It's time to put a spit shine on your 'internal environment' to get ready for the warm days to come. Adding these foods to your diet regularly will have you dancing in the streets on the first sunny day!
These top ten foods for a successful cleanse should also find their way into your day to day eating, so that your body is consistently cleaning itself and your vitality is maintained easily.
1). Leafy Green Vegetables: Raw, cooked, in soups, salads or juices, greens like kale, collards, watercress, arugula, spinach, bok choy, broccoli (to name a few) are jam-packed with chlorophyll which is essential to ridding the body of environmental toxins, as well as working to protect the liver. Lightly diuretic, leafy greens, especially watercress and arugula will work with the liver to flush out toxins, but their rich mineral content keeps you strong.
2). Daikon: Known as 'icicle radish,' this peppery flavored root veggie looks like a large white carrot, but it packs a cleansing punch. Rich in the best vitamins and minerals to stimulate weight loss including riboflavin (for normal thyroid function), niacin (part of the glucose tolerance factor that releases every time blood sugar rises), pantothenic acid (assists in energy production and adrenal function), vitamin B6 (essential to thyroid hormone production and metabolism), choline (not really a vitamin, but a compound made in the liver; responsible for fat metabolism), vitamin C (aids in the conversion of glucose to energy in our cells), chromium (a mineral required for the metabolism of sugar), manganese (which also helps regulate the metabolism of sugar) and zinc (which helps regulate appetite and the release of insulin), daikon is a valuable tool in cleansing.
3). Lemon: A rich source of vitamin C, the ultimate de-tox vitamin, lemon helps convert toxins into their water-soluble form so they are easily flushed from the system.
4). Garlic: Not only used to ward off vampires, garlic activates liver enzymes that aid the body in filtering out anything you don't want hanging around. On top of that, garlic stimulates circulation and contains anti-bacterial compounds to help the body to cleanse efficiently.
5). Whole Grains: In their unprocessed form, whole cereal grains like brown rice, barley and quinoa are rich sources of soluble fiber, which mops up toxins and helps clear them out, while strengthening digestion so you assimilate nutrients and de-tox more effectively.
6). Green Tea: An antioxidant-rich tea, but only when brewed...forget the bottled, pre-made versions...green tea is one of the healthiest liquids around. Loaded with catechins, which speed up liver activity, green tea is the perfect de-tox and relax brew.
7). Broccoli Sprouts: While all sprouts aid the body in breaking down fats, broccoli sprouts are at the top of the heap. With up to 50 times more cancer-fighting, enzyme-stimulating activity in each bite than the grown up veggie, broccoli sprouts should have a proud spot atop salads and sandwiches on a regular basis.
8). Cabbage: This humble peasant vegetable can be the key to a healthy liver that functions at its peak. The most potent anti-inflammatory food, cabbage powerfully activates both types of de-tox enzymes in the liver, making it a powerful tool in a cleanse. Puts coleslaw (sans mayo, of course...) in a whole new light.
9). Fresh fruit: While high in simple sugars, the fiber, vitamin c, antioxidants and nutritious juices present in them trump the downside of sugar any day.
10). Water: When all is said and done, if you aren't properly hydrated, all your cleansing efforts will be compromised. Making up about 60% of your body weight, every system in your body relies on water. Responsible for everything from great, supple skin to regular bowel function to flushing out toxins and carrying nutrients to cells, it is essential that you keep your body properly hydrated. The formula? You lose about 12 cups of water a day through urine, sweat, breathing and bowel movements. Food accounts for about 20% of your intake of fluid, but only if you are eating lots of veggies and whole grains. You need to drink water to make up the rest, hence the '8 glasses a day' rule. So base your water intake on your consumption of veggies, fruits, grains and exercise level
No comments:
Post a Comment