Detoxing your body generally refers to getting rid of toxins from the body. These toxins can negatively affect your health, contributing to headaches, indigestion, bad breath and cold and flu symptoms. Healthy foods combined with physical activity assist the body's natural ability to detoxify itself, resulting in increased energy levels and healthier skin and organs. Before starting a detox diet consult your physician.
Detox-Friendly Healthy Foods
Step 1
Eat vegetables and leafy greens as the foundation of your detox diet. Vegetables are nutrient-rich, a source of vitamins and minerals and contain dietary fiber. The fiber in produce helps push food through the stomach and digestive tract, allowing for the elimination of waste products.
Include leafy greens in your detox plan by filling your fridge with kale, spinach, swiss chard, algae, arugula and other organic greens. Organic foods are grown without the use of pesticides or additional chemicals, but should still be washed thoroughly prior to consumptions. Leafy greens are rich in chlorophyll which aids the liver in digestion and eliminates harmful environmental toxins from the body such as herbicides and pesticides. Incorporate them into your diet as salads, side-dishes with dinner, baked into omelets or stirred into veggie-rich soups.
Step 2
Fill your grocery cart with fruit when preparing for a detox. The high water content in fruits helps eliminate toxins from the body as it passes through the digestive and urinary tracts. Fruits are also easy to digest and rich in nutrients, vitamins and fiber. They are also a source of antioxidants that aid in the prevention of certain cancers and heart disease.
Be sure to include a variety of fruits into your daily diet including berries, apples, oranges, pears and kiwis. Ideas to incorporate them include pouring blueberries over your morning oatmeal, snacking on apples and pears, and using the juice from tangerines to make a citrus glaze over asparagus or chicken for dinner.
Step 3
Add garlic to your detox diet to help with the elimination of toxins from the digestive tract. Garlic aids in filtering waste products by stimulating the liver to product digestive enzymes that assist digestion. Incorporate garlic into any dish by slicing or chopping it up into a vegetable stir-fry, soup, salad or sauce.
Step 4
Flush out toxins by drinking green tea as part of a healthy detox plan. The water content of green tea aids in decreasing bloating and water retention in the body, as well as eliminating waste through the digestive tract. Green tea is also a source of the antioxidant catechins which aid in liver functions. Drink up to three cups a day with or between meals.
Step 5
Use healthy oils that are a source of omega-3 fatty acids while detoxing. These oils absorb toxins by lubricating the walls of the intestine, allowing them to pass through the digestive tract and be eliminated. Healthy fats are also essential for the absorption of vitamins and contribute to healthy skin and a glowing complexion.
Healthy oils include hemp, avocado, flax or olive oils. Use a small serving to add to sauteed stir-fries. vegetables for soups or drizzle over salads and leafy greens.
References
- Global Healing Center: 10 Foods That Detox The Body
- Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide To Healthy Eating; M.D. Walter C. Willett and P.J. Skerrett; 2005
- "The Fat Flush Foods"; Ann Louise Gittleman; 2004
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