A healthy body detox is important because harmful substances in the environment find their way into your body and biochemical wastes need to be eliminated. Normally, metabolic enzymes carry out this detox process, but a healthy detox diet is an additional help in the removal of body toxins. Healthy dietary detox solutions include drinking green tea and eating cruciferous vegetables, garlic and foods rich in flavonoids.
Foods Rich in Flavonoids
Several foods rich in flavonoids that make healthy detox snacks include celery, apples, berries and cherries. To help your body rid itself of toxins, rather than turning to one of the much-publicized fad detox diets, treat yourself to snacks composed of these flavonoid-rich foods throughout the day. A healthy diet that includes generous servings of fresh fruits and vegetables is preferable to any detox diet, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other foods that contain flavonoids are onions, spring onions, kale, cranberries, broccoli, parsley, soybeans and tomatoes. These foods prevent blood clots from forming in your body, help to inhibit the growth of tumors and act as anti-inflammatory agents to keep you healthy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Nevertheless, consult your doctor before designing your detox solution.
Cruciferous Vegetables
The phytochemicals in fresh vegetables have anti-cancer properties. Potent detox vegetables are the cruciferous vegetables that contain sulfur, nitrogen and glucosinolates. Glucosinolates break down inside your body into phytochemicals called isothiocyanates that combat cancer cells. In particular, they may also prevent steroid hormones from promoting prostate or breast cancers, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cruciferous vegetables are therefore healthy detox solutions. They include broccoli, kale, cabbage, mustard greens, cauliflower, horseradish, Brussels sprouts and watercress.
Garlic
Although you may not like its sharp taste, fresh garlic is a good, healthy detox solution. Garlic is a potent natural detoxifying food, rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals that damage cells and contribute to cancer, heart disease and aging. The allicin that garlic contains may kill bacteria that cause ulcers, or have antifungal or antiviral properties. However, scientific evidence confirming this is lacking, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. Do not take garlic supplements, nor increase the amount of garlic you eat, without consulting your doctor. Garlic can thin your blood and cause headaches, upset stomach, dizziness, bloating and even muscular aches. If more garlic is recommended to you, add it raw to your salads and use it in your oven casseroles.
Green Tea
Healthy detox solutions include many drinks you can prepare throughout the day. Fruit juices contain healthy detox antioxidants, and cranberry juice, purple grape juice and pomegranate juice are good choices. Tea contains flavonoids that are anti-inflammatory. Drinking green tea, in particular, produces an increase in metabolic enzymes that belong to the glutathione family that defend the body against chemicals causing cancer and toxins that can damage cellular DNA. This was determined by research at the Arizona Cancer Center published in "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention" in 2007. Red wine contains detoxing flavonoids and, on occasion and in moderation, can help you in your detox program.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Do Detox Diets Offer Any Health Benefits?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamins: Phytochemicals
- Linus Pauling Institute: Cruciferous Vegetables
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- ScienceDaily: Green Tea Boosts Production of Detox Enzymes, Rendering Cancerous Chemicals Harmless
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
Member Comments