Detoxification diets are extremely popular these days, but can be dangerous. These diets can limit entire food groups, leading to an internal imbalance of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. You can accomplish the same goal by eating cleansing foods. When incorporated into your regular diet, these foods will give you the detoxifying effects that help the liver, kidneys and intestines do their job more efficiently and help the bloodstream stay free of harmful toxins and free radicals.
Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are a strong source of arginine, an essential amino acid that helps reduce the accumulation of lactate and ammonia in the blood, present after strenuous exercise. Normally, the liver is responsible for processing these chemicals, and arginine helps take some of the load off, letting the liver focus on breaking down other compounds in the body.
Apples
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," they always say. Apples contain a substance called pectin, a group of polysaccharides found in plant cell walls. Pectin acts as a soluble fiber, lowering total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol -- the bad cholesterol. Apples are easy to carry to work or school, and are a great quick snack.
Lemons
Lemons contain the powerful antioxidant, vitamin C, which helps eliminate free radicals from the body. Vitamin C is needed to make glutathione, which makes toxins in the liver water soluble, allowing them to be released from the body. Lemons also have potent diuretic properties, which can help reduce excess water retention.
Spinach
Spinach is one of the best sources of chlorophyll, the compound that is responsible for the green pigment in plants. Chlorophyll helps the liver to detoxify, cleanses the blood, and reduces DNA damage from exposure to certain types of carcinogens. Spinach is also a great source of essential vitamins and nutrients, important in fighting off disease and keeping the body healthy.
Wheat Bran
Wheat bran is an excellent source of insoluble fiber, which helps to cleanse intestinal tract. This helps the material in your large intestine to move through faster, cleaning the intestinal walls as it goes. This helps reduce the risk of colon-related diseases, such as diverticulitis and colon cancer.
Seaweed
A traditional food in many Asian countries, seaweed is now readily available in many grocery stores. Seaweed binds to heavy metals in the intestines, preventing them from being absorbed into the body. Heavy metals include mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic and aluminum, all which are of no use to the body and have the ability to cause harm in higher concentrations.
Water
Water is the most important cleanser of all because it is responsible for carrying out toxins in the blood and organs through the kidneys. This keeps toxins from building up. Water is also a key component in many of the chemical reactions that take place in the body, making the system run more efficiently. Without enough water, any efforts to cleanse your body by eating certain foods will be in vain.
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