Feeling sluggish or out of sync? Having skin problems, aches and pains, or digestive problems? Straying from your healthier habits lately? Having trouble kicking off your weight loss? It might be time for a body detox.
Practiced for centuries by many cultures around the world — including ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems — detoxification is about resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.
How does detoxification work?
Basically, detoxification means cleaning the blood. It does this mainly by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities aren’t properly filtered and every cell in the body is adversely affected.
A detox program can help the body’s natural cleaning process by:
1) Resting the organs through fasting;
2) Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body;
3) Promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin;
4) Improving circulation of the blood; and
5) Refueling the body with healthy nutrients.
Brazil Nuts
Yes, you read that right. These tasty treats are packed with selenium, which is key to flushing mercury out of your body. However, watch your intake. You don’t want to have too much mercury in your system, as the folks at Sparkle Wellness & Detox point out.
Goji Berries
Replace boring old raisins with nutrient-dense Goji berries to boost your vitamin C and beta-carotene intake. Vitamin C can help remove waste from your body, while beta-carotene improves liver performance.
Seaweed
Sneak some seaweed into your smoothies to help cleanse your body of lead, cadmium and the radioactive chemical strontium. As an added bonus, seaweed is full of iodine, which is a natural metabolism-booster
Onions
This ubiquitous kitchen staple is as healthy as it is tasty. It’s brimming with sulfur-containing amino acids, which efficiently detox the liver. Raw onions deliver the most health benefits, so whip up a batch of tasty bruschetta with dinner tonight.
Sesame Seeds
Eat these seeds on their own or enjoy them in a tasty tahini sauce to help protect your liver from alcohol and other toxins.
Beets
This brightly coloured root vegetable is a great source of betacyanin, which has cancer-fighting properties. Plus, it’s full of magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium to help flush out toxins.
Basil
Who knew the Caprese salad’s star ingredient was such a nutritional powerhouse? Basil has anti-bacterial properties, and it’s full of antioxidants to protect the liver.
Ginger
Kick your natural detox process into high gear by adding ginger to your diet. It spikes your metabolism and flushes out waste. Plus, a recent Columbia University study found that eating more ginger just might keep your appetite in check.
Pineapple
This tropical delight contains bromelain, a digestive enzyme that helps cleanse your colon and improve digestion.
Artichokes
These are chock full of silymarin, an antioxidant that helps your liver process toxins, and cynarin, an acid that supports your liver’s ability to break down fatty foods.
Avocados
Bring on the guac! This creamy Mexican staple does a great job of cleansing your colon, thanks to its bounty of insoluble and soluble fibre.
Cinnamon
Rev your metabolism with a dash of delicious cinnamon. It makes everything taste better, plus it’s full of iron, calcium and manganese. The World’s Healthiest Foods points out that manganese is great for helping your body process fatty acids and keep blood sugar levels stable.
Apples
Everybody knows apples are good for you (they do keep the doctor away, after all). But did you know that they’re also a detox superstar? They’re nutrient-rich, plus they contain pectin, a soluble fibre that helps remove food additives and metals from your system.
Fennel
If you’re going through Twizzlers-withdrawal, chomping on some fennel might help. It’s a root vegetable that tastes like licorice, and it’s packed with dietary fibre that will help you flush out toxins and boost digestion.
Parsley
Those pretty green leaves don’t just make your plate look great. Parsley boasts plenty of beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and K to protect your kidneys and bladder.
