broccoli has important phytochemicals that are released when they’re chopped, chewed, fermented, cooked or digested. The substances are released then break down into sulphorophanes, indole-3-carbinol and D-glucarate, which all have a specific effect on detoxification. Broccoli sprouts can actually provide more benefit than regular broccoli as they contain 20 times more sulfurophane. Add these to your salads and get creative with them in your meals.
Detox Food #9: Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are one of our favourite “superfoods,” flaxseeds have many uses. When detoxifying your body, it’s essential to ensure toxins are eliminated properly. Ground flaxseeds provide a wonderful source of fibre that helps to bind and flush toxins from the intestinal tract. They’re also a great source of health promoting omega 3 oils. Try consuming two tablespoons of gound flaxseeds in lemon water every morning.
Detox Food #10: Artichokes
Artichokes are not only a very tasty food, they’re also super healthy. Artichokes have been shown to increase stomach bile production and purify/protect the liver. They also have a mild diuretic effect on the kidneys, ensuring proper removal of toxins once the liver breaks them down.
Detox Food #11: Turmeric
Cur-cuminis the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, which gives it that lovely yellow color. The rate at which your detox pathways function depends on your genes, your age, lifestyle and a good supply of nutrients involved in the detox process. Cur-cumin is used a lot in Ayurvedic Medicine to treat liver and digestive disorders.
