Daily Detox: 5 Fantastic Foods For Everyday Cleansing

By Jessica Lauren DeBry May 20, 2014

Sometimes an indulgent meal turns into an indulgent day which turns into an overindulgent weekend. Before you know it, you are left feeling bloated and lethargic. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. The best way to get back on track is to start with some naturally cleansing foods.

Even if you haven’t had a recent overindulgence, daily detoxification will be beneficial for you. Everyday we are subjected to toxins in our environment like pollution and secondhand smoke. In addition, our body needs a break from highly-processed foods and food additives.

Here are my five favorite foods for everyday cleansing, which are fantastic for daily detoxification!

Lemon
Fresh lemon juice is a natural detoxifier for both the digestive system and liver. Lemon aids in digestion and acts as a natural diuretic, so it is best to consume first thing in the morning. Lemons also contain high amounts of vitamin C, a vitamin needed by the body to make an important substance called glutathione. Glutathione helps the liver detoxify harmful chemicals. I drink a glass of warm lemon water every morning before consuming breakfast.

Apples
The saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is actually somewhat true! Because apples are high in pectin, a type of fiber that binds to cholesterol and heavy metals in the body, they help eliminate toxic build up and to cleanse the intestines. One of my favorite snacks is sliced apples with peanut butter or almond butter, and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Kale
Of course we all know by now that Kale is a superfood. It is jam-packed with antioxidants and is also a natural anti-inflammatory. But did you know that kale also naturally helps to flush out the kidneys? It is often recommended to patients that are following a doctor recommended diet when fighting kidney disease. Plus, kale is naturally high in fiber so it cleanses the intestinal tract. Kale is a great addition to any green smoothie.

Garlic
Fresh garlic has powerful cleansing properties, especially for the liver. Garlic contains numerous sulfur-containing compounds that are known to activate the liver enzymes responsible for expelling toxins from the body. Garlic is also used as a natural cold remedy – it clears mucus by expelling build-up in the lungs and sinuses. Now you have a real excuse to add extra garlic cloves to your marinara!

Green Tea
Green tea has an extremely high antioxidant value and is considered to be a natural antiviral. It helps to naturally cleanse the colon. Green tea also increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories. I switched from coffee to green tea a year ago and enjoy 3-4 cups of green tea daily (and have never felt better!).

*This post was originally published on www.jessicalaurendebry.com. For more from Jessica, be sure to visit her site here.

 

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