If good health is a cocktail that we want to drink every day, then the nutrients in our food are the cherries on the top that add to the flavor, enhance the drink, and make it better than ever.
Today, whether you’re a health nut or just a regular person who knows your food, antioxidants and vitamins rule the roost as far as nutrients go.
And when you plan to go on a detox diet for various reasons, what you eat matters a lot because you’re basically looking to cleanse your body and free it from all the toxins that have accumulated because of your unhealthy eating habits and your lifestyle in a polluted environment.
Some foods are better than others in ridding your body of toxins and purifying your blood; and as an added bonus, they’re also rich in antioxidants and other nutrients that are beneficial to your overall health. So if you’re going on a diet to cleanse your body of free radicals and other toxins, here are the top ten super foods that boost the detox process:
-
- Fruits: Any fruit is a good source of vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients. But if you’re looking for the ones that pack a punch, go with pomegranates and blueberries, and others that come in bright colors.
- Green vegetables: They may not taste good, but they sure as hell are good for your body. So get some spinach, collards, kale, broccoli and other fresh green vegetables in your diet, and watch your health bloom. Also, the chlorophyll in these vegetables helps in healing and strengthening your digestive system and in ridding your liver of all accumulated toxins.
- Green tea: It’s the best way to kick your addiction to the caffeine in coffee and tea, and when you kick start your day with a warm cup of green tea, you feel more energetic and rejuvenated. You also gain the goodness of antioxidants that prevent damage to your liver and other organs.
- Foods rich in Vitamin C: Again, this list includes lemons, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits, and green vegetables. When you add fresh fruit juice to your detox diet, the Vitamin C helps clean your liver and convert toxins into non-toxic, digestive material.
- Garlic: It may be pungent and a bad pre-date food, but garlic is actually the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to your health. Besides preventing heart disease by reducing your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, it boosts your immune system and rids your liver and other organs of accumulated toxins. Raw, crushed or cooked – garlic is great in any form.
- Whole grains and legumes: Any whole grain is rich in protein and chock full of fiber, so it helps rid your digestive tract of toxins. Besides this, whole grains and legumes are filled with other nutrients that are good for your heart and overall health.
- Nuts and seeds: The Omega 3 fatty acids in certain nuts like walnuts and almonds and in seeds like flaxseed and sesame are good for your heart and help you lose weight. They contain good fats that are necessary for nutritive completeness and that raise your good cholesterol.
- Fish: If you’re a vegetarian, probably the only health benefit you’re missing out on is the goodness of fish. The antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids in certain kinds of fish help reduce your risk of heart disease by preventing oxidation of LDL or bad cholesterol which forms deposits inside your artery walls and causes coronary illness.
- Yoghurt: This byproduct of milk helps with the digestive process and cleanses your colon by promoting the growth of healthy bacteria. It boosts immunity and is also rich in calcium which prevents colon and other cancers.
- Turmeric:This essential ingredient in most forms of Eastern cooking not only adds flavor to the food but also provides you with a host of health benefits as well. It is rich in antioxidants and also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that boost your health and sense of well-being.
By-line:
This guest article is written by Teresa Jackson, she writes on the subject of Nurse Practitioner Schools . Email her at teresa.jackson19@gmail.com .
