When it comes to detoxing your body, there are many techniques you can follow as well as supplements you can take. One plan, in particular, is to eat detoxifying foods. These foods have properties that help your body's natural detoxification processes work more efficiently. They may boost your liver health or help digestion. They contain healthful vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Read on!
10 Foods That Detox the Body
Here is a list of 10 of the best detox foods. They are a great addition to anyone’s diet.
1. Fruit
Fruit is high in liquid-content which helps the body flush out toxins.[1] Fruit is also easy to digest and is high in antioxidants, nutrients, fiber, and importantly, vitamins.
2. Green Foods
Fill your refrigerator with barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, blue-green algae, alfalfa, chard, arugula, and other organic leafy greens to give your digestive tract a detoxifying boost of chlorophyll.[2]
Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products, and pesticides.[3] It also aids the liver in detoxification.
3. Lemons, Oranges, and Limes
Citrus fruit aids the body by flushing out toxins and jump-starting the digestive tract's enzymatic processes.[4] Lemon juice supports the liver and kidneys in their cleansing processes.[5] To increase detoxification, start each morning with a warm glass of lemon water.
4. Garlic
Garlic is one of the best detoxing foods out there. It stimulates the liver to produce detoxification enzymes that filter toxic residues from the digestive system.[6] I recommend adding sliced or cooked garlic to any suitable dish, as it will help any detox diet.
5. Broccoli Sprouts
Extremely high in antioxidants, the ability for broccoli sprouts to stimulate detoxification enzymes at the cellular level is unparalleled.[7] The sprouts are even better than the fully-grown vegetable.
6. Mung Beans
The mighty mung bean has been used by Ayurvedic doctors for thousands of years. It is incredibly easy to digest and absorbs toxic residue from the intestinal walls.[9]
7. Raw Vegetables
Whether juiced or eaten raw, onions, carrots, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, garlic, beet, turmeric, and oregano provide a great foundation for a healthy diet. The combination of these foods will help your liver purge toxins during the cleansing process. They are also high in naturally-occurring sulfur and glutathione — sulfur helps the liver detoxify harmful chemicals.[9, 10,11]
8. Seeds and Nuts
Incorporate more easily digestible seeds and nuts into your diet. Flax seed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, Siberian cedar nuts, and sunflower seeds are all excellent options. Avoid nut butter with added sugar, especially while detoxing.
9. Omega-3 Oils
Hemp, avocado, olive, or flaxseed oil are all high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help you detox by lubricating the intestinal walls. This allows toxins to be absorbed by the oil and eliminated by the body.[8]
Performing a Full-Body Cleanse
There is no way to completely avoid toxins. There are simply too many sources, such as contaminants in food and water, junk food, stress, smog, secondhand smoke, vehicle emissions, airborne fungal spores, and pesticides. Maintaining a diet high in detox foods is one of the best ways to maintain overall health.
However, even with the best diet, toxins creep in. I recommend a full body cleanse at least twice a year. You can boost your cleansing efforts by following the Body Cleanse Diet.
The first step to any full body detox is a thorough colon cleanse, and Oxy-Powder® can help with that. Oxy-Powder is a safe, effective, all-natural colon cleaner that uses oxygen and magnesium to gently cleanse and detoxify your entire digestive tract.
References (11)
- Sims, Daniel A., and John A. Gamon. "Estimation of Vegetation Water Content and Photosynthetic Tissue Area from Spectral Reflectance: A Comparison of Indices Based on Liquid Water and Chlorophyll Absorption Features." Remote Sensing of Environment 84.4 (2003): 526–537. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.
- "Chlorophyll and Chlorophyllin." Oregon State University. Linus Pauling Institute, 3 Jan. 2017. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.
- Davis, Thomas A., Bohumil, Volesky, and Alfonso Mucci. "A Review of the Biochemistry of Heavy Metal Biosorption by Brown Algae." Water Research 37.18 (2017): 4311–4330. Web. 1 Mar. 2017.
- Naidu, K. Akhilender. "Vitamin C in Human Health and Disease Is Still a Mystery? An Overview." Nutrition Journal 2.1 (2003): 7. Web.
- Penniston, Kristina L., et al. "Quantitative Assessment of Citric Acid in Lemon Juice, Lime Juice, and Commercially-Available Fruit Juice Products." Journal of Endourology 22.3 (2009): 567–570. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.
- Mirunalini, Sankaran, Vadivel, Arulmozhi, and Thangam Arulmozhi. "Curative Effect of Garlic on Alcoholic Liver Diseased Patients." JJBS Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences 3.4 (2011): n.pag. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.
- Ravikumar, Chandini. "Therapeutic Potential of Brassica Oleracea (Broccoli) - A Review." Journal of Developing Drugs 04.02 (2015): n.pag. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.
- Calloway, Doris Howes, et al. "REDUCTION OF INTESTINAL GAS-FORMING PROPERTIES OF LEGUMES BY TRADITIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL FOOD PROCESSING METHODS." Journal of Food Science 36.2 (1971): 251–255. Web.
- Calloway, Doris Howes, et al. "REDUCTION OF INTESTINAL GAS-FORMING PROPERTIES OF LEGUMES BY TRADITIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL FOOD PROCESSING METHODS." Journal of Food Science 36.2 (1971): 251–255. Web.
- Kim, B.-Y., et al. "Effects Of Asparagus Officinalis Extracts on Liver Cell Toxicity and Ethanol Metabolism." Journal of Food Science 74.7 (2009): H204–H208. Web.
- Conaway, C. Clifford, et al. "Disposition of Glucosinolates and Sulforaphane in Humans After Ingestion of Steamed and Fresh Broccoli." Nutrition and Cancer 38.2 (2000): 168–178. Web.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.