What Green Vegetables Are Good For Cleansing Body?

Eating vegetables is widely encouraged to keep you healthy. While vegetables are good for you in general, some vegetables are packed with more nutritional benefits than others. Green vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, are particularly known for their potent nutritional value and promotion of good health. Vegetables are also central to carrying out certain functions of the body, such as cleansing and detoxifying. When it comes to cleansing the body, green leafy vegetables are a highly effective way to cleanse while supplying vital nutrients. Green leafy vegetables cleanse the body naturally, gently and effectively, and you can consume them daily as part of a healthy, nutritious diet.

Identification

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, vegetables are a vital component of human nutrition. The essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, carotenoids, fiber, protein, phytochemicals, sulfur and phenolic compounds in vegetables are central in maintaining good health and have been strongly linked to the prevention and risk reduction of "some forms of cancer, heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases." Vegetables also are a successful way to cleanse the liver and colon. The liver processes and eliminates many of the toxins to which the body is exposed. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce, arugula, broccoli, cabbage, mustard greens, turnips, collard greens, kale and seaweed are all excellent sources that aid in this cleansing process. According to Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute, green leafy vegetables are effective in removing cancer-causing carcinogens from the liver and colon, and the antioxidants found in green leafy vegetables can assist in preventing "oxidative damage" to the body's cells and organs caused by toxic exposure and buildup. Green leafy vegetables also provide healthy fiber, which is also essential in cleansing your body.

Seaweed

Sea vegetables, such as seaweed, are among the best green leafy vegetables to consume for their cleansing benefits. In addition to being loaded with vitamins and minerals that your body thrives on, seaweed is also highly potent in cleansing your body of toxins that attack your cells and organs. According to website A to Z Health, Beauty and Fitness, seaweed has "been shown to cleanse the body of toxins and pollutants," specifically heavy metals, due to its high concentration of alginic acid, which works to bind with heavy metals found in the intestines, causing them to be indigestible and eliminating them from your body. Heavy metals can build up in the body, and keeping your body free of these toxins is vital for your health and well being.

Kale

According to website My Juice Cleanse, kale belongs to the Brassica family of vegetables, which includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips and mustard greens. Kale is often referred to as a "super food," can be consumed raw or cooked, and is often steamed, boiled, juiced and added to smoothies. The consumption of kale supports the cleansing of the body by removing toxins, as well as renewing and rebuilding your body at the cellular level.

Spinach

Spinach also can be consumed raw, cooked or juiced, and is known for being nutrient-rich, particularly in the mineral iron. Spinach is also high in both calcium and magnesium, which are essential nutrients for colon health. The high concentration of calcium and magnesium in spinach assists in flexing the intestinal muscles that support the elimination of waste and toxins from your body. A digestive system that works regularly is a key component in keeping your body cleansed and healthy.