Detoxification involves the process of removing toxic substances from your body. Detox diet requirements vary, but they typically involve a period of fasting followed by a strict diet of raw vegetables, fruits and water. MayoClinic.com reports that there is no scientific evidence that validates the effectiveness of consuming detox foods as a way to flush toxins from the body. Contact a medical professional before detoxing.
Citrus Fruits
If you want to detox your body, add citrus fruits to your daily diet. Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and limes are rich in water and vitamin C, antioxidants that can convert toxins into digestible material. Citrus fruits help flush toxins out of your body by cleansing your liver and initiating the enzymatic processes in your digestive system.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Dark green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, collard greens, mustard greens, romaine lettuce and Swiss chard can aid in the detoxification process. These vegetables are good sources of vitamins A, C, and K, folic acid, iron, fiber and calcium. According to the Global Health Center, green leafy vegetables also contain chlorophyll, a green pigment that aids in liver detoxification by removing harmful environmental toxins such as smog, heavy metals, cleaning products and pesticides from your body.
Raw Vegetables
Detox your body by adding raw vegetables like onions, carrots, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, garlic and beets into your diet. The Global Health Center states that raw vegetables are naturally rich in sulphur, a mineral that aids in the detoxification process by removing harmful chemicals from your liver.
Seeds and Nuts
Snacking on seeds and nuts can cleanse your liver and help remove toxins from your body. Seeds and nuts like flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds aid in the detoxification process because they are easily digested and expelled from your body.
Oils
Oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids like hemp, flax-seed, avocado or olive oils can aid in the detoxification process by lubricating your intestinal walls, absorbing unwanted toxins and flushing those toxins from your body.
Green Tea
Adding green tea to your daily diet may help you remove harmful toxins from your body. A 2007 study conducted at the Arizona Cancer Center and published in the journal "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention," found that concentrated chemicals in green tea may stimulate production of key detoxification enzymes in people who are low in these proteins. According Sherry Chow, Ph.D., the study's lead investigator, participants who took green tea catechin concentrate showed an 80 percent increase in detoxifying enzymes. The results indicated that green tea concentrate may help the body defend itself against toxins that can cause cancer.
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