16 Foods That Will Naturally Detoxify Your Body
When people think of detoxing, they usually think of drinking tea and fasting for a while. No, we’re not talking about depriving yourself. We’re talking about foods that cleanse your body of toxins! If you’re planning on starting a detox soon or doing a daily detox, be sure to eat these foods early and often.
Good detox foods keep the body free from free radicals, toxins, and other harmful chemicals that cause the body to be unhealthy. One of the effects that people immediately notice after eating this diet is a clearer and more energetic mind.
1. Water
Water is one of the best detox foods
Simply put, water is one of the healthiest nutrient sources on earth. Although it’s not a food item, it’s worth a number on this list because without it, the following food is useless.
Start with 5-6 glasses a day and gradually increase to 8-10 glasses. It’s common for people to get stressed out during the day, so it’s a good idea to download a water tracker to your phone. A water alarm is the best app.
If you have trouble drinking water, try some of our detox waters. You can put them in a small BPA-free water bottle!
2. Ginger
Ginger contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. These are great for people with arthritis or those just looking for an anti-inflammatory food. It has also been shown to help improve liver function and give the immune system a much-needed boost.
Adding ginger to warm water or tea is the best way to get it into your body. When you can chew the ginger root, it is better to drink it because the more ginger is eaten, the more likely it is to reach the liver and cleanse it.
3. Collard greens
Collard greens is a great detox food because they can bind to bile acids and reduce cholesterol in the body. Collard greens has been shown to have better health benefits than kale, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.
Kale is best steamed as it increases bile acid binding. Steam for 5 minutes, add lemon juice and some salt to increase enzyme activity.
4. Grapefruit
Grapefruit detoxifies the body. The high fiber and nutrient content in grapefruit make it a powerful detox food. Not all juices are created equal, but grapefruit is rich in antioxidants. Even when compared to cranberries, apples, oranges, and pomegranates, grapefruits have the highest antioxidant capacity.
The key is to choose a rich colored grapefruit (pink or red). This indicates more carotenoids, lycopene, and other nutrients.
5. Lemon
Lemons get a lot of attention, and rightly so.
Even consuming lemon juice and fruit juices provides some detoxes. Lemon is known for its ability to cleanse the body, aid weight loss, balance acidity, improve skin tone and strengthen the body.
Lemon water is always a good solution for detox because it has many health benefits, but don’t limit it to just that. You can peel them and use them to make delicious products, or you can squeeze the juice directly into your food.
6. Artichoke
Since the liver is the universal filter of food in our body, most of the detoxification process takes place in the liver.
Artichoke is a good detox food because it helps increase bile in the liver. Bile is responsible for breaking down food and helping the body process nutrients better.
The best way to prepare artichokes is to boil or pressure cook them. Delicious with a pinch of salt or a healthy dipping sauce.
7. Dandelion
Although dandelions get a bad rap when it comes to lawn care, they are actually great for the body. Like artichokes, they cleanse the body by increasing bile in the liver.
There are many ways to eat dandelion roots. Since they are always bitter, they are a good idea to add them to soups or stir-fries for flavor. You can turn them into a powerful herbal detox tea! If you do not have natural dandelion around you but want to try it, you can choose dandelion root tea.
8. Seaweed
Most people only eat seaweed when they eat sushi, but it’s a good idea to eat more seaweed while you’re detoxing.
Seaweed contains many antioxidants, but it also contains a nutrient that’s rare on earth: iodine. Healthy iodine levels are important for maintaining thyroid health. An underactive thyroid can lead to muscle weakness, high cholesterol, fatigue, and more. Organic seaweed is also a delicious snack on the go and is very inexpensive.
9. Broccoli
Broccoli is known for its anti-cholesterol benefits, but it also contains powerful detoxifying phytonutrients. Glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin, and glucobrassicin are 3 glucosinolates phytonutrients found in a unique combination in broccoli. These three can support every step of the body’s detoxification process, including strengthening, neutralizing and eliminating harmful bacteria.
It’s best when lightly steamed or eaten raw in salads. Be careful when ordering in restaurants because they are often cooked with butter or cheese to enhance the flavor. All you need is a pinch of light salt.
10. Green tea
Green tea has detoxification and weight loss effects. When detoxifying your body, be sure to add some organic green tea. It is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to speed up metabolism. During a strict diet, the body slows down its metabolism over time to compensate for the low food intake. Drinking a cup of green tea every day can prevent this.
Drink hot or cold water, but remember not to add sugar. If you don’t like the taste, add some unpasteurized raw honey or mint tea to enhance the flavor.
11. Lemongrass
This is another herb that made it onto this list, but it’s one that many people haven’t tried yet.
Lemongrass is known for its ability to cleanse the kidneys, bladder, and intestines. It increases the frequency and volume of urine, removing uric acid from the body. It is often used as a tea in the detox community, and can be flavored in a variety of combinations. Drink it regularly (every 2-3 days) to help the body get rid of toxins.
12. Beetroot
Beets are a unique source of the phytonutrient called betaine. These nutrients have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxification support. Their special detoxification ability is their digestion, which neutralizes toxins and makes them water-soluble, thus flushing the toxins out through the urine.
Beets often appear in delicious Greek salads, can be eaten as a vegetable or blended into green smoothies. Just make sure you don’t use it for more than 15 minutes because betaine nutrients are often diminished by heat.
13. Basil
Basil has many antibacterial properties that help fight infections and also contains active substances called terpenes that protect the liver. It supports kidney function and has antibacterial, antifungal, yeast, fungus and mold properties.
It is available in all grocery stores and can be chopped and used in pesto, detox tea, infused oils, appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas and many more uses.
14. Garlic
Garlic isn’t usually considered a detox food, but it can boost your immune system and help your liver. Its many antioxidants and the benefits of allium make it a great addition to this list.
Getting a variety of nutrients from a variety of sources is important for a successful detox, and garlic provides nutrients that are rarely found elsewhere.
Add other junk foods to your detox program for added flavor. Keep garlic to limited heat time as possible (5-10 minutes) because it loses some of its nutritional value.
15. Watercress
Watercress helps release enzymes to cleanse the body and remove built-up toxins. It also provides cancer-fighting compounds like glucosinolates, which have been shown to protect against breast, lung, stomach, head and neck, and prostate cancers.
It is not generally found in most foods, but it is another healthy nutrient to try for detoxification.
It is easy to make watercress. Cut off the stems, rinse them with water, and serve them in salads, sandwiches, stir-fries, green smoothies, or any other creative dish you desire.
16. Turmeric
Finally, turmeric is known for its ability to offer digestive support of food in the body. It has also been shown to treat inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis and help prevent cancer. It helps the body detoxify xenobiotic compounds found in the liver. It goes without saying that it is a powerful and beneficial addition to your detox food list.
Turmeric is a herb commonly used in tea, but you can add it to many dishes, including egg salad. Be careful when handling it because it is very deep in color and can easily stain.
