10 Healthy Foods That Will Naturally Cleanse Your Body

January 12 2018

Most people live in a fast-paced world, always in a rush with barely enough time to carefully follow a healthy diet. As a result, we mindlessly stuff our bodies with foods that cause a lot of harm and put pressure on our organs. It might be working for now, but it will definitely come back to haunt us one day.

Here is a list of healthy foods you can easily incorporate into your daily diet that will naturally detox and cleanse your body from the toxins we are exposed to daily. How many of these do you already have on your menu?

10. Beetroot

This highly beneficial root contains iron, calcium, and a type of antioxidant called betaine, which is a plant pigment responsible for the distinctive red color. Betaine improves cell structure and repairs and regenerates the cells in our liver (the body’s main detox center). The liver defends your body from all the toxins you are exposed to, so adding a natural detoxifying vegetable will help a lot.

Tip: Steam or boil the reddish bulb with its skin to keep all the vital nutrients. Baking and roasting are also delicious options for a side dish. Using raw beets for a healthy smoothie is becoming more popular around the world. You can also grate them (raw) for a salad.

9. Onion and Garlic

Both contain flavonoids that help in the production of glutathione, one of the liver’s strongest antioxidants. They stimulate the liver to produce detoxification enzymes that filter toxic residues from the digestive system. In addition, they take some of the burden off this hardworking organ and have powerful antibacterial, antiparasitic, and immune-boosting properties.

Tip: Any detox diet must include these 2 ingredients. Raw or fried garlic can be a great addition to a salad. A homemade roasted garlic spread with a healthy cracker is a great detoxifying snack for your busy day.

8. Greens

Dark leafy greens give your digestive tract a detoxifying boost of chlorophyll. This plant pigment is responsible for the consumption of light in the process of photosynthesis, which creates energy. But besides this, it has the ability to connect with toxins and other free radicals to turn them into neutral materials. It also cleans the heavy metals that accumulate in our body.

Chlorophyll also has anti-inflammatory properties, and they alkalize the body to help get rid of the acidity of bodily fluids.

Tip: Modern foods are high in acidity, so make sure your kitchen is full of spinach, kale, wheatgrass, and other organic dark leafy greens. Add wheatgrass to your smoothies or juices. Make a delicious spinach soup or roast kale with olive oil and spices for your pizza kale chips.

7. Lemon Water

Citrus fruits are great for your digestive system because they are full of vitamin C and are rich in antioxidants. This powerful compound activates liver enzymes to help convert toxins into a water-soluble form and gives a kick to stagnant bowels. This means that all contamination can be easily washed out from your body.

Tip: Start your morning with a glass of lukewarm water mixed with the juice of one lemon or lime, a pinch of sea salt, and a little honey or maple syrup. Drink this mixture on an empty stomach to boost your energy level for the day and get better bowel movements and better skin.

6. Seeds and Nuts

If you can’t help munching on snacks, make sure they are healthy ones. Always keep handy a bag of nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, or sunflower seeds.

  • A regular intake of almonds will help you get rid of all the fatty deposits that build up around your liver.
  • Walnuts hold high levels of the acid arginine, which helps the liver to detoxify ammonia. They are also great for helping your brain to function better.
  • Flaxseeds boost your mood. When ground, they provide fiber to help flush out toxins from your intestinal tract. In other great news, flax fiber suppresses appetite and helps with weight loss.
  • Sunflower seeds provide magnesium, a mineral which keeps blood pressure levels normal, helps maintain a steady heartbeat, and boosts lipolysis (the process through which the body releases fat from its stores).

5. Yogurt

Yogurt is full of probiotics, and they supply healthy bacteria to fortify the tract’s natural flora, helping digestion and boosting the body’s immune responses. Basically, yogurt brings good bacteria into your gut to kick-start digestion and help you get rid of toxins.

Tip: Avoid “fat-free” or “low-fat” yogurts as they contain a lot of sugar. Choose yogurts with live or active cultures.

4. Dandelion or Green Tea

Dandelion helps the liver by straining and filtering toxins and waste from your bloodstream. Green tea is much richer in antioxidants compared to black or oolong teas, despite the fact that they all come from the same plant. The caffeine contained in green tea gives this energizing drink a diuretic effect, which helps to alleviate bloating by counteracting water retention.

Tip: Pick dandelions from your garden or on your next hiking trip. Brew them to create a simple and detoxifying tea that will keep you warm and healthy on cold days.

3. Ginger

Ginger is a common ingredient that lessens bloating, keeps the colon working properly, and frees it from waste and bad toxins. It is good for gas and nausea associated with parasite die-off. Ginger helps and improves stomach acid production, which, in turn, kills parasites and protects our bodies from infections. It also makes the digestive juices flow, which helps your digestive system be more efficient. This magic root boosts your metabolism and supports liver functions all day.

Tip: There are thousands of ways you can use ginger. Try ginger tea with honey and lemon, or add it to your smoothies, salads, soups, or anything else you cook or bake!

2. Carrots

Carrots are rich in glutathione and are one of the most powerful detoxing vegetables. They are also packed with beta-carotene and vitamin A. Carrots have great cardiovascular benefits and help improve your overall immune functions.

Tip: One way to detox your body is to stay away from any processed food for a day or 2. Munching on carrots and other raw vegetables and drinking fresh vegetable juice a few times a day will help you wash out plenty of toxins. Add green or dandelion tea to this, and you are good to go.

1. Cucumbers

Cucumbers rarely get the attention they deserve, even though they are full of benefits. One such benefit is detoxification of the body as they support the digestive tract and cleanse the liver. They help us stay hydrated and are a natural diuretic food, which means they help the body produce more urine to wash out toxins and waste from the blood and guts.

Tip: Cucumbers also reduce bloating and uncomfortable water retention, which is a great reason to have a few after a night of salty food or alcohol.

 

Sourced from Brightside.