Want to naturally cleanse your body? Our livers, kidneys and other detox organs work hard every day to eliminate toxins from our body. But in these chemical-laden days, our body could use a little help. That’s where a good diet comes in. Many fruits and vegetables enhance the body’s ability to cleanse itself. If you want to prevent a building of harmful toxins, try these seven cleansing foods.
Apples contain high amounts of the fiber pectin, which binds to substances such as cholesterol and heavy metals and helps eliminate them from the body.
Avocados: Among their other numerous health benefits, avocadoes also contain high amounts of glutathione, a strong antioxidant that aids detoxification. Because toxins will stick to glutathione, this protein-amino acid blend can carry harmful substances out of the body. Although our bodies naturally produce glutathione, the high number of chemicals in use today can overwhelm our bodies, and the limited amount of glutathione we make often isn’t sufficient enough to remove toxins.
Beets are an excellent source of betaine, a substance which improves liver function and protects the bile ducts. If eaten raw, beets also contain pectin.
Cabbage contains high amounts of sulfur, which the liver needs to help break down prescription drugs, pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins. Sulfur, an important part of glutathione, binds to heavy metals and helps remove them from the body.
Cranberries: Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, cranberries contain many nutrients necessary for healthy liver function—and when the liver is at its healthiest, it can better flush toxins out of our systems. Cranberries also help cleanse the lymphatic system, which is partially responsible for removing excess fluids and waste from the body. Because cranberries contain natural antibacterial properties, they can also prevent bacteria buildup in the digestive and urinary tracts.
Garlic is another good source of sulfur. Among its array of other benefits, garlic is also antiviral and antibacterial and can reduce cancer risk.
Lemons aid the liver in removing toxins from the body. Lemons provide vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant and a key component in producing glutathione. Lemons also prevent tiny particles of undigested food from entering the bloodstream where the liver will see them as contaminants and work extra hard to remove them.
Eating these foods as part of a healthy, balanced diet is crucial. Many detox diets, or fad diets, can cause serious side effects and prove unsustainable in the long run. Consuming healthy, cleansing foods as part of a normal diet can strengthen your liver and detox organs and help remove toxins from the body without causing harm to the body.
Images (top to bottom): Photo By matka_Wariatka/Courtesy Fotolia; Photo By Povy Kendal Atchison
Susan Melgren is the Web Editor of
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