Toxins in the form of chemicals, preservatives, additives, dyes and pesticides contribute to an impure diet. However, you can purify your diet and significantly reduce these toxins by making a few simple changes. Modifications to the types of food you buy and consume contribute to a pure, healthy body.
Step 1
Choose organically grown produce. Instead of buying conventionally grown produce, purchase organic produce as much as possible. Conventional produce is loaded with toxic pesticides that are unhealthy and contribute to an impure diet and body. The Environmental Working Group has determined the 12 most contaminated foods, known as the "Dirty Dozen," which you should always buy organic. By avoiding the conventional versions of these 12, you can reduce your pesticide intake by almost four-fifths. The 12 foods include celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, kale and collard greens, potatoes, and imported grapes.
Step 2
Buy foods known as the "Clean 15." Fifteen foods are OK to buy conventionally grown because of their low pesticide amounts. These include onions, avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, mangos, sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, sweet potato and honeydew melon.
Step 3
Switch to a whole, plant-based diet. Eliminate processed, packaged foods from your diet, as most packaged foods are high in calories and fat but low in nutrients. They also contain a variety of chemicals and additives that your body does not need. Aim for 80 to 90 percent of your food to not come out of packages and wrappers. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans are all whole, pure food options.
Step 4
Stop consuming added sugar. Sugar is in many processed foods but also frequently added to meals and drinks. Sugar puts you at a greater risk for becoming overweight and developing diabetes and heart disease. One of the easiest ways to dramatically reduce your sugar intake is to cut out sodas from your diet. After you do that, begin to read food labels to ensure sugar is not in the ingredients list. Naturally occurring sugar from foods like fruit are healthy and do not need to be eliminated.
Tips and Warnings
- Take this one step at a time so the process does not become overwhelming. The biggest key is to eat fewer processed foods. Once you are on that path, the rest will slowly begin to fall into place.
References
- Environmental Working Group: EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides
- "Eat to Live"; Joel Fuhrman, M.D.; 2011
- "The McDougall Program"; John A. McDougall, M.D.; 1990
- "Ultrametabolism"; Mark Hyman, M.D.; 2006
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