Detox Diet - Foods That Naturally Cleanse and Detox Your Body

Detox diet definition

Detox diet or foods that naturally cleanse your body are said to remove toxins from your body, promote weight loss, and improve health. To be healthy one has to make the efforts to eat the right kind of food that helps in the detoxification process. Now we will describe some common detox foods that clean your system and ultimately rejuvenate you.

1. Beetroot

Vitamin B3, vitamin B6, and vitamin C are rich in beetroot. Beetroot is a good source of iron, zinc, and calcium which are all necessary to promote the detoxification process as they act as a detox diet. The beetroot helps in removing toxins from the body.

2. Artichoke

Artichoke is rich in antioxidants and fiber acts as a detox diet. They can stimulate liver function as well as improve digestion of fatty foods. Adding artichoke leaves to chicken, seafood, or fish is a good way of consuming artichokes.

3. Asparagus

Glutathione is an antioxidant that promotes detoxification is present in asparagus and it is also a good source of fiber, iron, folate, and vitamins E, A, K, and C. Eating asparagus has beneficial effects on those with high blood pressure.

4. Sauerkraut

Over 2,000 years ago in China origin of sauerkraut was traced and it is basically fermented cabbage because of the fermentation process, the bacteria eats away all the unhealthy sugar in them and increases the healthy probiotics level. This mix of probiotics and fiber clears the skin, causes less tummy bloating, and keeps the gut healthy. Their nutritious goodness is far superior to that of a regular fresh, non-fermented cabbage. Rich in various vitamins and minerals, they help the body in absorbing the nutrients from foods that you eat. They are perfect for detoxifying the whole body and give visible results.

5. Cucumber

Cucumbers are mostly water but don’t take them lightly because apart from applying pieces of cucumber on your eyelids, it also replenishes your body with electrolytes, especially on a hot summer day. Dry mouth is prevented by consuming cucumbers and it also washes away the unwanted food residue that gets stuck in between teeth and allows the bacteria to feed on them. They are also packed with healthy digestive enzymes and which help in proper digestion and metabolism because your immune system health is directly linked to your gut health.

Kickstarting your day on a refreshing note by drinking cucumber-infused water with a couple of lemon juice drops is also a way of cleansing the digestive system.

6. Grapefruit

Vitamin C and several amazing nutrients are packed in grapefruits. They are sweet and tangy fruits and acts as a detox diet. Eating them as regularly as possible will amp up the metabolism and speed up the cleansing process. Eating them as often as possible will help in repairing the cells and body tissues which is a result of years of poor dietary habits. Nootkatone is a cleansing agent and is present in grapefruit. This chemical compound gives metabolism a major boost that in turn helps with weight loss. So, eating half a grapefruit with every meal at least for a week will not only cleanse but will also meet the everyday needs for vitamin A and C.

7. Garlic

Garlic makes any dish more delicious but the benefits of this pungent food go beyond that. Along with being a heart-friendly food, they have amazing detoxifying effects on the body. They are also naturally antibacterial, antiviral, and antibiotic.

Allicin is a chemical that is found actively present in garlic and it speeds up the production of the toxin fighting white blood cells. Just smash a couple of garlic cloves and add them into your salad as a topping. This will not only make the dish more flavorful but will also be beneficial as a natural body cleanser.

8. Blueberry

Blueberries are one of the best foods for healing. Named as a natural aspirin, they lower the tissue-damaging effects induced by long-term chronic inflammation. Eating them whole or adding them to your smoothies will also work as a natural painkiller and block the bacteria by acting as antibiotics. In this manner, these tiny power-packed berries help with infection prevention as well. The presence of high levels of vitamin C and fiber fights off the harmful free radicals that increase the body’s toxicity levels. You can go for blueberry tea or chop up a couple of blueberries and top off your salad or oatmeal with them.

9. Lemon

Lemon acts as a good detox diet. While speaking about detoxes and cleanses, lemon is a superstar. Two of the most vital nutrients for detox and repair are antioxidants and vitamin C, which are packed in lemon. You may have heard about the amazing benefits of drinking hot water with lemon slices on an empty stomach early in the morning. This helps in properly flushing out the toxins leaving your skin looking bright and digestion healthy. Adding a couple of drops of citrusy lemon in curries and salads is another way to restore the body’s pH balance and support the immune system as well.

10. Apple

Apples have always stolen the limelight when it comes to healthy foods. Its skin contains around half the fiber. It's also rich in plant-based compounds called polyphenols, fiber, and water which makes it a great choice for flushing out harmful toxins. Pectin is another important compound found in apples that bind together the cholesterol and heavy metal in a gel form. The toxic buildup in the intestines is also eliminated by eating them which is a great way of detoxifying the gut.

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11. Kale

Kale is a superfood. These crinkly, dark green leaves are high in fiber and contain 0 fat. What makes it a perfect food for detox is the presence of two vital nutrients which lack in our modern-day diets magnesium and folate. Steamed kale offers anti-cancer properties and powerful antioxidant compounds which thoroughly cleanse the organs. The high fiber in it cleans out the intestinal tract and neutralizes the harmful compounds found in cigarettes. This keeps the liver strong and clear of toxins. Blitzing up kale along with banana, plant-based milk, yogurt, and pineapple slices to make a smoothie is a great way of starting your detox journey.

12. Avocado

Avocado is one fruit that has taken the healthy eating and detox world by a storm and it acts as a detox diet. However, it is yet to be recognized as a powerful detox food. It is a nutritional powerhouse that blocks the elements that increase toxicity levels in the artery while also lowering cholesterol levels. The glutathione component present in avocados effectively blocks different types of harmful carcinogens and helps in liver cleansing by getting rid of synthetic chemicals in them. This means that avocado toasts are more than just aesthetically pleasing meals. They are almost an allrounder when it comes to clean eating.

Apart from eating right, making the right lifestyle changes will also aid this detoxification and cleansing process. The following lifestyle changes you can make for detoxifying your body.

1. Stay hydrated

Drinking the right amount of water every day solves a lot of health problems. Drinking water is not only meant for quenching thirst but also regulates the body temperature, lubricates joints, and detoxifies the body by flushing out the toxic elements and waste products. While detoxing, it is important to stay properly hydrated since the water continues to eliminate waste through sweating and urination.

2. Decrease salt, sugar, and processed foods

Foods that are high in salt, sugar and are processed, are stripped off their essential nutrients and carry little to no nutritional value. Too much salt increases water retention and too much sugar and processed foods are directly linked to health problems like obesity, heart problems, and fatty liver issues. These kinds of foods inhibit the body’s natural detoxifying effect.

3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants

Foods rich in antioxidants act as a detox diet. Oxidative stress mainly creates toxins in our bodies. This leads to cell damage and an increase in the production of harmful free radicals. These free radicals are caused due to external pollution, poor diet, tobacco smoke, and alcohol. Foods high in antioxidants like berries, leafy greens, spices, and many others fight off these toxins and lower the chances of developing chronic diseases.

4. Get a good night’s sleep

While sleeping the body’s repair, maintenance, and detoxification takes place. Sleeping lets the brain recharge and reorganize itself and remove toxic waste products that get accumulated throughout the day. While on the other hand, sleep deprivation leads to the brain not being able to perform these activities efficiently which leads to a buildup of toxins. 8 to 9 hours of sleep is ideal for maintaining good overall health.

5. Limit alcohol

Excessive drinking is an easy way to a myriad of health problems. This is because 90% of the alcohol you drink gets metabolized in the liver that also contains cancer-causing chemicals. Drinking too much builds up the fat content, leads to scarring and even inflammation. This impairs the liver from properly flushing or filtering out the toxins.

Conclusion

Detox and cleansing is a way of clearing out the toxins from the body and its organs. If you look it up there is no dearth of detox diets and supplements to choose from but what better way of cleansing than going natural. For a proper body cleanse there is no need to shell out a lot of money, just making the right natural diet choices will work like a charm.