I’ve been eager to try one of these juice cleansers that has been rocketing the market in the past year. The idea of detoxifying has become a trend, both for foodies and non-foodies. While keeping your body and mind in shape, you need to take care of the inside. By cleansing and releasing the toxins from your body, you’ll have a lighter, healthier and better feeling.
But not everyone can have or take the available detox treatments, juicers, and supplements that are being sold in the market, worldwide. I think that’s good news. We have alternatives – natural and effective. Detoxify your body by eating food that can contains essential nutrients and elements that are known to remove toxins from the body, the natural way. Have a glass of some fruits or make yourself a cool veggie drink, and a whole lot more.
Nori. High in protein, vitamin A and B vitamins, iron, and calcium, this popular sea vegetable makes a great addition to your detox meal solutions. It’s great for digestion and helps in breaking down the fats. Make yourself some sushi or any kind of roll using nori or seaweed paper and have a great healthy meal anytime of the day.
Cruciferous Vegetables. This family includes the famous cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and many more. These powerhouse veggies contain nutrients and anti-cancer properties that aid in detoxifying and fighting carcinogens in the body. Broccoli sprouts are good sources of antioxidants that help in stimulating detox enzymes in the digestion system. Add them to your favorite salad mix and enjoy your meal while getting a detox on the side.
Citrus Fruits. These are some of the most popular fruits in the market. I’m talking about oranges, lemon and limes, and lots, lots more. Oranges are very rich in flavonoids, antioxidants that release damaging free-radicals, and aid in fighting cell damage and other diseases. Citrus fruits are very powerful antimicrobial and antiseptic chargers that eradicate decomposing bacteria from the mouth, all the way down to the intestines. Aside from that, these are also good sources of vitamin C which can help you boost your immune system. Have fresh oranges daily, or get yourself some freshly squeezed citrus fruit juice, or make a salad dressing. There are lots of ways to make citrus fruits very useful for your detox needs.
Cinnamon. This sweet and versatile spice makes a good detox partner for you. Cinnamon works great in regulating glucose level and in increasing the process of converting glucose into energy (glucose metabolism). It is also very effective in increasing blood circulation and decrease intestinal gas. You can add a dash of cinnamon to your lemon juice or mix it with honey and water to make a sweet and cleansing drink.
Dark Chocolate. Yes, it’s on the list of detox foods. Apparently, dark chocolate (made of more than 60% cocoa) contains pholyphenols and other antioxidants such as flavonoids which prevent LDL or bad cholesterol from oxidizing and eventually creating clogs in the arteries. Consume at least 4 bites of dark chocolate a day. You don’t wanna gain extra pounds instead of detoxifying, wouldn’t you?
Berries. This rich-colored family would make us really proud when it comes to antioxidant properties in each fruit. Along with antioxidants, they are also rich in phytochemicals which keep cancer cells off the bay.
- Raspberry is a rich source of phytochemical element, ellagic acid.
- Wild blueberries, on the other hand, contain higher levels of antioxidants that the cultivated ones.
- Strawberries is also a very good source of polyphenol phytochemicals and almost the same antioxidant properties, but contains lesser ellagic acid as compared to raspberries.
- Cranberries contain almost the same antioxidants and anti-cancer properties as that of wild blueberries. This is greatly consumed as juice or can be in a dried form and added to salad mixes.
Garlic. This is the most common thing that you can find in your cooking ingredient list. Make that best out of garlic and include it in your detox meals. It has properties which are antibacterial, antiparasitic, and anticarcinogenic in nature, which makes it a perfect detox element. It also acts as stimulator for liver detoxification enzyme production and aids in filtering out toxins and residues out of the digestive tract. Raw or cooked, garlic is one of the food that you need to keep in mind for your detox diet.
Green Tea. This is definitely one of the healthiest drinks that one needs for any detoxification process. Green tea is very rich in antioxidants, plus, it is in a liquid form which helps in flushing out toxins from our body. It also contains catechins, a very special type of antioxidant which has been recognized in increasing liver functions.
Apples. An apple a day, keeps the doctor away. True enough, apples are very good sources of essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals and flavonoids which are popular for their high antioxidant properties. Phlorizidin, a type of flavonoid, is thought to aid in stimulating bile production, of which the liver needs for it to cleanse away toxins. They are also high in pectin, which helps in removing LDL and any toxic metals in the body. Apples also make great partners when it comes to cleansing the gallbladder as it can soften up gallstones, enough to be flushed out of the system.
Carrots. This might be the reason for Bugs Bunny’s slender physique, as he eats carrots like, all the time! Carrots contain very essential nutrients such as Vitamin B, C, E, D, and K, beta-carotene, proteins, phosphorous, calcium, zinc, and loads of other nutrients our body need. I might need to try some of that fresh carrot juice to keep my skin glowing as the beta-carotene in carrots apparently fights against age-accelerating toxins that can attach and harm each and every cell in the body. Detox is best made especially when it’s in a liquid form. So add some carrot juice or soup into your diet and live healthy.