Biochemical reactions and harmful substances you may inhale or swallow produce waste products that are toxic if they build up in your body. Metabolic enzymes inside the body are responsible for eliminating these toxins and keeping cells clean and healthy. Certain foods help in this detox process, and eating them is preferable to following any of the popular detox diets, according to the Mayo Clinic. Do not embark on any detox diet without consulting your doctor.
Garlic
Air pollution, ultraviolet light and cigarette smoke increase the number of harmful free radicals that can damage cells and contribute to heart disease, cancer and aging. Garlic is rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals and is a natural detox food. Because garlic contains allicin, it may kill bacteria-causing ulcers and fight viruses, although sufficient evidence supporting this is lacking, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although garlic is a healthful detox food, it can thin your blood and cause side effects such as headache, upset stomach, bloating, muscular aches and dizziness, so always consult your doctor before increasing the amount of garlic you eat or taking garlic supplements.
Foods Containing Flavonoids
Foods rich in flavonoids may help detoxify your body, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, because they have anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Fruits, vegetables, tea, wine and fruit juices contain these polyphenolic compounds, which include chalcones, flavones, catechins, isoflavones and anthocyanidins. Spring onions are a good source of flavonoids that you can use in your salads and casseroles. Other flavonoid vegetables include eggplant, broccoli, kale, celery and parsley. Soybeans are another good source of flavonoids, as are thyme, tomatoes, purple grape juice, tea and red wine. Although flavonoid foods are healthful detox foods, get approval from your doctor before designing your detox diet.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Certain vegetables contain glucosinolates that become isothiocyanates in your body, which help inhibit steroid hormones that produce certain cancers, including prostate and breast cancers, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These natural detox vegetables are known as cruciferous vegetables and include kale, Brussels sprouts, horseradish, mustard greens, bok choy, cabbage and broccoli.
Green Tea
The first clinical study to offer evidence that green tea aids body detoxification was published in 2007 in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention." The study suggests green tea helps in the production of glutathione enzymes that defend the body against cancer-causing chemicals. Green tea may also protect the liver from the toxic substances found in alcohol, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Drinking green tea, as well as fruit juices, is both a natural and gentle way to help detoxify your body.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Do Detox Diets Offer Any Health Benefits?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- Linus Pauling Institute; Antioxidant Activities of Flavonoids; Dr. Donald R. Buhler; updated November 2000
- Linus Pauling Institute: Cruciferous Vegetables
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
- ScienceDaily: Green Tea Boosts Production of Detox Enzymes, Rendering Cancerous Chemicals Harmless
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