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Many people who live in a modern, urban setting could benefit from a cleanse, and the easiest way to detoxify is by eating a variety of healthy foods. Detoxing is said to offer incredible benefits including increased energy, younger looking skin, and better digestion, according to activebeat.
Toxins are everywhere, from the chemical additives and preservatives in processed food to pesticides, antibiotics, and heavy metals found in the water and air, according to the Food Revolution Network. Thankfully,your body was designed with a natural filtration system and eating healthy, detox foods will aid in eliminating toxins.
The liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal and lymphatic systems, plus the lungs, and skin all work hard to cleanse your body, but sometimes they need extra help. You can start assisting your body by watching what you put on your plate.
Here are seven power foods that were designed to aid in detoxification. They are all readily available in the market and are easy to incorporate into your daily diet. If you try to eat them each day, your body will thank you!
Zesty Lemons
Start your day by squeezing fresh lemon juice into water. Lemons may help flush out bad toxins, according to activebeat. Filled with vitamin C, they may help improve immunity and keep disease-forming free radicals at bay.
In fact, many cleansing diets recommend starting the day with lemon water, according to liversupport. Lemons release enzymes that help to convert toxins into a watery form for easier excretion and they help to thin and decongest bile, allowing your liver to work more efficiently.
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Very Berry
Now that you have enjoyed your fresh lemon water, enjoy a breakfast of fresh berries. Any berry will do, be it blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cherries, or cranberries, according to activebeat. They are all high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Berries assist in improving digestion, including regulating bowel movements, and they help make hair and skin brighter.
A study in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism suggested that eating blueberries daily resulted in an increase in natural killer cell counts and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as a reduction in oxidative stress. This is great detox news.
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Sprinkle Some Flax
Top your berries with some freshly ground flaxseeds. According to activebeat, these fiber-rich seeds may attach to toxins and help to flush them out. They also coat the sides of the intestine with healthy omega-3 fatty oils.
Sprinkle flax on your overnight oats or yogurt. Or add a teaspoon to your berry smoothie, sip, and cleanse!
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Steamed Artichokes Cleanse Fat
Here is a healthy option for a cleansing side dish. After the holidays, your body may still be trying to recover from too many high-fat meals. If so, simply steam some globe artichokes. The leaves of artichokes help your body in digesting fat, according to activebeat. Artichokes are also a great source of fiber and antioxidants which could help activate liver function.
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Everything Green
Add greens to your smoothie, and make sure you also eat them at lunch and dinner. Cruciferous veggies such as bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, cress, and cabbage are powerful cleansers, according to Food Revolution Network. Broccoli may help to protect against the toxins from air pollution, while broccoli sprouts contain enzymes that could fend off chemicals which cause cancer.
In fact, a study in Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine shows that green leaves can help improve liver health.
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Go for Garlic
Garlic has been used as a natural detox for thousands of years, according to Food.News. As opposed to flushing out toxins, garlic helps produce the antioxidant glutathione, which is needed for detoxification.
Glutathione may help to remove environmental toxins and heavy metals from your body. It also could offer your liver protection from oxidative stress that is caused by free radicals. The mineral selenium, also found in garlic, further helps to protect your liver from toxins.
Remember that as you age, your ability to make glutathione decreases, so be sure to eat garlic. In order to release the compounds, it is best to crush it or chop it, then eat it raw!
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An Apple a Day
When you feel like a snack, choose an organic apple. Apples are filled with fiber, phytochemicals and a special flavonoid called Phlorizidin or phlorizin, according to liversupport. This flavonoid stimulates bile which then helps to eliminate toxins. In addition, the pectin in apples may also cleanse your blood from metals and food additives.
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