5 Foods For Everyday Detox
Detox is a big buzz word these days, and for good reason. As our environment becomes more polluted, we are now faced with more toxins than ever before on an everyday basis. However, the beauty of these amazing bodies that we have is that they are designed to cleanse away these toxins if we give them a chance.
While you may think that detoxification involves fasting or juicing, it doesn't always have to. Fasting cleanses can be a great way to give your body a break, but they should be done under the care of a professional and are usually best done in warmer months. So if it's a bit colder outside or you aren't looking to stop eating for days at at time, there are foods that can help your body cleanse every day.
Here are my top five foods for everyday detox:
1. Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is the "life blood" of plants and can be found in any green vegetable like kale, spinach and dandelion greens, among many others. However, it is most concentrated in certain super-foods like spirulina, wheatgrass and blue-green algae.
What's special about chlorophyll is that it releases "xenobiotics" which are foreign substances that are stored in the body's fat cells. As they are released, it's important to hydrate as well as exercise to help rid the body of the toxins so they are not reabsorbed.
To get the benefits of chlorophyll, you can simply include a lot of leafy greens in your diet. If you decide to use a supplement like spirulina or take wheatgrass shots, you may want to start small as the intense detoxification may make you feel nauseous in the beginning.
2. Beets
There's a reason the color of these is such an intense red! They are one of the best blood purifiers and especially good at cleansing the liver and kidneys.
To get the benefits of beets, just cook them up and add to salads or enjoy as a side. You can also add 1/4-1/2 of a medium sized-one to your daily green juice or smoothie.
3. Sea Vegetables
Yes...sea vegetables--otherwise known as seaweeds--are one of the most powerful ways to pull heavy metals and radioactive isotopes from our bodies. Unfortunately, we are now exposed to more radiation and metals than ever before and it is some of the most damaging form of toxicity.
To get the benefits of sea vegetables, you can make nori vegetable wraps (like sushi) or add wakame, kelp or dulse to soups, salads and stir-fry's.
4. Garlic
You know that strong garlic smell? That comes from the sulfur in garlic which is fantastic for detoxifying the liver and kidneys. It also helps to pull heavy metals out of the body.
To get the benefits of garlic, you can add it to cooked veggies or have it raw or cooked in dressings or sauces. Cooking it may reduce the strong smell a bit and following it with a chlorophyll-rich food like parsley will also help freshen the breath.
5. Nutritional Yeast
Bad name...good super-food! Although it is a "yeast," it is very different from the bad kind of yeast associated with candida. Nutritional yeast is especially good at pulling heavy metals from your brain (where they can cause neurological disorders) and it helps protect DNA against the irregular replicating of cells (which is what leads to cancer).
To get the benefits of nutritional yeast, you can add it to almost anything that is savory. It comes as little flakes that have a mild, nutty, cheesy type flavor. It's also full of B vitamins (and protein) so it's especially great for vegetarians. Sprinkle it on your veggies, mix it in your sauces, or add it to some avocado toast or freshly sliced tomatoes.
To help avoid disease, it is imperative that we help our bodies cleanse of everyday toxins on a regular basis, and as you see, it may not be as hard as you thought!
By incorporating these foods as well as drinking enough water throughout the day (at least half your body weight in ounces), you can get the benefits of detoxification without taking any drastic measures, all year round. Happy detoxing...
-Nicole Brors, CNC, CCMH, Holistic Chef
Dance to the Beet
About the author:
Nicole is a certified nutritionist, herbalist and yogi who teaches people how to heal their bodies with food through personal nutrition coaching, plant-based cooking lessons and medicinal herbal blends.
You can learn more about Nicole and her company Dance to the Beet on her website, or on Facebook or Instagram where she shares original recipes, holistic health tips, and how-to videos. To get all of these amazing things by email and be notified of upcoming health workshops, click here to sign up for her newsletter.