I am sure everyone has heard the words detox diet, master cleanse, or juice fast thrown around before. Perhaps you have even embarked on a detox diet or considered doing so in the past. This time of year, the idea of cleansing before the holiday season is particularly prevalent. There is nothing wrong with going the more extreme route and implementing these more restrictive and controlled detox practices to give your body a fresh start. You might not realize, though, that you can help your body detoxify by simply adding more greens to your diet.
Our bodies are powerful and capable of doing amazing feats. Regardless of the fads we follow to cleanse and purify our bodies, our bodies naturally perform these tasks. It is important, however, to make sure that we are giving our bodies the proper fuel to perform all of its daily functions. One very easy way to do this is by pumping up your green intake.
While there are so many foods of all different colors (remember to eat the rainbow!) that are high in antioxidants and vital vitamins, green foods are excellent choices when you are thinking about giving your body some additional detoxing support. Green foods are high in antioxidants, vitamin A, C, E, zinc, iron, and phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are excellent at boosting the immune system and helping to protect your cells against damage. Green vegetables also contain chlorophyll, which helps the body get rid of environmental toxins and heavy metals. You have so many choices when it comes to going green: broccoli, cucumbers, celery, sprouts, leafy greens, green tea, avocado, kiwi, apples, and seaweed, just to name a few.
Let’s take a closer look at 6 delicious green options.
Artichokes help purify and protect the liver. They are also a mild diuretic, which aids in toxin removal.
Asparagus are a natural diuretic and help to flush out toxins.
Cilantro is an incredible herb with the power to rid the body of heavy metals, which can lead to depression, cancer, and hormone problems. It is also a very strong antioxidant.
Lemongrass has the incredible capabilty to help cleanse the liver, kidneys, bladder, and the rest of the digestive track.
Kiwis are considered one of the world’s healthiest fruits. The benefits that are packed into this palm-sized fruit are impressive. Kiwis are chalked full of antioxidants that are so powerful they actually protect our DNA from oxygen-related damage.
The beauty of going green is that there are so many green options. It is nearly impossible to get bored of adding this color to your daily diet. Play around with recipes. Go raw. Mix green with other greens. Your body with thank you graciously for giving it the support it needs to do all of its wonders.
Thank you for sharing a smile with us this week.
