The holiday season is officially over. We’ve danced, drank, and ate our way into oblivion and now it’s time to detox. Excess sugar, fat, and alcohol slurped down during those shimmery cocktail parties clogs and slows the vital filtering abilities of our livers.
Don’t worry, I am not a fan of fasts and crazy detox cleanses. A week or more of munching super cleansing whole foods will do wonders for your body after unhealthy periods.
We can get back on track by eating a healthy diet, exercising and eliminating alcohol and refined sugars. But, for that extra vitality and squeaky clean start to the new decade, add these top detox foods to your meals today. They will help your liver convert fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble substances which can then be flushed out of the body.
1.) Lemon: A glass of lemon water in the morning is an excellent way fire up your metabolism, alkalize the body and aide digestion. Add lemon zest to just about any meal for a vitamin C burst, which is known to help the body detox and burn fat.
2.) Dark Leafy Greens: Eat them raw, sauteed, in stir fries or blended in yummy juices and smoothies. The chlorophyll found in these green wonders rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides.
3.) All Fruit: Let’s see… antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and practically any other nutrient you can name. Fruit is essential for flushing the system! Apples, berries, grapes, and acai are the all-stars in this group. I like to blend fruits and green foods like spirulina, wheat grass and various seaweeds into potent smoothies. Give it a whirl.
4.) Beets: These deep red, antioxidant packed bulbs are full of fiber that increases the production of antioxidant enzymes in the liver, which help the liver and gallbladder eliminate bile and other toxic substances from the body. Slice a few over a salad of dark leafy greens.
5.) Mighty Ginger: Ever wonder why ginger always accompanies Japanese food? It’s a digestive aide! Beyond settling tummy troubles, ginger is an anti-inflammatory packed with antioxidants. Brew it in a tea, spice up your stir fry, or just munch some pickled slices out of the jar.
6.) Cabbage: There are two main types of detoxifying enzymes in the liver; this crunchie veggie helps activate both of them. Chop some to mix in a salad or stir fry to your hearts content.
7.) Artichoke Hearts: These Mediterranean favorites aid the secretion of bile, and contain antioxidants known as flavonoids which protect the liver cells. Artichokes are a useful food for those people who have alcohol-related liver problems, and are a fantastic detox aid.
8.) Sesame Seeds: Known to actually protect livers cells from the damaging effects of alcohol and other chemicals, sesame seeds rule for pre and post party clean up. Try the concentrated paste version called Tahini. No wonder it’s a staple in Asian cooking.
9.) Watercrest: a handful of this peppery green on a salad or sandwich will definitely get things moving. It has a diuretic effect perfect for cleansing out built up junk. Plus it’s packed full of minerals.
10.) Green Tea: what list would be complete without a mention of green tea. As if the antioxidants aren’t enough, sipping cups of green tea will flush the system with catechins, which speed up liver activity. I am diligently trying to replace my coffee with green tea in the morning. A must do new year goal!
Beyond the amazing detox benefits of the whole foods above, another natural way to clear toxins is by sweating. Work up a sweat exercising a few times a week or lay in a sauna. One day I will have a sauna! See why they are such miracle workers.
